The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-11

Robbed at the Point Of Revolver and
Then Held Prisoner for Month-The
Strange Experience of denry L.
Gregory az Told by Hinnself-sup-
posed to Be the Work of the Malta.
From the Ne,0 York Times.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 8.-A most remark
able case Of kidnapping and holding in
duress by Sicilians in this city for the pur-
pose Of robbery, and probably to compel
redemption by ransom, came to the knowI-
edge Of the police here yesterday.
On Nov. "a, last year. Henry L. Gregory
Of Jordan River, Hancock county, Missis-
sppi, country storekeeper, came to this
city by the Louisville and Nashville train
with quito sum Of money to settle with his
merchants and Otein supplies. He was %
years old, recently married. and of temper
ate and moral habits. He was accom-
panied by two neighbors, and it was under
stood that they were to put up at lodging
house on st. Charles street. The two
friends reached the point agreed upon, but
Gregory did not show up. Ths next day
they notified the police OF the disappear-
snce Of their friend, and. all the lails and
hospitals were searched for him without
result -
At home he had not been heard from, and
finally his heart-hroken wife, satisfied that
he was dead. assumed widows garb and
returned to her parents in Florida.
Yesterday, TO the establishment of his
friends, Gregory turned up at Bay ST. Louis,
4 Miss, and related the following remarkable
4 story:
Il took the train at Bay St Louis, arriv-
ing in New Orleans at o'clock p. m.
/ had started TO Fred's house on St Charles
street when [ met well-dressed, gentle
1 manly looking man who said he was a drum
mer for that house and who offered to go
along with me and carry my valise which
4 ] permitted hiUl to do. When we got some
where near the custom house he turned to
the left and walked a couple of blocks and
turned the corner into another street, whsre
we came Co a saloon. He invited me to take
8 drink. which refused, telling him did
not drink. l went in with him, however,
and waited until he drank.
After his drink he said there was man
in the back part OF the saloon lie wished to
speak to. After he left with my valise
waited about five minutes and thought |
would hunt him up get NV valise, and go
alone e. Fred's house. The first room l
passed had pool and billiards. l saw no
one and passed on to the next room, W ere
heard talking. My drummer friend had
set my grip" in chair and was speaking
to another man, while two others were
4 standing in the room. The drummer as
coon almost as entered, vanished through
q side door. The three remaining were
dark, and some sort of foreigners. They
spoke and looked that way. The one stand
ing nearest the door had entered locked
the door behind me. While the other one
the supposed drummer, was talking he
locked the side door. The man who locked
the first door drew revolver on me, and
when looked around the one locking the
side door was holding cooked gun toward
me. .-.-.
The man drawing the first revolver told
ne to be quiet. while the third man came
up and went through my pockets aud took
every cent had, my watch aud all OK my
papers, which were of no value to any one
but myself. ] was told to sit down near a
table, while opdosite sat a man with a gun
pointed at me. The man who had locked
The side door disappeared and was absent
about two hours, during which time l kept
my position in the chair with my guard
watching me. Tue conversation was all in
language did not understand. l ven
tured to ask what they would do with me,
aud was told to wait and they would show
me. After, as ] think. about two hours.
tne other man came in, blindfolded me with
handkerchief, and one was tightly bound
over my mouth. l was placed in some sort
o. vehicle, and one of the men sat by me.
4he distance driven seemed three or four
miles, as We went at a good pace. knew
We we're on the pavement while, and for
some time on ground where we made but
little noise .....
When we got to our journeys end the
man by me got out, took me by the hand.
aud told me to come with him. We entered
some sort of house and appeared to walk
Trough hall and down flight OF steps,
wnen we halted. After we got down the
gag and blind were removed and | found
myseH IN room with bed, small stove,
aud TWO old chairs. The same man guard
m os me az the bar took me to my prison.
OHs OF them said: Dead rats tell no tales
then for the first time realized my
a"lui position, and began pleading for
NE. At first they laughed at my
,HoruS, but finally one said wei, we VIII
cave MIN alone for while The men left
US locked up until next morning. 1t was
qq1out or O'Clock when short man whom
t laG never seen brought me breakfast,
nuich was made In Italian style and very
,.igaly seasoned. When / addressed the
b sTus man be only shook his head. do not
TTeneVe be could speak one word OF English.
,la a'e nothing the fist day, neither did
Tsep wink the first night. was i'm
th@oned The stout man came regularly
Ne next day with III meals.
l. tsuppose had Geen there six or eight
Ss wnen another man came around who
Ike English we'll He inquired where !
tolJ tsAHi my name anu my OuslueSS-
sO OtI nlm everything He sat down and
ioSe an hour or more with me. | think IL
into n.y. 1in that owe my life. He said they
.sv,ed to kill me. Then began 60 beg
vyiuR that had little brother and a
1ss Gus WE depending upon me- He APP
ia N somewhat sorry and said If prom
voni lever 70 try TO have him hunted up be
d3 a Try TO save me- de then told me he
mai know bow long would have TO re-
rein.. asked TO see the papers, which was
FL anv,SS 1. In fact, was not permitted 70 see
Gv1 wax from one 70 the other.
Nb,'. zen had been In ten or fifteen days
Well sr ,nan was brought in, rather stout aud