Evening journal., 1895-12-13
A CHILD'S AWFUL NIGHT
An Insane Father at Her Bed
side With Knife.
WOULD SACRIFICE HIS DAUGHTER

Alexander boyd. Demcnted on tho Subject
OF Religion. Intended 60 XIII His Child.
Saved Her Llfo by Keeping Awake-Th,
Father Locked Up.
PATERSON, Dec. 18.-Alexander Boyd,
n religious crank, Is accused Of trying C
sacrifice his l0.year-old daughter Bella.
Yesterday he was committed to the coun
ty inil, from which no will bo removed,
probably TO Morris Plains.
Boyd Is q widowor AS years old, and
lived at III Market street. Ho has boon
fanatic for some time Twelve years agt
he married Catherine johnson in Hobo
ken. Soon after his marriage no became
engaged In a harruom hrawl and was hit
ON the head Since then he has acted pe.
culinrly Off and on. Two years after the
marriage and 40 the time of Bolla's birth
his treatment of his wife forced her 90
leave him. While thoy lived together
Boyd, his wife said, insisted that she
should undergo bodily torture as ponanco.
To that ond no repeatedly beat her until
she became unconscious. Aftor tho sop.
arntion the mother, with her child, came
to Paterson and made her homo with Mrs.
Josephine Johnson her mothor at 40
Market street Mrs Boyd died fow days
before last Thanksgiving. On her death.
bod she hosourht Mrs. johnson never 60
let Bella set into Boyd's hands, and hor
mother promised TO look out for the child
and keep hor out Of Boyd way
Soon after his wifos death Boyd left
lloboken and sought out his child Ho
found her with Mrs. johnson and was
permitted 60 take Bella out for walk.
Mrs. johnson was much worried when
Bella failed TO return ON that day, but on
the following afternoon iathor and dnugh-
tor came To the house while Mrs Boyd g
funeral services were In progress AS soon
as Boyd learned what was going on he
hurried his daughter out of the house and
told her she was a jew and should not
listen 90 Protestant sermon. Despite his
daughters tears and ontrcaties no took
hcr away and refused to Let her roturn TO
her grandmother. He even threatened hor
with death, 70 Is said, in cnso she should
return. As soon as Boyd had his child he
began trying to an her mind with roli-
glous vagnries. He told her that ho was a
second Moses, and that God had revealed
all spiritual things TO him.
Would Make "a Sacrifice OF Her.
Wednesday afternoon Bella slipped away
from her father and won't to take supper
with Mrs. johnson. When thoy had fin
ishod the meal, they started out Go walk
As thoy stopped outside Boyd jumped
from behind n tree, clutchod his daughter
by the throat and snid;
"I'll make a sacrifice OF you on the
altar Of Sod. III kin you
He then led the child homo and ordered
her to he'd, mumbling incohorontly
fflinfsrtNnnf lunrfFnnfi1 IlnIIu rNnnf Ia
bed, but was too much frightened 20
sloop. Half an hour after she retired Boyd
opened the bedroom door a-craok and
peeped in Not seeing her move no ad-
vanood softly 90 her bedside In ono hand
was lamp, ana in tho othor, she anyH,
was large butcher knifc. Whom he saw
the child was awake, DO quickly hid the
knife and demonstrated angrily with her
because she did not 90 TO sleep. After
cautioning her 90 do so quickly no loft tho
room. Ho returned again In an hour, hut
found the child still awake. lie told her
sho would be whipped II she did not go TO
sloop and again left the room. The child
lay IN cold sweat Of horror, unable to
close her eyes and too much frightened to
try TO escape. Her father returned again
I'm about an hour, armed, she snys, with a
luzur ms we'll as butchers knife He eau
tiously approached tho bed and leaned
over his daughter. Whom he saw her eyes
were still open, he stormod at her and de-
nounced her Then ho won't away for The
night
Bella remained awake and trembling
until morning. little before noon Mrs
johnson called on Bella The child was
whito and weak from fright When sho
told her story, Mrs. johnson took hor be-
fore Recorder Senior 90 make a complaint
aenlnst Boyd He was locked up yester-
day afternoon.