Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-02-27

Among the inmates rescued was one
whom some thought they identified as
Betsey Taylor. Investigation showed
tnat such was the case, and that she was
insane. 1t was stated that she had been
IN the asylum for some months, but no |
one knew whence; she came or who
brought her. She. had been subject to
hard treatment, as it was alleged she had
Deen violent. and it was believed, that
she was blind. The general impression
was that Betsey had been instrumental
IN AIDING THE PERPETRAToR
OF the dreadful crime committed on the
night Of December 81, 1888, or rather in
the early part Of the morning of January
The matter was, however, involved in
the deepest mystery, and as Betsy was
apparently hopelessly insane, there was
little chance of Light being thrown upon
1t. Betsy was removed to an ansylum at
birmingham, and her existence was soon
forgotten. It SO happened however, that
remarkable coincidence brought her AGAIN
to the public gaze, and this time to some
purpose. 49,.
On his return from the Continent in
1890, John Cartrey passed through Birm-
lngham on the mail-coach. In the out
skirts Of the town the coach was upset
and Cartrcy's arm was broken. He was
carried into the very Asylum where Betsy
Taylor was confined. Here he heard with
amazement from the surgeon the account
of her escape from the fire at Melton and
OF her being blind. Being assured OF the
last TACT, he expressed desire alter his
arm was set and few days had elapsed,
to see the girl. He was taken to her
presence, but she was apparently too de-
mented to know any one. She sat with
her eyes closed and noticed nothing.
Suddenly, as John Cartrey spoke in an
unguardedly loud tone, she started,
opened her eyes and fixed them on him.
Slowly rising with distended nostrlls and
heaving bosom, she pointed her skinny
hand at Cartrey and exclaimed:
"There he IS! see for the first time
for long, long time. There is John
Cartrey, the wretch who murdered his
own slster!''
TO express tke CONSERVATION of Car
trey and the attendants would be impos-
sible. Still, nothing would have been
said about the dramatic occurrence but
for the fact that visiting Magistrate
was present, who insisted on having the
matter explained. From that moment
Betsy seemed to recover her senses and
sight. She related how John Cartrey
had repeatedly attempted to ruin her,
and how, on the very night of December
81, 1888, he pursued her to her room.
Afraid to sleep alone, she entrcated Ma
bel to occupy the bed with her, and Bet
sy had occasion to rise early in the morn
ing, and on returning to her room found
John Cartrey quitting the spot which he
had accused by an unheard OF deed.
Cartrey himself was astounded, for in the
frenzy Of passion he had never doubted
that his victim was Betsy; but seeing his
dreadful position, he removed Betsy i'm
mcdiately to a keepers cottage in the
woods, and subsequently caused her to
be conveyed to the Lunatic Asylum at
Melton, and there incarcerated.
John Cartrey was indicted for the
dreadful crime, and convicted and SEN
fenced to be hanged.
THE DROP HAD ACTUALLY FALLEN.
when a pardon arrived. The man was
cut down and resusciated. By arrange
ment the entail was destroyed, and lie
estate OF Gates Hall went to the sisters,
and he retired to London, accompanied
by the keeper whose aid he had used in
removing Betsey Taylor. This keeper
was a brlckmnker by trade, and. with
money furnished by his mother, Cartrey
bought brick field at Bcrmondsey. He
pretended to be penitent, and married
Bctsey Taylor, by whom he had the three
daughters already spoken of. Until they
were grown and settled in life, Cartrey
treated his wife we'll. Suddenly, howev-
er, he decided soma valuable property to
each ofhis children and disappeared from
London. He removed as it turned out,
first to New Forest, in New Hampshire,
and then to Chatham, and resided there.
as the reader already knows, when the
old man died.
| AN ASTOUNDING SACRIFICE.
When Cartrey quilted his London res
idence he pretended to his wife that he
had lost all his property. How she came
to marry Cartrey, and to be interested in
the property left by him, is the lastpoint
to be explained. Her testimony alone
convicted him of the awful crime for
which he nearly forfeited his life. 1t
was through her, also, that he received
the pardon which rly came to late. nea
After bis trial his friends used their
influence to secure pardon, but in vain.
At last an extraordinary device was hit
upon. The girl all along had been at
.tached to John Cartrey, and. had suffer
ed great anguish at having to testify
against him, for he had often protested
great love tor her.
She was admitted to his cell, and he
so worked on her feelings and aroused
her passionate regret at having caused
his conviction that on the pledge of mar
mage, she actually allowed her eyesight
to be destroyed. Then it was triumph
antly announced that she had always
been blind, and could never have idcnti-
fed John Cartrey. On this evidence he
was pardoned. He married the blind
girl, and for many years made her good
husband, among other things settled
on her the peice of land in Bermonsdey
which had proved such source of wealth
to him. He had assured her, however,
that all his property was lost, and as she
was never skilled in business she knew
nothing to the contrary. She fully es-
tablished her claim to the estate lef by
John Cartrey, all Of which had grow as
was proved out of the land owned by Ter.