The daily gazette., 1880-07-27
FIFTH EDITION.
A TALE OF HORROR.
MRS. TsCHIFFELY's RECITAL OF
John DIaGs' RRIrTAI, OUTRAGE.

VINO was so Drutally outraged Dy
John Diggs, negro, near Rockville,
Md, on Sunday night, made the fol-
lowing statement TO a Baltimore
Gazette reporter
THE vIcEM's TERRIBLE STORY.
"On Sunday afternoon my husband
left home to go to Beltsville, in
Prince Georges county, where he
was required toattend to do some bus
iness. During the afternoon | was
visited by several friends, who re-
manned until 7.30 P. NJ. After their
departure / got John to go to Darn
estown for some coal oil, and during
his absence MI. Amos West, neigh
Dor, came over to my house and sat
with me until ii P. NJ. AS he was
leaving Mr.. West remarked: Mrs.
Tschiffely, If you are afraid to stay
here by yourself i will remain all
night. Ideclined his offer, however,
saying that John was in the house
and 1 felt perfectly safe, and after a
few minutes he wished me good
evening and left for home"
At this point in her narrative Mrs.
Tschiffely exclaimed in a despairing
voice, "Oh if l had only let him
stay" Recovering her composure
she proceeded: "Such thought
and fearing to remain in the house
with John never entered my head as
he had always conducted himself
quietly and respectfully, and pro-
fessed to be devoted to the interests
of Mr.. Tschiffely. After Mr.. Amos
left l went through the house to the
kitchen intending to go into the yard
to see if the chicken coops were all
properly closed up. AS l opened
the door from the kitchen to the
back porch l found John sitting on
the steps and told him he had better
90 to bed. AS he rose told him
where he could find some pears when
he muttered something about want
ing some wine. This 1 told him he
could not have, when he entered the
kitchen and closed the door after
him, at the same time locking it.
Something in his manner alarmed
me and / started hastily in the house
and ran out the front door. John then
unlocked the kitchen door and rushing
around the house caught up to me as
l sank to the ground, thoroughly ex-
hausted. He grasped me by the hair
OF my head, which'tore loose from its
fastenings, and half dragged and half
carried me back to the front porch,
where he forced me into seat on the
steps.
"oH, GOD HOW HE FRIGHTENED MEr'
The unfortunate lady had been so
agitated that she ceased speaking for
several minutes, coughing painfully at
frequent intervals. With an effort,
she continued : "He sat there beside
me several minutes, attempting fire.
quent familiarities, which / repulsed
as well as my terror would permit,
fearing to excite his anger. Suddenly
he grasped me around the waist and
apparently enraged at my resistance,
he again fastened on to my hair and
compelled me to ascend to my bed
room. He then locked all the doors of
the house and with the keys in his
pocket returned to the room"
Overcome with horror at her recol-
lections, Mrs. Tschiffely here sank
back on the bed and moaned piteously
"Oh God! oh God! how ill he treated
me; oh the indignities to which / was
subjected! He remained in that room,
sir, until about 30 o'clock, and if |
made the slightest outcry he beat me
numerically. Once | said to him,
John, how can you treat me SOP" He
appeared to be stricken with remorse,
and was in hopes that he would re-
lease me, when he suddenly exclaim-
ed: Mrs. Tschiffely, l am sorry, but
it can't be helped; you have but a
short time to live.
He then threatened to tie me up in
the bed and burn me up. He added,
you have got TO die anyhow and
might as well die tonight as any other
time About 80 he went down stairs
leaving me in the bed room, and after
some time, hoping he had gone, also
descended. To my horror 1 found
him still in the kitchen, and determ-
ined to make All effort to escape from
him, therefore in a matter of fact
tone ordered him to go out and milk
the cows, at the same time sitting
down on chair on the porch, for |
was really too weak to exert myself
further. John looked at me SUSPECT
ously and asked me abruptly if would
be afraid to stay in the house with
him.
HE CHoKEs AND BEAT HER.
Without thinking what the result of
my reply would be shuddered with
horror and told him be should hang for
what he had done. That settles it, b
exclaimed, in an enraged tone; and
rushing at me he again commenced
choking and beating me with his fist. |
was utterly unable to resist him, but his
fury appeared TO increase and his abuse
was redoubled. He dragged me by my
hair INTO the diningroom and throwing
me on the floor knelt on my breast. He
then grasped my throat with one hand
and with the other struck me repeated
blows in the face with his clenched fist
until lost consciousness. When re-
covered he again assailed me, when
pleaded, "John, for Gods sake don't
kill me" He continued to strike me for
some time, but finally got off of me and
left tie room. never saw him again,
| heard him going up to his room and
afterward come down stairs when all
was qoet. With great exertion 1 got
on my feet and then another until got
out ON the lawn.
then first commenced to hope could
escape, aud with desparlng effort ran
down the pathway, got into the road and