Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-08
A HUNT FOR A FIEND.
Tom Boyd. the Barber, TAINTED By Indian
ans for an 4tr0ciOus Crime.

Tom Boyd, the Barber, Wanted By Iadiani-
ans for an Atrocious Crime.
A vigorous man hunt is in progress in
Dearborn county, Indiana. Judging from
the spirit of the chase, if the man is caught
there will be no need of Jail, or Judge. or
jury. It will be a case for the nearest tree
to try, and of this there seems to be no
doubt. Ten or eleven years ago, Tom Boyd.
then twenty years old, was the terror of
Ripley county, Indiana. He was a barber
and a thief. and an altogether bad mans
He committed several dastardly acts,
and the least of his crimes was robbing
his poor mother. He was at length
caught and tried and sent to the Jefferson
vile penitentiary fora term of ten years.
About six months ago his time was out, and
he reappeared in his old haunts at Moore
Hill. 80 miles from Cincinnati, on the line
of the O. & NJ. 4. r. Bod commenced
barbering again and the people who rersem-
bered him felt very uncomfortable. A hyena
broken loose from menagerie could not
have disquieted them more. Miss Matilda
Stevens attended the Methodist college at
Moores Hill. She walked to and from
the college every day-her fathers
house beng about mile and half cut of
town. Part of the road is lonely with a
dense thicket on one side. Friday evening
of last week when Miss Stevens was return
ing home Boyd bounced upon her from his
concealment in the thicket. He made a
proposition which she Indignantly resented
and commenced screaming for help while
the villain held her fast. He smothered her
cries and dragged her into the woods. She
fought him with desperation, and now
and then managed to utter cry while
within hearing of the public
road. But t.e powerful monster was grad
ually forcing her into the depths of the
thickct. At length he drew long knife and
held it to her throat, threatening to murder
her there if she did not stop her noise. She
only shrieked the louder and fought the
more desperately. Just then sounds were
heard from the road and she made one last
effort to be heard. It succeeded.
The struggle had then lasted ten
minutes. There was evidently an incursion
into the thicket from the road. It was time
for Boyd to go. He hastily told her if she
ever breathed a word to anybody about him
or what had happened he would burn her
fathers house and barns and kill her the first
opportunity. Then he left and disappeared
deeper in the woods, and she was saved in a
| dreadfully bruised and torn condition. Her
face and neck were purple with choking. The
| workmen who, hearing her cries, had come to
her rescue conducted her safely home, and
there she told the story of Tom Boyd, the
barber, to the terrified family. Her father
took immediate measures to secure Boyd
arrest on warrant, but owing to the bung-
ling of the justice of the peace and the
cowardice of the constable, Boyd made his
escape. Then the whole story came out,
and aroused all Moore's Hill, together with
the Methodist college. There was a meeting
of citizens. which resolved itself into vigil
ance committee to hunt Boyd to the death.
A fund of 5000 was Immediately raised to
meet the expenses of catching the fend.