New Britain herald., 1921-08-15
LOCAL YOUNG WOMAN| TELLS EXCITING TAlE|
Mrs. Kennedy Describes Terror
 Of Herself and Child

In an extremely nervous condition, holding her earnest-faced 5-year-old boy in her arms, Mrs. Ruth Kennedy, Wife of James Kennedy of Main street, or this city, told of her awful exper- fences last Friday night. It was then she found herself and her helpless child on deserted country road in the power of man who had shown himself to her as liar and trickster and possibly possessed of the possi- bilities of being the worst sort of criminal.
 It was only because of the wish to correct the erroneous statements that have been published concerning the near tragedy, she said, that she was willing to tell the story of her being taken from her home, together with her little boy, to Lebanon by Joseph Blanchard; of her flight from him, and of her rescue by S1las Burgess and his family.
 Blanchard Appears.
 Mrs. Kennedy began by telling of Blanchard's first appearance at her home here. She had replied to an ad- vertisement in a Hartford paper, ex- pressing the desire for g housekeeper week ago yesterday, Blanchard called at her home and was met by James Kennedy, who is employed at 'Landers, Frary & Clark, she said. Mr Kennedy informed Blanchard that he could see Mrs. Kennedy in half an hour and the man returned. He told Mrs. Kennedy and her husband that the only reason he had not replied to her answer to his advertisement was that he had employed another wo- man. with two children.
 Blanchard, according to Mrs Ken nedy's story, came again last Friday and in the presence of her husband and sister, said that his housekeeper had been taken ill, and that he would like to have Mrs. Kennedy come to his place, with her little son and take the position of housekeeper. He described the attractiveness of the house and farm and emphasized what Ia fine place it would be for the little fellow. Mrs. Kennedy described how he told of the fact that he occupied one portion of the house, while anoth- CT man and his wife lived in the other part
 His description was so alluring that l MT. Kennedy, who was at that time earning small wages, agreed to his
 
 her labor, and allowed her to try the ! position, impressing upon Blanchard | that if Mrs. Kennedy did not find it all that it was pictured to be, she would not remain.
 Start for Lebanon. Blanchard, Mrs. Kennedy and her | boy, Mrs. Kennedy's story goes on,. took the trolley for Hartford, dur Tine which ri6o P1onohard canfinrod to show nothing but courtesy and 1 kindness toward her and the child. Her natural nervousness was dis pelled.
 Arrived at Hartford they. took Blue Line Bhs'' to Willimantic, thence to South Willimantic. It was getting dark by this time and Mrs. Kennedy began to feel nervous at | being in a strange part ofgthe coun- try with stranger. At South Will limantic Blanchard and she walked with the boy up, theFroad a short dis tance to get A car" to. take them to the place where Mrs. Kennedy sup posed, she was to ive-the fine farm Blanchard had described as his. Girls Lucky Appearance. While Blanchard was back of the car that was to take them on, a girl whom Mrs, Kennedy had never seen before, drove by in, a buggy. She pulled up, seeing Mrs. Kennedy, who seemed nervous, with her little boy, and asked Mrs. Kennedy if she was going far.e The latter told her she was going with a man named, Blanchard, she knew not how far, to work for him. The girl, who proved to be Dorothy Burgess, asked Mrs. Kennedy if she knew the man and, upon seeing him come around the corner of the car, said See you later"
 When they were in the car B1an- chard asked what the girl had said to Mrs. Kennedy who replied that | she had asked her if she was going far.
 It was but few miles to the place | which Blanchard said was his. There
 they aighted and Blanchard led the way into the house, followed by Mrs. Kennedy and the boy. ] Mrs. Kennedy paused at this point
 of her narrative and held her boy
 closer to her.
 1 "Oh," she cried, ''you can't imagine
 the terrible feeling that came to me
 when I stepped inside that place. Then | l she said.''
 Blanchard had stepped out in the direction of the woodshed, mumbling l something about getting supper, and l the other sole occupant of the house, terrible appearing to the frightened
 woman. rose and followed him.
 Flight. s9e
 vividly Mrs. Kennedy described her
 intense longing to get away from the place. She grasped John in her arms i and dashed through the deepening darkness toward the road at some
 distance from the house.
 l. She had barely reached the road when Blanchard overlook her. For
 the first time, said Mrs Kennedy, he i spoke and, acted roughly. He placed
 his hand on her shoulder. She re-
 sented his act and told him directly
 and plainly what she thought of his