Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-12-29
This Woman Hermit
Runs a GriSt Mill

One OF the most interesting characters
in Kentucky is Mrs. Winifred Bailey,
the woman miller. Mrs. Bailey owns
and manages a small water-power grist
mill. Tn mill is situated on Cart
wright's cree ,ka small tributary to the
Roling Fork river, near the village of
Frederickstown, six miles from here.
Mrs. Bailey is also known as the "wo-
man hermit from the fact that she
never minSies with her ~neighburs, but
lives alone in Il little log cabin near the
mill. Her My home companions are
a dog and a cat. Although advanced in
years. Mrs. Bailey is an active woman,
and attends to the duties of the mill
wits only the assistance of a half
grown boy. There is a thrilling story
in connection with this woman's life.
In 1886 Winifred Holloway was IL girl,
living wit hher parents near Fredericks-
town. Her father was a miller and 4
highly respected man Winifred being
an unusually pretty girl. industrious.
modest and amiable. naturally had
n suitors for her hand Among them
was one Stephen Letton. a prosperous
young farmer of the ~neighborhood.
This mar was conceded to be Winifred's
accepted lover.
The Holloway residence was situated
near the public highway, and travellers
were frequently entertained there. Dur
ing the summer of 1888 a stranger, Civ
ing his name as Thomas Bailey, stayed
4 few weeks with the Holloways. He
Stated that he was from Boyle county,
and was inquest of mules. which he was
buying for the southern market. He
was a handsome man, and to all Up
pearances a gentleman of nigh standing.
An attachment sprang up between
Winifred and the stranger, which re-
suited in marriage an the spring of
f6S9, not before Mr.. Holloway had.4how-
ever, satisfied himself that Bailey was
all that he represented himself to be.
After the wedding Bailey took up his
residence with his. father-in-!aw, and,
strange as it may. seem, a strong in
timacy was formed between him and
young Letton, Winifred's rejected lover.
If Letton felt any resentment at his
treatment from the young lady he gave
no evidence of it, but continued on the
most friendly terms with the entire
family. In the autumn following Wini-
fred's marriage Letton sold his property
and announced his intention of emigrat-
ing to what is now West Virginia. al
leging he had purchased a coal mine
there. About this time Bailey decided
to return to Boyle county to settle some
unfinished business, and then to journey
to eastern Kentucky in search of mules.
AS Lotions route led him also in that
direction, the two men decided to travel
together. After tarrying near Danville
a few days the two friends continued
their journey. On arriving in Boyle
, county they repaired to the home of q
wealthy drover with whom Bailey had
fran1,nnf1v fro eco cfp6 huCippCC HeCa
the. travellers separated. Before Letton
took his leave of Bailey, however, he
borrowed a sun Of money, which he
promised to pay on reaching his desti-
| nation, claiming that his money had
all been invested there.
The night following Bailey's departure
from the drover's house il was entered
by an assassin, who killed the inmates
and secured a package containing $1S0C
in bank notes. In order to conceal his
crime the criminal set fire to the house
before leaving. The building burned
slowly and the neighbors We're enabled
to %extinguish the flames and discover
the murderous work which had been
done. The assassin, before leaving the
yard, had torn open the wrapper of the
package and thrown it to the ground.
This was picked up by officers of the
law and vas the only clew in their pos
session.
Sha-tly after Bailey's return to
Springfield he received the money which
Letton owed him. Detectives suspected
Bailey of numbering the drover, be-
cause he was known to have been init
mate with him and had stopped at his
home shortly before the commission OF
the crime. Consequently an expert
enced officer was put on the suspected
mans track and he was kept under con.
sstant surveillance for several months.
s5ln the meantime Mrs. Bailey's health
BEGAN to fail and her husband decided
4 10 take her on a southern trip. De
tectives followed him. Wherever Bale,
Haid his hotel bill or offered money fol
shy purpose the officer secured the banl
Note which a been in the. formers
: spossession. Finally the Swallowed MAJ
paid out a $40 bill which had a RET
IN mark in one corner. The detectives i'm
ID Inediately arrested him.
Bailey stoutly protested his innocence
!. dverring that the blood-stained none,
!. had been paid him by Stephen Letton
hut at his trial. which soon followed
I.he was given a life sentence in the pen
, ftentiary.
+ Mrs. Bailey never doubted her hus
bands innocence, and after his incarcer
e alton made repeated efforts to secur
4 his pardon, but they We're of no avail
and ten years after his conviction Bale
died of consumption.
Shortly after this Mrs. Bailey's par
ents died. Having spent her means i
e her husbands behalf she gave up every
thing but the old mill ard the log cabil
t to which she retired to finish her day
in solitude.