The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1879-09-17
A SCRAP OF PAPER.

The following remarkable story has never
before been published in its complete form.
Years ago the main features of it were
printed in the New York Cosuatt, but, for
the sake of certain parties involved, the
full narrative was suppressed.
George Layman was farmer, residing
near Selby, in Yorkshire, England Though
not an educated man by any means, he was
above the average farmer. He had good
home, well-furnished and fine farm ex-
cellently stocked. He was twenty-eight
years old, and unmarried. With him re-
sided an only sister of seventeen and a girl
of remarkable beauty. In 1926, when this
narrative opens, brother and sister were
living in the greatest affection and harmony.
In those days il was customary Tor farmers
to employ young men, generally the sons
OF other farmers, and to board and lodge
them in the house, George Layman had
seven such. One of them was named
Thomas Miller He was about nineteen or
twenty, we'll built, and exceptionally good
looking and attractive. He was exceed
ingly well informed, and spoke without any
of the peculiarities of dialect for which
Yorkshire men are noted. His connections
were unknown. He came to the farm house
with n stick in his hand and bundle on
his shoulder, and obtained nights lodg-
ing. He got into conversation With the
farmer and the hands, and, though he adj
mitted that he knew nothing of farming,
but had worked at the trade of a gunsmith,
he expressed desire to remain and make
himself useful about the place. Layman as
scented. Miller joined the other young men,
and was apparently soon deeply interested
in his work
An acquaintance soon sprang up between
Miller and Fanny Layman, the farmers
sister. Unfortunately it took a clandestine
FORM and the lovers-for such they soon
became-met in secret. The consequences
which might be expected followed, and
Miller soon afterward disappeared. When
ii was apparent to her brother and neigh
bors that she was to become a mother, she
solemnly averred that she had been mar
ried to Miller, and produced a certificate
showing such to be the fact. Miller dis
appeared March 20, 1926, when Fanny was
within three months of her confnement.s
On April II following u stranger arrived
at the inn in the adjacent village, and sent
for Farmer Layman. lie represented that
he was anxious to hire run for cattle, and
had heard that Layman's land was pecu-
liarly adapted. A long conversation fol-
lowed, and Layman did not return home
until rather late. On the road thither, and
nOb more ttlRn nan i mile from MS nome,
he came Epon a carriage standing in the
road.
Several men were around, and one held
lantern while the others were putting on the
fore off wheel, which had come off in rut.
Layman paused moment, and as he did
% heard a stihed groan from the vehicle.
Whats the matter7" he asked. "Any
enc hurt2"
"Oh, no." was the reply; "the lady is
only alarmed that's ALL"
"Hclp-helpp was heard in tones that
seemed to indicate a struggle to free the
speakers mouth from muffling hood.
What means this?' Layman inquired,
excitedIy, springing from his horse and go
ing toward the door Of the carriage.
he was confronted by stalwart, gray
haired man in a capacious cloak, who
thrust him aside with his left hand, and
said:
"Do not interfere, my friend; the lady is
my daughter, and she is slightly alarmed
that is all"
At the same time another person stepped
up to Layman and whispered
" She has long been confined in lunatic
asylum, and we are just conveying her
home. Make no alarm, or she may have to
return"
Thus appealed to the farmer passed on,
and before two minutes had elapsed the
coach passed out OF sight and hearing in an
opposite direction.
When the farmer reached home he found
that his sister was missing. Soon after he
left for the inn person brought a. message
ior her, and she walked down the road
with him. That was the last seen of her.
Search was made all over the neighbor-
hood, but it was unavailing. The man
at the hotel who had sent for Layman van
ished the same night, and it was believed
that he was in conspiracy with the abduc-
tors Of the girl, and on him devolved the
part to get the farmer out of the way while
hiss'sister was removed
What was the object of the abduction
That was the interesting question. Several
days passed, and the neighborheod was still
in excitement over the missing girl, when a
servant, cleaning out the CRATE in the room
occupied by the stranger at the inn, found
scrap OF paper clinging to the chimney.
1t had been partly burned with others, but
had been carried up the chimney by draft
and chung to protuberance. This scrap of
paper was thought nothing of by the SER
want, and would have been thrown away if
the landlord had not seen it and observed on
i. the name "Layman." This attracted his
attention, and he read all that was there.
II was as follows:
--get the out.
the way, you can easily entice fanny
ITse what aids----find need