The herald., 1897-04-16

Special to The Herald
ONTARIO, April 15.-When Lulu Nc
Partridge, the 6-year-old daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. ]. w. McFatridge, returned
from school to her home OIL street she
found the front door locked. On enter
ing the house by the rear door she found
the screen door cut. She entered and
found her mother lying near the dining
room door, just inside the bedroom She
was gagged with an apron, the cloth FILL
ing and distending her mouth. Her arms
were bound behind her and her wrists
were doubly tied in slip nooses. The
rope used had evidently been cut from
between two adjacent trees. The free
end Of the rope was fastened to the bed
post by a slip knot. Near her was a
bloody butcher knife, with which she
had evidently defended herself, and on
the floor of the dining room was Mr.. Nc
Fatridge's shotgun.
The girl Immediately ran to the near
est neighbors and three women at once
went to the house. Upon opening the
door they found that a strong odor of
the women. who has administered the
drug was sure that the apron was also
soaked in the drug. Doctors were at
once summoned, but up to 6 o'clock Mrs.
McFatridge had not been brought to
consciousness. Much excitement pre-
walls and If the guilty persons are caught
there has been talk of necktie party
Mrs. McFatridge was not wounded and
the blood found all over the house was
evidently brought from her assailant
when she defended herself with the
knife.
The case is doubly mysterious by rea-
son Of the fact that robbery was not
committed, nor is there any evidence
that outrage of the lady's person was at
tempted.
Later.-At about o'clock in the even
ing the lady partially recovered con-
sciousness and stated that two men
came to the house and asked for some
thing to eat, which she gave them. Then
they threw her to the floor and tied her
hands with rope. Having said this
much Mrs. McFatridge lapsed into semi
consciousness and is still unable to give
detailed account of the affair. Her
condition Is serious but the physicians
think she will recover.
NOTES
ONTARIO. April 15.-(Regular Corre-
spondence) The town trustees last even
ing passed an ordinance calling a spe-
cial election for the purpose of voting
bonds to provide funds with which to
purchase an additional supply Of water
for the city. It is proposed to vote bonds
In the sum of $15.000 to bear interest at
6 per cent. The election will be held
May 81. AS the city is in need of more
water for domestic and irrigating pur-
poses. it is probable that there will not
be much opposition.
The Southern Pacific hotel closed this
morning, the proprietor having decided
that he cannot make the house pay with
out running bar.
The fruit shipments for the past week
aggregate 10A carloads, divided as fol-
lows: Lemons, 70 boxes; dried fruit, 5S05
pounds; oranges, 1880 boxes This is a
very creditable showing considering the
time of year.
Services will be held at the Episcoapl
and Congregational churches on Good
Friday. All the churches are preparing
special services for Easter.
The Ladies' Unity club gives a social
Friday evening at the home of Mrs. f.
p. Trask,. ON the South Side.
The Ontario Philharmonic club has
elected the following ofncers: President.