Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-01-22
TWO DAYS In AGONY
A Farm Hand Hung Up by His
Wrists for Fifty-one Hours.
BOUND AND GAGGED By THIEVES
Rescued by the Merest Chance by the
Daughter Of His Employer.


Their Track-Threats of Lynching Made
by Indignant CItizens-Robbery the
Motive Which Prompted the Deed.
NEW BRUNSWICK, N. j., Jan. Ga
John Toms, "a years old, who for the last
three winters hes been caretaker of the
old Felter mansion on the Hamilton
street road, about a mile and half from
the boundary line of New Brunswick, is
the survivor of an experience of physic al
torture so diabolical in conception and so
cold blooded in execution that few men
ever suffered the like and lived to tell
the story.
For nearly so hours he was suspended
by his wrists, which had first been bound
behind him, from hook in a dark closet
in a deserted house. his toes just grazing
the floor, the closet door closed upon him
and the faint hope of rescue that his
cries for help might bring banished by a
gag which left him powerless to utter
any sound.
Scene of the Outrage.
The property is the summer residence
of Mrs. Jane Fitzpatrick, of 40 Hamii-
ton avenue, this city. That lady, who
is quite wealthy, occupied the residence
until October last, when she returned to
her city residence for this winter. Be-
fore leaving for the season, she hired
John Toms to take care of the property
during her absence.
On the other side of the road is an
other house, formerly the property of
John Boundey, bnt now in the possess
sion of the Equitable Life Assurance So
ciety, of New York. Until a few
months ago, it was occupied by another
family. The latter moved away in Oc-
tober, and then two men, apparently
single, took possession of it. One was
known as John Walker. His companion
was called Frank.
The Cowardly Attack.
About noon Saturday last two men en-
tered the Fitzpatrick house. Toms was
in and when he accosted them they
| joked with him a few moments, but re-
| fused to leave the premises. Finally,
while one held him in conversation the
other went behind him and felled him to
| the floor with terrific blow on the head.
| They then dragged him to the second
| story of the house into a small clothes
room. Here they tied his hands and
leges together.
The defenseless man appealed for
mercy He asked the robbers to release
him, and depart with what they had al
ready taken, some $57. They answered
his pitiful pleas by carrying him into a
hall bedroom, where they passed another
|
| were tied behind his back, and throwing
it over hook on the wall, they slowly
drew him up until his feet scarcely
touched the floor, and he was suspended
| in a position that caused him untold
agony. They also effectually gagged
| him with towel.
They then shut the door, locked it ON
the outside, piled large lot of furniture
against it, and went off leaving Toms to
die like a dog.
| Starving and In Agony.
There he hung like a martyr hour af-
ter hour. He could neither move nor
turn, nor cry for help. He lapsed into
Inconsistencies again and again, only
tion.
How He Was Rescued.
When Toms failed to appear at Mrs.
| Kilpatrick's on Saturday with the milk,
as was his usual custom, the family Won
dered aud felt little anxious, but
thought it might be due to the inc lem
emit weather. On Monday, Toms not
having yet appeared, Miss Lydia Kilpat.
rick went out to the country house.
She found the house locked. Miss Kill
patrick at once secured the assistance oil
Oliver Stevenson, a neighbor, and they
broke into the house. Not finding Toms
on the first floor, they went upstairs
and heard a groan from the victim in
side the hall room.
When the door was opened, they be-
held fearful sight. The old man was
suspended by his wrists. From Satur
day afternoon to the greater part Of
Monday, or for 81 hours, be had hung
with throbbing blood vessels, binding
lights and gangrened sores, making in
tense torture. When found, his wrists
| were cut to the bone by the cruel ropes
blood staining his shirt sleeves, anC
blood also oozing from his mouth from
the cruel gag. His rescuers cut hin
down, and did everything possible fol
| his relief until he could be taken to Mrs
Kilpatrick's house in town.
Threats of Lynching Made.
The news of the crime spread rapidly
through the place, and caused intense
excitement. Men stood in groups ant
discussed the matter, and limited at tn,
proper method of Furnishing the crimi
nails. A gray haired old man of pronounc-
ed responsibility, who stood in front
of the postoffice, said, as he whacked thu
walk with his cane.
"Men who would commit crime O.
that kind ought to be cremated aliv e
and then the community would be ex
tending to them an unmerited courtesy
Mayor Van Cleef detailed Detective!
Charles A. Oliver and w. A. Housell tt
trace the criminals.
As the scene of the crime Is in Somer
, set County, which is across the line from
the county in which New Brunswick il
situated, the only thing the officer:
could do was to secure warrants for tn
two men on a charge of larceny. Armed
with these they started out on thei
search.