New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-30
HOT SEARCH FOR A CRIMINAL
CLEws TO MISS sTOCUNrs AssAILANT
AN ASSAULT OF A SIMILAR CHARACTER PROBABLY
BY THE SAME MAN.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l

BY THE SAME MAN.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUNE
PURDY's STATION, N. Y, June 29.-Rumors
of black negroes and yellow negroes, caught and
uncaught, have foated about here all day and have
kept the people CT the whole region at the same
pitch Of excitement that of the last few days But
the black assailant of Miss Stocum is still at large
The number of Miss Stocum's watch was 27,23o
News came early in the morning that the negro cap
tured at Cornwall ont the Hudson was decidedly
the wrong lcOon." as it was known that he was IN
the place all Tuesday when the assault on Miss So-
cum took place. In the morning David Beebe ana
one Smith, young man Of the village, started tor
the hlly district near Katonah where several black
families live. negro from there had given infor-
nation which led to the belief that Miss Stocum's
aSsai!ant was hiding in the region After visiting
number of cabins the searchers found their quest
a fruitless one and returned to this place.
A dispatch was received at White Plains early in
the afternoon from Bridgeport, Conn. stating that
the negro captured there was still in custody and
asking for full description of the mau who had
committed the assault little later a message
came to friends of the Stocums at Goden's Bridge
from George Stocum. He was then at Dnnbury.
He said that he bad clew which would probably
lead TO TIE capture of the black sconndrel at last
This evening "A correspondent Of THE TRIBUNE vis-
tied the Stocum place IN North salem and found
that George had Just returned from bis two days
search for bis sisters assaiant He told the story
of his finding the clew as follows
Yesterday morning | went to Rdgeiield and
Danbury with Deputy Sheriff Erastus Finch, Of
this town. and found that the negro who offered to
sell a watch in the latter place was not the we
wanted. Then we heard that similar assault to
the one on my sister had taken place at Reading,
n. .l,a adi Wa
Reading al. found that negro. closely resembling
the scoundrel We wanted. had visited the house of
an aged couple named Turtinton, who live in Read
ing about eight miles southeast of Danbury, on
Thursday. lie entered the house after max
ing sure that Mr. Turtnton was not
at home. He took OFF his shoes
and crept into the inner room. There he found old
Mrs. 1nrtinton alone. lie seized her violently, and
after talking to her much the assallant here did
TO my sister, drew revolver and threatened to
shoot his aged victim II she made an outcry. A
struggle ensued. and the black william was foiled IN
his dastardly attempt. He then found Bible aud
brngingit to Mrs Turtinton made her swear upon
it that she would not tell Of the affair. He also
made her promise that she would not move from her
chair TOR an hour, threatening to return and shoot
her If she did. Then this miscreant went away but
came back three times within the hour to see if the
old lady Kept her promise TO him. Finally he took
to the woods and disappeared.
THE mans language was remarkably like that
of my sisters assaiant, even to the excess of pro-
fanitv in which he Indulged. His whole method.
as you must sec, was exactly the same. Well that
is the beginning of tho clew. We found out the
name Of this Reading villain, and found that he had
been implicated in many crimes In that vicinity.
where he has been known aS vicious character for
oight years. We could hear nothing of the mans
movements on Friday or Saturday following his at
tempted assault on Mrs. Turunton, but on Sunday
morning q house near RIdgeJury Mountain, about
five miles IN this direction from Reading, was en-
tered aud provisions were stolen. On Monday morn
ing a negro closely resembling the Reading one aud
our man came up To a farm. house door quarter of
awav by the farmers daughter coming To the door
I" cali her Ithsr. On Monday night, the night be-
fore The assault on nv sister, john JaneSs cellar
was entered. Ibis place Is about tnrce miles nearer
here. Provisions were taken from there also.
Janes's place Is only thrno miles from the place
where nv sister was attacked Now we know
that the Reading negro had relatives living on Ira
Wheelers place half way b~twe-n here and Janes'5.
The relatives left Whrelrr's place only few days
before the unfortunate Tuesday, ~ we think that
there can hr 20 doubt ihar the Reading william Is
the North Salem william. We will catch the Read
ing negru just he's living man. Then
we Will see.n