Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-10-11
IN THE LOCAL FIELD.
PUTNEY NEWS.
Sundays AtrOciOus Crime.

Mrs. John Jafrrey FeIOnIOusly As
sauIted by Three Young Rumsns---
They are held for Trial in the sum OF
$4,000 Each.
Popular indignation has run high here
this week over the revolving and felonious
assault of last Sunday. In fact this usu-
ally quiet town has been wrought up to a
degree seldom before attained. There has
been talk of lynching, shooting and other
methods of unlawful punishment by some
of the hot-heads, but it was finally decided
to let the law take its course and there is
DO doubt but that its punishment will be
adequate.
At las o'clock last Sunday afternoon
Two brothers, Charles and Harry Ellis and
Pearley Baker called at the house of John
paffrey of East Putney and inquired for
IJohn. Mrs. Jaffrey appeared in travelling
lcostume and told them that he was away
and that she could not let them in as she
was going to church at Putney Falls. There
upon the three fellows disappeared and
shortly afterward Mrs. jeffrey started out
for church. To get to Putney Falls it is
necessary to pass through half a mile of
woods and 1t was while going through
these woods,a quarter of a mile from home,
that Charles Ellis, the oldest of the three,
jumped over wall and threw his arm
about Mrs. Jeffrey's neck and called to the
others to "come on" The three ruffians
bore her to the ground and then dragged
her out of sight of the road into the woods
where her Undertaking was stripped off
and felonious assault with rape thrice COM
mitted. Mrs. jeffrey resisted as well as
she was able and screamed loudly for help.
lte1,; ,o;r 60 ;aI
the younger culprts disappeared, the other
lingering to ask If she was going to "tell of
this" to which she bravely replied, "What
do you take me for" He then disappeared
in the direction the others had taken.
After regaining her composure Mrs. JEFF
frey made her way to Bert Robertson's,
which was the nearest house where neigh
bors were at home, and told what had hap
pened. Bert Robertson and father, Ed.
Robertson, and Parker Fuller armed them
selves and started at once in pursuit. They
overlook the Williams and opened fusillade
upon them, but they gained the nearest
woods and scattered so that the pursuers
were able to follow but one, whom they
captured in j. V. Shaw's cornfeld on the
Putney meadows and who proved to be
Harry Ellis. He was brought here and de-
livered to Deputy Sheriff A. w. j. wilkins,
who lodged him in the lookup and started
for Westminster with D. S. Persons in
search of Baker, whom they found at his
fathers house. Charles Ellis escaped to
Westmoreland, where he stayed over night
at the house of Milo Gray. He confided
his story to Mr.. Gray's hired man, who told
Mr.. Gray and he in turn notified Officer
Wilkins who persuaded Ellis to give him
self up, after covering him with a revolver.
They we're given hearing before Judge
Kmball in the town clerks Office Tuesday
morning at 10 o'clock, States Attorney
Fits being the prosecuting officer. The
hearing was private, none but The Phoenix
correspondent being admitted The pris-
oners were brought in one at time and
all pleaded not guilty, but Mrs. jeffrey and
other witnesses were present and gave evil
dence so that they were bound over for ap-
pearance at county court in the sum OF
$4,000 each. In default of bail they were
taken to Newfane Jail by Officer Wilkins.
Baker testified that he was Is years old and
was born in Bellows Falls. The Ellis boys
were born in Charlestown, N. 81. The
younger gave his age as Is in order to gain
point on account of his youth, though II
is believed he is II.
The older gave his age as Is, though it Is
believed he is 20. He is the one who
forged Mrs. Jeffrey's name on an order fol
So worth of groceries last year, for which
he served a term in the house of correc
ton in Rutland. He has also served terms
in the Concord and Manchester, N. II.
prisons and is thoroughly hardened char
acter.
The penalty for the crime committed II
from 10 to 20 years in state prison. The!
are all from Westminster and we are yer.
glad that they do not hail from this town
There have been other cases of local in
terest of the same scope as this one whicl
have been allowed to pass unnoticed. l
is pretty poor economy to proceed in tina
way, as the example which 1t sets to tn
young and rising generation is not likel,
to secure very stable or satisfactory gov
eminent in the future.