St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-01-10
A Lady Chlroformed and Robbed in a
Boston Hotel.

Boston Hotel.
Another remarkable crime, the victim
being a lady travelling alone, is report
ed somewhat tardily, the parties hav-
ing used every means to keep it out ot
print. As the story goes, Mrs. Della S.
Norris, whose residence is in Eleventh
street, New York, arrived in Boston, on
Thursday, Dec. -, shortly before noon.
At the station she was met by gentle
man who there paid to her $50, which
he owed her on Il business account. At
his request, she retired to one of the
waiting-rOomS to count the money in
his presence. While engaged in running
over the bills. which were mostly of
small denominations, she noticed that
she was observed by Il man, well-dress-
ed and gentlemanly i'll appearance, who
was standing near by. As she left the
station, for the purpose of taking car
riage to the fremont House, the man
who had watched her in the station
passed, and Scrutinized her features
closely. Disturbed, but not particularly
alarmed, the lady passed along, engaged
Il carriage, directed the driver to get her
trunk and drive to the hotel named.
Arriving at the hotel about noon, she
was assigned to a room. After resting Il
while, she started out to make some pur-
chaSeS at Il store opposite the hotel. On
leaving the store she was startled to
observe standing outside the same man
~ho had watched her in the railway
station anu uuu I'rr~-vu rvt Ia cirU -urv,yt-
Hastening into the hotel, she went to
her room, and there remained till night.
In the evening, accompanied by friend
from New York, who happened to be in
the city. she went to the theatre, and
there, too, saw the mysterious stranger
studying her features through an opera
glass. The lady called the attention of
her escort to the man, and related the
events of the day. The fellow soon af-
ter disappeared. After the play, the
lady returned with her escort to the ho-
tel, and soon retired to her room, the
gentleman leaving for his lodgings, first,
however, going to the office, at her re-
quest, and directing that she should be
called ut Z the next morning, to take the
early train for New York. This was
about Ills.
The lady on reaching her apartment
prepared for bed, first, however, locking
and bOlting the door of her room. She
also took the money which she had re-
ceived ut the station from her pnrse and
put 1t at the bottom of her trunk, and
placed the key under her shawl on the
bureau. She then retired and soon fell
asleep. At about , O'clock, as near as she
can remember, she was awakened by
man who was standingnear the bed. The
light in the room was so dim that she
was unable to get clear view of his
He stood fn bap Sba
tempted to scream for help, but before
she could utter Il sound he clutched her
10y the throat with one hand, and with
the other held Il pistol at her head,
threatening to kill her if she resisted. As
bed, falling on her stomach, and almost
depriving her of breath. AS he made
this movement he released his grasp
sufficiently for her to gasp out, ''for
Gods sake spare my life" Lowering his
pistol for moment, but still clutching
her neck with one hand, he suddenly
applied something wet and of Il sicken-
ing odor to her face, and she lost con-
sciOusness.
At Z o'clock in the morning the port
er, in making his rounds went to the
door of the room to call the lady. Sur
prised to find the door partly open, he |
stepped in and was startled at the sight. |
The lady lay on the bed with napkin,
stained with blood and evidently hav-
ing been saturated with chlOrofOrm,
tied over her face. The bed was in
disorder and blood was on the pillows
The trunk was open and the contents
scattered over the floor and the money
gone. An examination showed that the
door had been forced with small
'.Jimmy," the staple catching the bolt
having been torn from its fastenings.
The hOusekeeper and a doctor were
summoned, and the lady soon regained
consciousness. She denied that she had
been subjected to bodily violence, fur
ther than has been stated. The blood
stains on the napkin and pillows, it was
thought, proceeded from her nostrils
and throat in consequence of the rough |
usage to which she had been subjected. |
She received every attention from the |
hotel people, and when able to travel.
was sent to her home in New York, ac-
companied by the hotel housekeeper, |
who did not leave her until she saw
her in the company of her husband and
in her home. Every effort has been
made to identify the "mysterious strane-
er," as the lady is inclined to think that
he is the culprit. The hotel people ap-
pear to be satisfied that the lady's story
is true, and that she was assaulted and
robbed as related. They cannot under
stand, however, how the door, with its
strong, Old-fashioned bolts, could be
forced without noise being made.
The lady is about Sc years of age, re-
tined in manners, and rather attractive
IN appearance. She is quiet and unob-