The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-01-12
ROBBED AND KIDNAPPED.
Experiences, OF n slississippi Man


Experience OF Mississippi Man.
New Orleans. Jan. 10.-A most remark
able case of kidnapping and holding in
duress by Sicilians in this city for the
purpose of robbery and to compel redemp-
ton has just come to the knowledge of
the police. Henry l.. Gregory of Jordan
river, Hancock county, Miss, a country
storekeeper, came TO this city Nov. "a
with quite sum of money with which TO
settle with his merchants and obtain sup
plies. He was accompanied by two
neighbors, and it was understood that
they were to board ut lodging house on
st. Charles street. The two friends
reached the point agreed upon, but Greg
DRY did not show up. The next day they
notified the police Of the disappearance of
their friend, and all the jails and hospitals
were searched for him without result.
He had noc appeared at home, and finally
his heart-broken wife, satisfied he was
dead, assumed widows garb and re.
turned to her parents in Florida. To the
astonishment of his friends, Gregory yes
terday appeared at Bay City, Miss, and
related the following remarkable story:
II took the train at Bay St Louis, ar
irving in New Orleans at p. IN. | had
started to the st. Charles street house
when / met Il gentlemanly looking man
at the depot who said he was a drummer
for that house and offered to go along
with Inc and carry my valisc, which l
permitted him to do. When we got some
where near the custom house we turned
to the left and walked couple of blocks,
and then turned the corner into another
street where we came to saloon. He IN
vited me in to take drink, which re-
fused. | went in with him, however,
and waited until he drank. After his
drink he said there was man III the
back part of the saloon he wished 10
speak to. After he left with my Valise
I waited about five inmates and then
thought | would hunt him up. get my
yalise, and go alone to Fred s house.
passed i'll the back room ana there saw
three men. They locked the door ana
robbed me of all had. They then blind:
folded me and placed me in 2 vehicle or
some sort The diStauce driven seemed
three or fou- miles. We entered house
and after the blinlfold was removed
found myself in room with bed ana
small stove and two cid chairs.
'"rhe men left me locked up until the
next morning about 8 or 8 o'clock when
a man whom / had not seen befcIe
brought me a breakfast. / ate nothing
the first day, neither did l sleep wink
the first night | was imprisoned: The
1nan came around regular three times a
day with my meals. l suppose l had
been there six or eight day; when an
other man came. He inquired where L
was from, my name and my busine ss.
I told him everything. He sat down
a. spoke an hour or so with me. L
think it is to him that | owe my life. He
said they intended to kill me. He said If
/ promised not to have him hunted up he
would try to save me-.
when l had been in ten or fifteen
days a new man was brought in, rather
stout and well blessed. When the blind
fold was taken from him he seized one
of the men by the collar. while the other,
standing by, drew pistol and shot him
in the head. ! saw him shoot and saw
him fall | think he must have died in
stantly. l was showed back into my
room and the door fastened. could
hear plenty of talking but could not
understand. / have no idea what they
did with the body, l. had only candle
and 1t was, | suppose. about IL or II in
the night. My life for one month was
about the same daily. / think l got off
well with my life, and will never know
why my life was spared, unless it was
because of the strangers intercession.
yesterday morning he came to me
and asked would not like hair cut and
shave. Upon my replying in the affrma-
tive my hair was cut and had a shave,
the first one for a month. When | was
being shaved l never once dreamed that
my freedom was so near About 6
o'clock last night the two men who took
me to prison came and asked me If l
wanted to go to Bsv St. Louis. l, of
course, replied that / did.
II was again blindfolded, gagged and
as before put in vehicle and driven to
within about one block of the Morgan
depot, when / was put out. The men
gave me ticket on the Louisville &
Nashville railroad to Bay st. Louis
They told me that the train would soon
be along and for me to try to get on,
Which I did with the greatest pleasure
7 arrived here last night On the late
train, nearly frightening those to death
who believed me buried"
In this city. where there are 10000
Sicilians. numbers of them criminals
and convicts from the old country, there
is every reason to believe they have
brought some of their old country meth
DDS with them, and several mysterious
disappearances may in time be traced
I'd this mysterious branch of the Malta