Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-03
A FIEND'S CRIME.
A Young Lady Dragged, Outraged
md Left For Dead.
A Reign of Terror Among the Women In
Consequence of His Numerous Threats
"A Search Organized BY Masked
Men.

SABETHA, Kat, Sept 30-This city was
| plunged into a state of wild excitement
shortly after noon yesterday by the re-
| port of one of the most fiendish outrages
that has ever occurred in this part of the
| country. For some weeks past the COM
munity have been periodically shocked
| by the dastardly actions of an unknown
villain. Young ladies returning from
| places of worship have been asssiled by
this fiend- A number of ladies, some the
wives of respectable and wealthy citi-
zenS, have received letters written in
red ink warning them upon pain
of an agonizing death to leave their hus.
bands and fly with the unknown writer.
Mr.. Jerome J. Hostetter was informed
that unless he Immediately abandoned his
W.T. that he would be shot and his wife
abducted. Mr.. Hostetter was not at home
when the letter was received and the
alarmed woman, almost paralyzed with
fright, wrapped her baby in a blanket
and left the house taking refuge in 6
grain field, where she was discovered upon
her husbands return. She has since
been confined to her room by sickness
brought on by anonymous letters. Last
Wednesday evening Miss Eva Purity, the
twenty-year- old daughter of DIV Ell
Purity, one of the weathiest farmers il
this neighborhood. received a similar
message. Both of the young lady's pa
rents are in the East leaving Eva at home
Under the protection of two sialwari
brothers to care for the house. Although
somewhat alarmed herself by the
receipt of the miss!ve. little
apprehension was felt for heI
safety by the boys. After eating
a hearty breakfast the two brothers left
the house to visit a neighboring farmer
and signifying their intention of being
absent several hours. While clearing
away the dishes from the dining room
table a masked man silently stole into the
apartment and upon turning around Miss
Purity was suddenly chloroformed by
the brute, who warned her to make nc
cutlery and take the medicine which he
held in a bottle. The terrified young
woman Immediately screamed and be-
gan a struggle to escape from her
captor's tolls. The bottle. which
contained chloroform, was applied &c
her nostrils and she quickly los
Consciousness. Raising the limp body in
his arms the fiend carried her to a corr
field, where he committed a horrible out.
manner. After having accomplished his
vile purpose the monster took vial of car
boIic acid from his pocket and poured the
contents down the victims threat, and
leaving her for dead made his escape. An
alarm was given when she was found an
hour later and nearly 500 armed men,
under the leadership of Express Agent L.
w. Phillips, mounted their horses anc
- NoI 60 - 8 -
ganized search throughout this country
resulted in the capture bv Messrs. Phillips
and Don Russell of a tramp who answered
the description given Of the perpetrator.
The prisoner who gave his name as Rich
ard Hollow claimed to be working his
way to Kansas City where he had friends.
On a count of the enraged feeling of the
p0pulace the tramp was taken to Hia.
wathh, where he was placed in the county
all to prevent lynching. An investiga.
ion fails to identify Hollow with
the dastardly deed. and after a sufficient
length of time he will probably be lib
Grated. 1t was developed that a great
deal of jealousy has existed among the
residents of the eastern portion of the
town, and rumor hints to a discarded
lover of Miss Purity as the perpetrator OF
the outrage Inc victim, VINO is at the
house of c. J. Hooper, is beyond all hope
of recovery and will die. The mouth and
stomach are horribly burned by the ,ad-
ly acid. An Indignation meeting was
held yesterday afternoon and steps are
being taken to fasten the crime upon the
suspected lover, who resides within a
few miles of Mr. Purtty's house.
if the facts will warrant it. The unfor-
tunate young lady regained conscious
ness for few moments about six O'CLOCK
this evening and was able to give a fan
description of her assailant who she be.
lieves bears some enmty against her. DR.
Irwin, who has,charge of the case, says that
it is one of the most aggravated of its
kind that has ever come to his knowledge.
The victim will not live until another
sunset" said the doctor, las the acid has
burned through the lining of the
bowels and peritonitis has set in, which
will accomplish the work intended by her
murderer. Many ladies who have re-
ceived similar warnings from the in
human monster are in a state of abject
terror, and armed guards have been
placed to watch the houses, although the
fiend will hardly attempt another out
rage so soon after his last fatal work.