Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-28
A TERRIBLE TALE
Of Cruelty and Abuse Told by
Little Myrtle Adams.
Her Abductor, Charles H. Bickford,
Is Poor Child's Own Uncle.
Her ptiabIe Story Of Assault and Abusc-Is
Now at Home. Sick.

Bowdoinham, Oct. 27-A serious
H. Bickford Of this town, now at large
fleeing from the authorities for the alb
duction of little 14years-old Myrtle f.
Adams and the criminal assault upon
that youthful victim of his brutal
nature.
The story of the return of the little
girl accompanied by her father and
Deputy Sheriff Cornish has already
been told. Now the child is lying
sick at her home from the effect of the
treatment she received.
The Adams live on a farm about five
miles from this town. Farmer Adams
is Il Weli-todo man. and he and his
Wife being without children adopted
little Myrtle when she was "A babe of
nine months. and the child of Mr.. and
Mrs. Norris 3ickford, who had left this
offspring with his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Shiluk Bickford. from whom legal
adoption was made. Now this girls
father was an own brother to the
Charles II. Bickford who abducted her.
Monday night. is as follows:
II can't just say when first / knew
Chas. Bickford, but it seems as if al
ways. though only just to speak. He
had worked at fathers, Mr. Adams,
this summer, on and off. up to the
very first Of September and this was
the last time | saw him until Friday
night of Oct. IL, at about o'clock.
Father, mother and | had been pre-
pairing to go to the Topsham fair, Sat
urday, and everything was in read
ness | felt sleepy. but feeling that |
must go out to the closet before retir-
ing, | told them, father and mother,
that ] would just run out and then go
10 bed. l had a light shoulder cape and
This | threw over my shoulder and
stepped out of doors. | might have
gone a rod when Chas. Bickford
jumped out from behind some bushes
and grabbed me, saying. Hush your
noise. woman. or I'll hurt you: you've
got to come with me-
II was fearfuliy frightened and with
out knowing what | did / permitted
aim to lead me off into the woods
through the bushes for nearly mile.
Here we We're near the Newell ROAD
and here Bickford said. I've got
horse here and you Just start yourself
and help me harness him into this
wagon l did so. not daring to do
otherwise. and still not knowing what
he was to do with me. After the horse
vas harnessed he took from the wagon
long coat and from its pocket he took
. false mustache, both of which he de-
handed that l put on. Again | COM
piled and as | had nothing upon my
head he compelled my knotting my
cape into a kind of cap.
Then he bundled me into the wagon
and started off out of the woods going
on to the main road near the old Ward
house Here Bickford disguised him
self with a false beard and my eye
glasses. Then he drove on until the
poor old horse. which he had been
whipping most horribly. could hardly
stand saying that we We're some three
miles north of Augusta: at this time
he got out of the wagon. though | then
and all the way begged of him to allow
me to go home even if l had to walk.
but he would not. Having got me out
of the wagon he took a blanket and
robe in one hand and held me with the
other. pulling me along for some dis
lance into the woods. Then it was that
found out for the first time what he
what fearful torture | was to be sub
jected to repeatedly after. How we
ever covered the road to North Sidney
| shall never know. but did somehow
and here he took into the woods road
,,-;,l
wander at it's will.
After going some distance into the
woods we came to an old camp with
which Bickford seemed to be familiar.
for he trotted out an old pot into which
ne put pork and beans. also found
flour with which he mixed up a mess.
which was offered me later. but though
4 night and part of a day We're gone
without my having a morsel of food ]
was too sick to eat this. Here at this
camp | was subjected to further abuse
and here it was that this fiend in
formed me that he had stolen me for
just this purpose and that he was go
ing to take me to the wilderness of
Moosehead lake where l should have
to live.
I'VE remained at the camp all day.
Once l thought l was going to escape
him when he went to see to the horse.
At this time l made off from the camp
and though stiff, sore and sick l man
aged to get some distance. but he over
took me and yanked and pulled me
about so that l gave up in despair and
cared not what became of me.
From Sidney we started as soon as it
became dark. going to Oakland. Here he
made me get out while he drove along
beside me until we came to house. He
here drove into the yard and left the
wagon coming out again with the horse
which he led along at my side. We passed
through Oakland and went nearly a mile
beyond. where he went into a mans yard.
who. he said. was Robert Bedford of
whom he hired the horse and which he
left here. But though we were without
means of transportation, he still half
pulled and half dragged me along after
him. From Oakland to North Fairfield
was our course, / suppose. for he kept
telling me the places We went through,
though / knew them not then or now
from anything / say.
This trip to North Fairfield was the
worst / experienced up to this time for
we went through a swamp where the
water was nearly UP to my waist. but
though ] cried and begged to just lie
down and die. he still pulled me along |
and found that ii was better to keep up