The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1890-08-15
LONG HILL.

A DISGUSTING TALE IN WHITE AND BLACK.
IL would seem that the fates are con-
spring to bring Long Ilill into notori-
ETY. rs unusual as it is undesirable, for
crime and sensation have followed in
quick succession. Almost before the
echoes of the cutting affray ut Parlor
Rock had died away came the statement
proven true by investigation, that Thorn
MS Bridgeforth, n Virginia negro black
as the proverbal ace of spades, was to
wed Miss Annie Temlett, white girl of
English parentage. The usual abhor-
renee with which such mis- mated mar
riages are regarded was intensified, in
this instance, by the fact that the girl
had pleasant and comfortable home
with Charles Il. Wheeler, with whom she
has lived for ~ years, or since the death |
OF her parents when she was about IL
years of age. BY both Mr. Wheeler and
his wife, who died some six or eight |
months ago, she has always been treated
with great kindness and has been regard
ed as daughter rather than servant.
Quite recently, Mr. Wheeler bought a
pair of ponies, u stylish vehicle and a
light harness, to crafty her wish. At
the death of her parents, Annie acquired
several hundred dollars, which has since
Increased to between $1,000 and $1,000,
part OF which was deposited in Bridge
port bank and part In New York bank,
while some had been loaned to relatives
and this money the negro evidently COW
H.. 70 q
could not be explained, for she was we'll
aware that when he was living Mt III. Il.
Wheeler's, he brought u negress and six
children, whom he introduced and ack-
nowledged rs his wife and family, from
Virginia; but he abused them and the
authorities found IL necessary to inter
fere. lie now denies that the woman,
from whom he certainly has not obtained
divorce, ever was his wife; but either
story, II true, throws II decidedly unfav-
orable light upon his moral character,
Thomas worked for G.. Il. Wheeler for
several months, after leaving II. r..
wheeler's ut the end of two years and
his broad smile and suave manner quick
ly made him excellent friends with An
ME Temlett, who, Mr. Wheeler says, was
not blessed with more than ordinary in
telllgence. About year ago, Thomas
secured employment at Mrs +. Il. Bur
roughs's, but was frequently ut Mr.
wheeler's. During the Winter, when
there was little work on either farm, he
arranged with Mr. Wheeler to do the barn
work and chores for him three days in
the week. lie spent much time in the
house, however. Although it had been
specified that he should not eat at Mr.
Wheeler's, Annie made a practice of
giving him food and often went so far as
to cook extra meals for his benefit. Mr.
Wheeler frequently found Thomas in the
kitchen with Annie during the evening.
~ often demonstrated with her." said
Mr. Wheeler ''told her that she had no
business to be around with him all the
time and that didn't want her to cook
for him all the time. Finally, l got my
sister to talk to her and she at last prom
ised to have nothing more to do with the
negro. But, as | afterward found, she
did not intend to keep her promise"
Clandestine meetings were frequently
held and Thomas soon began to emulate
the famous Joe where he sings of his An
ME Rooney,
Soon wen marry,
Never to part.
This came to the ears of Mr. Wheeler. but
he could obtain nothing but point blank
denials from Annie, though he was salts
fled that she was constantly receiving
messages from Bridgeforth. At last, he
Intercepted note, wrapped in a piece
of brown paper, which child of John
Hauslaib was bringing in. Recognizing
the negro's penmanship, Mr. Wheeler
called Annie, who had evidently been ex-
pecting the note and who turned red and
white when she saw it in his hand. He
n asked IL It was from Thomas and If she
|, had been holding frequent communica-
ton with him, but she refused to answer
! and declared that he had no right to die
tate to her In such matters. After fur
Their arguments, she said, "Well, perhaps
I'D better go away" ayes, think you
had" reioined Mr. Wheeler, calmly.
"Then I'll go; I'll go tomorrow" "No,
you had better go to-day" She accord
ingly left ut once, with few effects, pre-
sumably for Brooklyn, where she has sis
tiers. This was nearly five weeks ago.
She returned later for her property and
did not fail to visit Thomas. He finished
work at Mrs Burroughs, August /, but
did not leave Long Hill until Thursday,
9TH, when he went to Bridgeport and
procured a marriage license, telling Town
Clerk Watson that he was 40 and unmar-
ried and that Annie was 33 and ''had
some white blood" He intended To
have been married in a colored church
In Bridgeport, but altered his arrange
4 ments and wished civil officer in New
Haven to ofiiciate. He failed to appear
at the appointed hour, however and i
was surmised that they had gone to Bos
ton to be made one, though it has beer
matter of doubt to some whether the.
were married, after all. Mr. Wheeler
who expresses himself quite stongly Of
the matter, thinks that Thomas ought +
be arrested for blgamy and given tn
heaviest sentence the law allows. "H
was worthless on the farm" said M
Wheeler, sand yet Annie CONSTANT
dwelt upon his many points of superior
ity. She found fault with all other me
/ employed and was never satisfied vi
Less Thomas was here. Oh, that girl d
ceived me wretchedly. I had no i'd
she or any one could tell such mass
falsehood and keep the truth so careful
concealed for so long" Mr. Wheel
further said that Thomas appeared
think that he could marry Annie, ST.
into his shoes and run the farm in hig
" successful manner. Though not