The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-10-11

East Putney was the scene Sunday
afternoon of about the most diabolical
crime in all Windham county's his
tory, when Mrs. Mary Jeffrey. a highly
reputable woman aged 30 wife of John
Jeffrey, was ravished by three young
beasts from Westminster, Charles
Ellis, aged Is, as he states but doubt
less older and probably 10, his brother
Harry Ellis aged II and Perley Baker
aged IS. They are all three not only
toughs" but low-liyed bipeds in
every SENSE Chas. Ellis was sentenced
wear ago to Il term of six months for
forging of an order on which he used
John Jetfrey's name and by which he
realized IS at N. G. Williams store
being let off light on the appeal Of
some leading putney citizens, who
imagined him to lso capable Of reform.
The other Ellis is accused Of lately
having attempted unsuccessfully to
outrage little girl.
The three fellows called at Jeffrey S
house between one and two O'Clock
SUNDAY afternoon. where they found
Mrs. Jeffrey alone, and inquired for
Mr. Jeffrey and she told them he was
away. During the conversation they
learned that she was going to church
mile distant and part of the way
through the woods. They soon left
and she started for the church and had
got about quarter Of Il mile from her
home when they pounced upon her
from the woods, dragged her back
from the road into the woods, and as
she resisted them the best she could
screaming for help, they beat and
kicked and abused her shamefully. and
all three ravished her in succession.
two holding her in each case. Then
told anybody.
She had become almost inscnsible be.
fore they left, but as soon us she could
she ran some distance to the house Of
\. J. Robertson and told her pitiful
story. She was badly used up. her
body. legs and back bruised from
their rufiianly brutality and her cloth
ing torn almost 70 shrcds, though she
was able to be in court Tuesday to
testify against them
MIR. Robertson at once notified the
neighbors of the crime and he and
Sheriff wilkins, as soon rs they could,
got out posse and started in pursuit
Baker and the younger Ellis were
captured that afternoon the latter be
ing found hiding in the Putney mead
ows. and the former being taken at the
home of a relative OF the ELS broth
ers IN Westminster. Charles Ellis sue
ceeded in crossing the river and went
to the housc'of Milo Gray in Westmore-
and. From his appearance and ac-
tions. Mr.. Gray thought there was
something wrong questioned him
closely until Ellis owned up what he
had done. Mr. Gray communicated
with Sheriff wilkins and Monday noon
the latter went over and arrested him.
Ellis had out knife and acted at first
as if he would resist. but when Will
kins covered him with Il revolver he
promptly succumbed, and returned to
the Vermont side without any reuuisi
tion.
He was placed in the Putney lock
up with the others where the three
smoked cigarettes and appeared as in
different as though they had never
done anything serious and unconscious
of the intense Indignation
Of the townspeope, some Of whom
thought that they ought 10 be at once
strung up under the auspices of Judge
Lynch. Indeed il appeared from
their remarks afterward, and indicated
the kind of atmosphere they had lived