The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-30
and. Illinois. Tuesday. July 80. 1878.
CRIME

New York. July 28.-The Times prints
the particulars of an atrocious crime which
was committed some months ago at Utica,
in this State. Until this time the revolt
ing facts published, as the family involved
were adverse to publicity. Some time ago
the lovely wife of a wealthy gentleman of
Boston visited friends in this State. At
length she started on her homeward Jour
ney on train of the New York Central
Railroad, expecting to meet her husband
at Albany. She changed cars at Rome,
and took seat in the drawing room coach.
She noticed two middle-aged. weli-dressed
men behind her, who seemed to be making
her the subject of conversation. AS she
was about to pay the conductor for her
seat, one of the men told him TO take no
money from the lady-she was in their
charge, and they would pay her fare. The
lady was terribly frightened, and denied
any knowledge of the men. The conduc-
tor, after short talk with the men, asked
her name and residence, which she gave
him. He then took her fare from the
strangers, saying in reply to her frantic
protest: Madame, these gentlemen told
me your name and residence before |
asked you, and they say your friends have
intrusted you to their care, and that you
are being removed to the Insane Asylum
at Utiea." The poor woman was wild
with terror and violent 10 her demonstra-
tons of fright the passengers easily
thought her insane. She appealed to them
for protection, but received nothing but
pity. Her pretended guardians. with sor-
rowful faces, told of her malady, and
of the hopes of her friends, that under
treatment at Utica, she would recover.
The conductor led her through the
train TO see if any one knew her,
the two ruffians following All believed
her insane,-her own hysterial actions.
the plausible story of the two men. and
their very respectable appearance, giving
color to that theory. Soon the train drew
up at Utica. the Lien bore her faintiDg
from the seat. put her into carriage, and
drove off, while the train sped on its way,
When the cars reached Albany the hus
band was waiting for his wife. He was
astonished not to find her, and, when he
described the lady of his search to the
conductor. the latter knew at once that he
had made terrible blunder. He pro-
cured an engine, and the two proceeded at
once 60 Utica, where they arrived about 4
A, NJ, They found the hackman, who
told them that he had driven two men and
woman to certain house. One of the
men said the lady was ill, and carried her
into the house in his arms. The husband
and conductor went to the place, aud the
keeper told them that the men had en-
gagged room, aud after awhile had left,
| saying that the lady was tired and unwell,
and desired to remain until morning. The
husband found his wife almost nude and
wandering in mind. She had been
drugged in the carriage and then outraged
and robbed of her diamonds aud even of
her wearing apparel. As soon as possible
she was removed to her home in Boston.
She has suffered terribly in mind and bod ,
ever since, and will probably never recover
from the shock OF that terrible night.
Her family thave tried to keep the facts
from the public and much money has
been spent and the best detectives in the
east employed to discover the two ;;llains
without success. Not clue to tLeir
identity has been found. The primary
object of the men was probably to rot
their victim OF her morey aud jewelry.
! CHICAGO, July 29-John Johnston, d
member Ct the board of trade aud busi
ness agent Tor his cousin, Amos v llkins
has leit the city sudd My, being III debt t,
| Mrs. wilkins to the amount OF $1,000
He leaves letter acknowledging his IN
tai;hfuiuess 20 the trust reposed in him
charging his downfall to reckless specula
tons, and prom ing in the course of tim,
to make good his deficiency.