The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-08-26
THE LAYMAN MYSTERY.

complete form. Years ago the main
features of it were printed in the New
York Courdnt but, for the sake of GER
tain parties involved, the full narrative
was suppressed.
George Layman was a farmer, resid-
ing near Selby, in Yorkshire, England.
Though not an educated man by any
means, he was above the average far
mer of the time. He had q good home,
we'll furnished, and fine farm excel
lently stocked. He was twenty-eight
years old, and unmarried. With him
resided an only sister of seventeen and
girl of remarkable beauty. In 1926,
when this narrative opens, brother and
sister were living in the greatest afiec-
tion and harmony. In those days 1t
was customary 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, well
built, and exceptionally good looking
aud attractive. He was exceedingly well
informed, and spoke without any of the
peculiarities of dialect for which York
shire men are noted. He came to the
farmhouse with a stick in his hand
and bundle on his shoulder, and
obtained nights lodging. He got into
conversation with the farmer and the
hands, and, though he admitted that he
knew nothing of farming, but had
worked at the trade of gunsmith, he
expressed desire to remain and make
himself useful about the place. Layman
assented. Miller joined the other young
men, and was apparently soon deeply
interested in his work.
An acquaintance soon sprang up be-
tween Miller and Fanny Laym an, the
farmers sister. Unfortunately it took
clandestine form, and the lovers-for
such they soon became-met in secret.
The consequences which might be
expected followed, and Miller soon after
ward disappeared. When it was appar-
ent to her brother and neighbors that
she was to become mother, she solemn
ly av erred that she had been married to
Miller, and produced certificate show
ing such to be the fact. Miller disap-
peared March 20, 1926, when Fanny was
within three months of her confine-
ment.
On April 18th following, stranger
arrived at The small inn in the adjacent
village, and sent for Farmer Layman.
He represented that he was anxious to
hire run for cattle, and had heard that
Layman's land was peculiarly adapted.
A long conversation followed, and Lay
man did not return home until rather
late. On the road thither, and not more
than half mile from his home, he
came upon carriage standing in the
road. Several men were around, and
one held a lantern while the others were
putting on the fore wheel, which had
come off in q rut. Layman paused a
moment, and as he did so he heard a
stifled groan from the vehicle.
"What's the matter ?" he asked.
Any one hurt?"
"Oh, no, was the reply; !" the lady
is only alarmed-that is all"
Help-help was heard in tones
that seemed to indicate struggle to free
the speakers mouth from muffling
hood.
"What means this ?" Layman in
quired, excitedly, springing from his
horse and going toward the door of the
carriage.
He was confronted by stalwart, gray
haired man in 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 been long confined in a
lunatic asylum, and we are just convey
ing 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 hear
ing 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 for her, and she walked down
the road with him. That was the last
seen of her.
Search was made all over tha nei OH