ABDUCTING A YOUNG LADY TO SECURE A RANSOM.

Kumara Times, Issue 1025, 14 January 1880, Page 4

ABDUCTING A YOUNG LADY TO SECURE A RANSOM.

A despatch from Buffalo, New York, says . —A most outrageous abduction took place in this city recently, the young daughter of Mr Townsend Davis, a prominent citizen, being the victim. The young lady gives an account of the affair as follows :—While at school taking her music lesson a young man called upon her, and, saying that her father had been injured, said he had been sent to take her to him. He also, as she states, represented that he was employed in her father's office. She accompanied him, and taking a Main-street car they came down town, On reaching the corner of South Division-street he stopped the car, at the same time saying he had just seen her father carried upstairs in the Phelps block. He got off the car and told her to wait a moment on the sidewalk while he ascertained whether her fathers condition was such that she could see him. He went upstairs, and returning presently* said that it was all right, she could see him. The young girl went up with him and on reaching room 11 he opened the door, and, as she says, pushed her in, followed after her, and locked the door. The place was totally destitute of furniture, and the girl says she at once saw she had been trapped. She began to scream for help, whereupon, she says, the ruffian put his hand over her mouth to stop her ories. A fierce struggle ensued which ended in the young lady falling on the floor, Her captor, she says, still held his hand over her mouth, and promised to take it off only on condition that she would promise not to scream any more. He told her not to be afraid ; he did not intend to do her any harm ; he was destitute of money, and knowing her father tojbe a man of means, he had enticed her to that place and intended to keep her there until a ransom was paid for her. The sum of SSOO, he said, would set her free, and he directed her to write a letter to her father to that effect. She under-cook-to do so, but the nervous excitement under whioh she was laboring rendered it impossible, and he then, she says, produced the following letter, which he seemed to have prepared, and at this diotation she copied it:—" Dear Papa—l ask you to give this man SSOO, for unless he raises this sum'within a week he is ruined. He pledges his word and honor that it will be returned to you in sixty days. " For this loan he has no security to offer except myself, whom he he has in keeping. He mnai have this sum immediately, within a week. So long as I think you intend to pay this sum just ?q long shall I be kindly dealt with, but at the first " After having written the above the young lady pleaded piteouslyto be set at liberty, and upon taken an oath never to reveal what had occurred she states the man let her go. On. reaching home her father noticing that her face was bruised and bore .fingers, marks, asked the cause, and succeeded in learning the particulars of the affair, He. immediately made complaint at a detective agency, and Detective Watts, who took the case in hand, about half-past ten o'clock last night succeeded in capturing the alleged abductor. He gave his name as Charles E. Schuyler, and said that his occupation was that of a telegraph operator in the office of the Western Union. Company. His home is in Little Falls N. Y. He was locked up in police Station No. 3 and . this morning held for trial in the Police Court, his bail being fixed at 5000dols. ■ On a careful search of his person a number of paperß were found, on some of which were memoranda of the names residences of prominent citizens ; also the location of two or more private schools for young ladies. On these lists were the names of parents with the names of their younger children, memoranda of the schools they attended, and other particulars tending to show that the man intended to entrap many victims. There was also found among his papers the following draft of-a letter :—" Buffalo, SeptDear Sir, —I must respectfully ask of you as an esteemed, friend to loan me 5000dols. Unless I raise this sum within a week I am a ruined man financially. t pledge you my word and honour that it shall be returned you with iuterest in sixty days. For this loan 1 have no security to offer except your Bon Willie, whom I have in save keeping, and who shall "never" return to his home unless the above sum is paid, and that within a week. So long as I think you intend to place this sum at my disp sal, just so long shall Willie be kindly dealt with ; but at the first indicetiou of treachery or publicity of any character he shall suffer physical torture and eventually " die." On the other hand if you place the required sum in my hands Willie will be returned to his home, aud your loan paid with interest in sixty days, This sum to be paid must be in currency. Bills larger than 20 dols. will not be received. A trusty agent will be sent to your house for , the money. Upon its receipt Willie will be sent home a 3 soon as he can be pot there. If you disagree with these conditions and make this matter'public in any way, or employ any detective, you will feel sure of the watery grave your son will immediately receive. In answer to this I will receive one letter through the post office. Remember, the penalty of treachery is death. Govern yourself accordingly. It is 5000 dols. or rain with me. Anonymously signed, H. B. Merchant, care Post Office, Buffalo, Dp not forget that upon your silence depends your son's life. Shall expect a letter from you immediately." When questioned about the above letter the prisoner stated that he intended to get possession if possible of the youngest son of the same gentleman whose daughter be finally abducted as above described, and then use him to raise 5000 dole.