The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-07-16
Young Hotel Houssksepsr Vic
tim Of Their Attacks.
WAS ONCE NEARLY POISONED.
Later She Was Dscoysd Into the Yard
Where Two Women 10 Black Poured Acid
Over Her Face.

Aiiddetown. n v. July l6.-visions of
two veiled women. one tall, the ether
short armed with phials OF some corro-
sive acid have cast an air of mysterious
dread about the Hotel Columbus. in Rob
erts street.
Young women have been altering about
Middletown for the past few months
threatening harm 10 Miss Taylor, the
young housekeeper OF Charles IL. Cole
man, proprietor OF the hotel. and the
town feels that tragedy is impending
In the three story building situated be-
tween the tracks OF the Erie railroad and
the grounds of the First Presbyterian
church
Miss Taylor SAYS that enemies attempt
ed TO poison her last summer and that on
the evening of May p she was attacked
by two women. who burned her face and
eyes with acid. Persons passing the no.
tel within the last fortnight also say that
they have seen two yelled females lurk-
ing about the place at dusk.
Owing 10 these reports, Mr.. Coleman.
his housekeeper and the hotel employees
are In a state OF Siege. Electric alarms
have been attached 10 the two private
entrances which lead up stairs 10 the
first floor OF the hotel. and Miss Taylor
even refrains from walking through the
corridors during the busy hours OF the
day.
ROOM LOCKED AND BoLTED.
She lives in room on the first floor.
al the head OF the main stairway, and
this room she keeps carefully locked and
bolted. Three dogs guard the building,
and after the place is closed at mid
night. shep. the big collie, remains in
possession OF the ground floor.
Mr.. Coleman has provided himself with
a revolver, and weapon is also at the
service OF Miss Taylor The young wo-
man is afraid TO leave the building at
night time, and scarcely ever ventures
out by day, In which case she is always
accompanied by Shep. In order that his
housekeeper may take an outing OCCASION
ally. Mr.. Coleman has bought a team and
takes her driving.
Private watc.lmen and detectives have
no far been unable TO catch the women
providers
Miss Taylor is a prepossessing young
woman, plump I'm figure, with wavy
brown hair and blue eyes. Her father
was Methodist clergyman I'm Pough-
keepsie. and she was adopted. when
girl, by family In Newburg. whose
name she has assumed.
Something is going TO happen TO those
women when we capture them" said Mr..
Coleman yesterday. There are six per-
sons whom we have under suspicion, but
we can come pretty close to guessing who
the two are. / have made no charges
against anybody yet, however. for don't
want TO run the chance OF making mis-
take
"AlI this trouble Is occasloned by wo-
men who are envious of Miss Taylor She
has been at the hotel here for eighteen
months and as I have found her conscien-
tious and a good housekeeper I have
placed her In charge as manager. Her
position and her success I'm having gained
the place over the heads OF others have
caused some OF these vindictive women
10 become insanely Jealous.
GOING TO SEE 1T THROUGH.
II am standing up for her and am GO
ing 10 see this thing through until her
prosecutors are caught and driven out of
this town.
Two big diamonds. the gift of her en-
ployer. I'm consideration OF her faithful
services. twinkled yesterday in the ears
OF Miss Taylor. who is up and about. al
though she maintains she is still suffering
from the injuries inflicted by her enemies
Il have never had a quarrel with any
body" said Miss Taylor 'Of course,
have had TO make complaints TO Mr.. Cole
man. now and then against persons who
did not do their work properly.
Then some women who called here in
vited me 10 go out with them 10 enjoy
myself As am too busy. l declined, and
my refusal offended them
II have heard OF threats made against
me by certain persons. who said .ney
would disiigure me whenever they caught
me In the street. ! shall not give them
the opportunity for 1 never go out un-
less ! am protected"
Miss Taylor says that -wiriir she was fit
fn bed last summer bottle, containing
mixture of carbolic acid and oil of
cedar WAS substituted for her medicine
y swallowed the dose" declared Miss
Taylor "and very nearly died from the
effects OF IT, We could not decide AT that
time. though. whether or not the substi-
tuition was accidental"
MTDDLETowN is AsToUNDED.
II was on the evening Of May % that
as event occurred in the yard at the rear
of the hotel which caused "a sensation In
Middletown. Hearing her pet spaniel
Dewey whining outside the door, Miss
Taylor went 10 fetch him
AS she passed from the lighted room
into the dark yard Miss Taylor was
pounced upon by two women, wearing
heavy wells and dressed in black one
was tall the other short In stature. They
had been crouching in wait behind big
dog kennel In the yard.
Wen settle with you nowr' the wo-
men exclaimed. One thereupon seized her
by the throat and beat her backward
while other pourned n burning acid over
her face and hair. She could not scream
as a hand was held over her mouth, but
she struggled with her assailants and
tried 20 protect her eyes from the acid
The women then threw their victim
down and struck and kicked her They
left her as she began to lose consciousness
and she stil indistinctly remembers them
scaling the stone wall at the side OF the
yard and running across the church lawn
20 the street.
Miss Taylor who was heard groaning
IN the yard. was carried into the hotel
and two doctors were summoned. Her
mouth and throat were burned and there
were bruises on her back and chest
The doctors decided curiously enough
that mixture % carholc acid and oil Of
cedar had been poured on her face An
empty hottie was dropped by tho women.
contalrirr few drops of The mixture.
-Assf bearing = laiel With the words n~pir-
Its ammonia"
YELLED VISITOR ESCAPES.