The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-10

disappearance Of Arthur Cheyns '.rhe Briars'
was entered by masked men, who bound Mr.
Qheyne and locked him in his room. They
then burst open the door leading to Miss
Uheyne's apartments, and, after commanding
her to dress,
GAGGED HER,
muffled her In cloak and bore her to q car
riage waiting in an adjoining shrubbery
Viii lie the household was, next morning, IL
wild Consideration over The discovery that M r
Cheyne had been bound, and his niece alb,
Quoted, young Arthur Cheyne, to the utter
amazement Of all, entered the hall. He was
haggard and untidy, but without seeking &c
change his ralment. he demanded from q BIS
ment In the dwelling. His father briefly OK
planned thet Julia had been violently abduCt-
ed during the night. and that there was ne
traces Of her whereabouts. The son, in turn,
q week. His story we will give in his own
words as he told 1t to the jury when
= HIS ABDuCroR WAS PUT ON TRIAL
"After quitting the jewelry shop, / was
driven for, / should say, three or four miles
through various streets until we at last reach
ed narrow thoroughfare, scarcely wide
enough for our vehicle and perfectly d lrs
! was then conducted through dim passage
| up one flight of stairs and down another for
five minutes or more. | am disposed to think
/ was repeatedly led up and down the same
stairs. AT last we reached room the door
Of which was fastened. One Of my compan-
ions knocked, and the door was opened.
was led In. showed toward the middle Of tho
room, and left standing there. Then l heard
my conductors retire and close and lock the
door.
REMOVED THE BANDAGE
from my eyes, and found myself standing
face to face with powerful, good-natured
looking man Of about forty years.
II said, Where am = He said, Safe
II said, Is this u prison ? He laughed
and answered: o
:" It's o sponging house,
~ demanded TO be set at liberty. He said;
Here's the window; jump out
"The window was six stories from the
ground. and was moreover grated and fas-
tened. The man told me to be quiet and pa
tient, and / would be released soon. | was
very indignant and loud.
He produced a long strap from his pocket,
and said:
at you make noise will have to strap
you down, and apply the gag
II felt that resistance would be useless, and
go kept silence The man then left me.
-Four times a day | was provided with excel
lent food, and kept there until
THE MIDDLE OF LAST NIGHT.
Then was aroused out of my sleep, told to
dress, blindfolded, and conducted to a car
riage at the door. The big man got In with
me. He pricked my hand with a sharp in
strument, and said:
"'Do you feel that dagger2'
81 replied that certainly did.
".1f you make any noise or attempt.in any
way to attract attention. he said, 4 will
thrust 1t into you
"After that kept silent. About four hours
after we quilted my prison, or whatever it
was, the carriage stopped. We had left the
city some time before. Ny companion took
by him I did so.
"'Now, said he, I'm going to leave you,
Don't stir, however, until you hear whistle,
or It may be worse for you
Presently heard the carriage roll off. In
O few moments | heard Il
PROLONGED WHISTLE,
and tore the bandage from my eyes. II was
stil dark. .gazed around, but could not
grass by the roadside until day dawned
Then | discovered that was within a mile of
the Briars, on the by-road leading to Friars'
Pond. j fastened home. and arrived here !
just as the domestics had discovered the bind |
ing Of my father and the abduction Of my |
cousin"
The outrage perpetrated on Arthur Cheyne, |
and the abduction of his afIianced wife |
created the Widest excitement and tumut in |
The public mind. Detectives went to work to |
trace, Ii possible,
THE ABDUCTED LADY,
and to discover the place where Arthur had |
been imprisoned. The latter could throw no
light at all upon the NATTER as he had never
seen any one during. his confinement but the
Big man who confronted him on his being
pushed into the room. Diligent inquiries in
he neghborhood failed to elicit any informa-
ion as 70 the route taken by the abductors.
md the authorities were completely at fault.
'lue. At the end OF that time Mr. Cheyne re-
'eived q letter from his niece. announcing her
marriage to her former
REJECTED suIToR, o'NE11
md her determination to return and take
Up her abode IN her own dwelling, the Briars |
VI. Cheyne and his son were astoundcd.
They had never before associated We'll with
nough, they attributed both to him. sud-
len light, too, flashed across Arthur's mind
md he now distinctly identified the elderly
Gentleman addressed as Mr.. Choyter at the
ime OF his sham arrest in the jewelers. as
1r. Charles ONei But how came Julia to
AVE evidently acquiesced in the shameful
chemes2
In due time Mr.. O'Neil and Mrs. ONen
rrived at the wifes residence. Mrs. O'Neil
on We're dreadfully indignant, and sought
agal advice The result was
THE ARREST OF o'NErh
pr the abduction Of Arthur Cheyne, and sun
ry other collateral crimes and oifenses. The
rial came on. Mr.. ONeils friends who were
cry powerful, fixed everything nicely, and
g was acquitted.
Now comes the strangest part of this
TRANCE history. The day after O'Neils lib
ration he was examining fowling- piece in
he breakfast-room. AS his wife entered he
aid to the servant:
William, bring me the gun in the gray bag
/ the study"
The gun was brought, and O'Neil said to
Il wife:
II think TIL go out for little shooting this
forming"
The barrel of the gun rested on his left hand, |
nd he was turning it round with the right.
he muzzle was pointed right at
HIS wIFE's HEAD.
Suddenly there was q loud report and Mrs.
Neil dropped to the earth with a bullet in
or brain.
lShe never spoke again. The circumstance
reated an unprecedented tumult and facts
anne out at tho inquest which induced The
Droner to hold O'Neil for the wilful murder
his wife. For that he was tried. 1t trans
ired in evidence that O'Neil had abducted
!iss Cheyne and compelled her to marry