The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-02-25
BLlNDING A WITNESS.


MADISON, Ct.
BLlNDING A WITNESS.
The Horrible Crime in an English Mansion
The Missing Girl Found in Lunatic
Acknowledgement and Saved After the
Drop Had Notwithstanding Her Eye
sight to Destroy Her Own Testimony.
In 1927 there lived in Chatham, Eng
land, an elderly man, named James Rees.
He resided in an old house near the River
Midway, and was reputed to be moder-
ately we'll off. His habits were none of
the cleanliest, and the clothes he wore
were always shabby and patched. An
old blind woman lived with him, and
generally went by his name. She SEEM
ed to stand in great dread of him, and it
was said that he was in the habit of beat
ing her when anything got him out of
temper. The couple were always spoken
of in mysterious whispers by the neigh
bors, few of whom, however, ever dared
to 60 near their dwelling. Once, wo-
man named Cleary thought she would be
neighborly and call on them. AS she
drew near to the house she heard voices,
and alter she retired reported to her hus-
band a very strange conversation which
she said she had overheard between Rees
and the blind woman.
Mrs. Cleary said that she went toward
the door and stood on the porch ready to
knock, when she heard Rees say:
"Betsy, you've been id sight more
useful to me without your eyes than ever
you was before spoilt them for YOU"
"Ah, WE'LL" the woman replied, lit
may be so, but It's nay satisfaction to
know that hell-fre will feed on your
cursed eyes forever!"
This conversation at once raised the
suspicion that Rees had at one time put
out his wifes eyes, and it did not raise
him In the estimation of his neighbors.
On November 5, 1897, Rees died. Lit
tie. if any, property was found in his
possession, and the blind woman was re-
moved to the poor-house. A few days
after his death, a lawyer came down from
London, accompanied by
THREE ELEGANTLY DRESSED LADIES.
Who claimed to be the daughters of the
dead man. A search was made, and pa.
pers were found concealed in an old
hamper which revealed the fact that Rees'
real name was John Cartrey, and that he
owned property in London estimated at
over Ga, 100000. Originally, it appeared
locality in Bermondsey, where he kept a
brick yard; but the extensive growth of
the city calling for the space, the price
rose, and he realized an immense fortune.
He set up splendid establishment, and
educated his children we'll. All died ex-
cept the three daughters alluded to, all
of whom married we'll.
OF Cartrey's early history no one
seemed to know, but he bore frightful
mark on his neck and cheek, which his
enemies were wont to say was the cause
of the hangman's moose. While the
daughters were prosecuting their claim
to Cartrey's immense property, the old
blind wife was lying in the poor-house.
As soon as she learned that the husband
was rich, she changed her behavior and
asked for a lawyer. One of the best in
the place was sent for, and she began
proceedings which the story will explain.
The narrative which follows is taken
without alteration from the record of the
trial and the documents in connection
with the case. No matter how strange
1t may appear, 1t is absolutely true as
sworn to by witnesses whose words would
have been believed in any Court Of JUS
tise and in any community.
sTRANGE STORY.
In 1888, when George the Third was
still comparatively young man, there
stood IN the suburbs of Leicester, Eng
land, pretentious dwelling house known
as Gates Hall. The River Soar flowed
near it, and it was not far from the great
North road or rampant, as it was called
The occupants of this house were fami-
ly named Cartrey, or, as some spelled it,
Carteret. 1t consisted of father, mother,
three daughters and one son. For many
generations there had been but one son
in the family-a fact which bad caused
many comments and became remarkable.
The estate of the Cartreys was large, the
father having an income Of over fifteen
thousand pounds sterling, and the moth
or having one third as much in her right.
The estate was strictly entailed that is,
1T went entire to the next heir. Young
Cartrey, popularity known as Jack, was a
handsome, daring fellow of twenty-five,
and his sisters were all younger. Jenny,
the eldest, was nineteen, Dorothy was
seventeen, and Mabel sixteen. They
were all comedy damsels, full of life and
health, and we'll educated in accordance
with the times.
On December 81, 1888, all the family
were at home. They sat up in obser-
vance of an established custom to see the
old year pass out and the new year in,
and did not assemble at breakfast next
morning until late hour. The young
est daughter was then absent. Time
passed, and as she did not appear, and
inquiry failed to disclose her whereabouts,
the family were aroused, and search was
made, and she was