The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-10-04
A .FIEND's CRIME.
A Young Lady Dragged, Outraged
and Left For Dead.
A Reign Of Terror Among the Women In
Consequence OF His Numerous Threats
"A Search Organized BY Masked

SABErHA, Kan, Sspt % This city was
plunged into q state of wild excitement
shortly after noon yesterday by the re.
port Of one Of the most fisndish outrages
that has ever occurred In this part OF the
country. For some weeks past the com.
munity have been periodically checked
by the dastardly actions OF al unknown
villain. Young ladies returning from
places Of worship have been assailed by
this fiend. A number Of ladies, some the
wives Of respectable and wealthy citi'
Gems 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
wife 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 q blanket
and left the house taking refuge in q
grain field, where she was discovered upon
her husbands return. She has since
been confined to her room by sickness
brought on by annonyous letters. Last
Wednesday evening Miss Eva Purity. the
twenty-year. old daughter of Oil, 81
Purity, one of the wealthiest farmers in
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 stalwart
brothers to care for the house. Although
somewhat alarmed herself by the
receipt of the missive. little
apprehension was felt for her
safety by the boys. After eating
hearty breakfast the two brothers left
the house to visit q neighboring farmer
and signifying their intention OF being
absent several hours. While clearing
away the dishes from the dining room
table 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
outcry and take the medicine which he
held in q bottle The terrified young
woman Immediately screamed and be-
gan . struggle to escape from her
captor's tolls. The bottle. which
contained chloroform, was applied &c
her nostrils and she quickly losi
consciousness. Raising the limp body in
his arms tho fiend carried her to corr
field, where he committed horrible out
rage, mutilating her person in Q terrible
manner. After having accomplished his
vile purpose the monster took q vial Of car.
bolic acid from his pocket and poured the
contents down the victims throat, and
leaving her for dead made his escape. An
alarm was given when she was found an
under the leadership Of Express Agent L.
k-I 1T .vSf
started for the scene of the crime An or.
ganized search throughout this country
resulted in the capture by Messra Phillips
and Don Russell of 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 account Of the enraged feeling Of the
populace the tramp was taken to Hia.
watha, where he was placed in the county
Jail to prevent lynching. An invsstiga
ton fails to identify Hollow with
the dastardly deed, and after a sufficient
length of time he will probably be lib.
Grated. It was developed that q 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 tbs perpetrator Of
the outrage The victim, who 10 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 d nd
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,
IL 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 enmity against her. DR.
Irwin, who hasIcharge of the case, says thai
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, .'as 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 q 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