Smyrna times., 1911-11-29
.HARTLY GIRL TWICE VICTIM
OF AN OUTRAGEOUS ATTACK
MISS NETTIE VIVIAN ABDUCTED
AND SLASHED BY ASSAILANTS
First Time She Was Carried Away in
a Wagon and Few Days Later She
Was Set Upon in the Dark

First Time She Was Carried Away in
Wagon and Few Days Later She
Was Set Upon in the Dark
State and county authorities are
investigating a crime committed
near the village of Hartlv.
which was extremely brutal and
dastardly in its perpetration, The
victim is Miss Nettie Vivian, %
years old, who has been twice at
tackled within week. AS a result
of the affair, the excitement it has
caused and the indignation which is
aroused. the farmers and other resi-
dents in the vicinity of Hartly have
scarcely slept since last Thursday
night, but have lain awake, with
their shotguns close by them, ready
for instant use. On Sunday morn
ing, November 19, Miss Vivian or
Virden, as she is most frequently
called, she having been taken into
the home of William Virden, form
er prothOnotary of Kent county, some
fifteen years ago, when but a small
child, heard a noise among the
chickens in yard on the farm about
FIVE O'Clock in the morning. She
ran out of the house to ascertain
the cause and some distance from
the house was grabbed by a man.
Pushed in Dayton Wagon; Driven Away
He pushed her into a Day ton wagon
which stood in the road, in which
was another man. With the COM
mand not to say a word or move,
she was driven in such roundabout
way that she does not recall where
they went, other than after about
two hours drive she was put out at
Fords Corner about two miles north
of Hartly, and was told to "git"and
say nothing or she would be killed.
She ran almost all the way home
and told her story in q highly ner-
vous state. While the affair was
talked over at the Virden house at
the time, nothing was done to ferret
out the perpetrators of the deed.
Shortly after 8 O'Clock last Thurs
day night all of the Virden family
had retired except Mrs. Virden and
Miss Vivian. The girl was in night
apparel and slippers, but before
going upstairs went to the pump
just outside the house to get a
drink of water, Mrs. Virden remain
ing inside the house. In the dark.
Miss Vivian was struck back of the
head by strong hands and pulled
across the field a distance of 200
yards. Before she had gone many
steps, however, she gave a scream,
which was heard by Mrs. Virden
who called her husband and two
small boys. Virden came down in
his night clothes and with gun in
hand ran in the direction of the
girls faint cries. He came close
on her captors and caused them to
drop her on a bridge over a deep
ditch, where they found her. The
girl was bleeding from head to foot.
She had been terribly cut and CASH
ed and beaten. An attempt had
been made to cut her throat, >as two
gashes are visible on the right side
of the neck. Her face was gashed
and bruised and her right leg cut
and slashed in no fewer than |
twenty places. ner left arm was
badly lacerated. When Virden |
reached the house with the girl she
sank into unconsciousness and never |
fully rallied until last Sunday.
Indignation High; Detectives on Case
The matter was reported to Deputy
Attorney General W, W. Harrington
of Dover, who Immediately notified |
State Detective Walls. In view of |
the peculiar circumstances surround |
ing the case, that of Miss Vivian |
being unable to identify her assail-
ants, leaves the State detective at
loss as to a possible clue. The |
tracks of Thursday were completely
covered up by the assailants, there
being heavy rain Friday morning,
aud nothing in the way Of a clue
could be secured. The only clue
upon which the State officer has to
work at present is that of the
Dayton wagon. So thoroughly has
the neighborhood been worked up
over the case that fully twenty-five
neighbors drove to the Virden house
the next day to inquire into the af
fair, all returning to their homes
swearing vengeance on the perpe-
traitors of the crime, if captured.
r. n. HOFFECKER TO LECTURE