Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-15
\ YOUNG GIRLS TORTURE.
The Brutal Treatment of a Heartless
Lover.

\ Scranton, Pa, special to the New
York Times, April y, says: This after
noon girl with frightened face and dis
heveled hair ran into the Susquehanna
House, and, falling on her knees before
Mrs. Carpenter, wife Of the hotel pro-
prietOr, begged for protection. She said
that she had escaped from a man who had
kept her chained to the floor of a back
room on Spruce street, in the centre of the
city, night and day. for nearly three
weeks, and that she feared he would can
ture and kill her. At first it was thought
that the girl was insane, but her in
tense earnestness, haggard looks, and
large, pitiful eyes touched every heart
and her thrilling story was listened to
with wonder and Indignation. Before she
had time to finish the horrible recital
large, slouchy, fair-haired man of about
30 years rushed in out of breath and au-
thOrtatlyely demanded that the girl
should 90 with him. His appearance
upon the scene filed her with terror and
throwing her arms about Mrs. Carpenter
she exclaimed, My Godl Don't let him
take me again." The man caught the girl
by the arm, but Mrs. Carpenter told him
to stand back, and he shrank before the
firm glance of the plucky woman, and
finally went away.
Meantime the police were communicated
with. and Chief De Lacy, with two Off
GERS, went to the rooms indicated by the
fugitive and arrested physician calling
himseif DR.. W. :. Madden. 4 number of
chains, locks and staples were found in
his room, and these were taken to the
police station, where Madden had hear
ing before Mayor Beamish. The girl
whose name is Sadie McClanaghan, APP
peared against the prisoner and told
painful story of his brutality and heart
lessness. She said that she had made her
home for some time in LewistOwn, Pa.
with her sister. Madden had got her into
trouble. and promised to marry her as
soon as he could get a divorce from his
wife, who IS living in Altoona, this State.
This was about the beginning of last Jan
uary. At that time Madden had an Office
in this city, having come here about two
Years ago with a quack named Gibson.
who r. now in prison for an indecent
assault on female patient. The Girl
Says
4 declined at first to have anything to
do with him until after he should get the
divorce from his wife, but he swOre to my
sister and my brOther-in-law that i'll came
to Scranton he would take good care Of
me, and that as soon as his divorce was
obtained. on the second Monday i'm April
he would make me his wife. did not ac-
company him, however, and he kept
v.
when ! consented to come After our
meeting in his Office | said that | would
90 back and stay with my sister until the
divorce was granted, but he would not
hear of this, and the thought of my going
away seemed to make him wild. He GOT
chains and locks, tied them about nv
ankles, and fastened one to the bed in
his room and the other to the floor. |
cried out for help, but he seized me by the
throat and chOked me until l thought he
would Kill me. He has kept me chained
day and night ever since. At first he
brought some food in a basket from a res
taurant and we ate it together, but after
while he took his own meals outside and
occasionally carried in a sandwich for
me. l made several attempts to escape
but it was no use. He had nailed down
the windows, and he fastened the doors
securely whenever he went out. He fre-
qUently threw me on the floor and stamped
on my breast with his knees uutil | was
sick and sore. / have known him for near
ly two years. My people don't know that
he has abused me in this way. What shall
l do to keep the affair from my mother?"
Madden, who fell on his knees and
begged for mercy when the Chief Of Police
came to arrest him. denied the girls story
at first, but finally admitted having
chained her 10 the floor for fear she would
90 out and tell about him. The evidences
of his heartlessness were overwhelming.
and the Mayor ordered him to find bail in
SLS00. Failing in this, he was taken to
the county jail. As soon as the story got
abroad there was great indignation among
the people on the streets, and threats of
lynching the scOundrcl were freely in
dulged in. His victim is about 20 years
Of age. The wreck Of a beautiful bru-
nette, she is half starved, and she says
that often when he chained her to the floor
at night she lay there in terror, thinking
he would Kill her before morning.