CHAINED TO A BED. A Story of Brutal Cruelty to a Woman.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 50, 17 May 1884, Page 5

CHAINED TO A BED. A Story of Brutal Cruelty to a Woman.

Nkw York, April 13.— A " Times " special from Scranton, Pa., of tho 12th inst., says : This afternoon a girl with frightened face and dishevelled hair ran into the Susquehanna House, and falling on her knees before Mrs Carpenter, the wife of the proprietor, begged her piotoction. She fcaid she had oseaped from a man, who kept her chained to the floor of a back room on Spruce-street night and day, for nearly three weeks, and she feared he would capture and kill her. At first it was thought the girl was msano, but her intense oarnestness, haggard looks, and large, pitiful oyes touched every heart, and her thrilling story was listonod to with wondor and indignation. Before she had time to finish the horrible recital a large, slouchy, fair-haired man, about 25 years of age, rushed in out of breath, and authoritatively demanded that the girl should go v, ith him. His appearance upon tho sceno filled hor with terror, and throwing her arms about Mrs Carpentor, she oxclaimcd, " My God ! don't let him take me again," The man caught the girl by the arm, but Mrs Carpenter told him to stand back, and the man shrank before her glance, and finally went away. Meantime the police were communicated with, and Chief Dealey, with the officers, went to the rooms indicated by the fugitive and arrested a physician calling himself Dr. W. S. Madden. A number of chains, locks, and staples we~",' foum k in his room and taken to the police station, where Madden had a hearing before Mayor Beamish. The girl, whoso name is Sadie McClennahan, appeared against the prisoner and told a story of brutality and heartlessness. She said she had made her home for some time in Lewiston, Pa., with her sister. Madden had got her into trouble, and promised to marry her as soon as he could get a divorce from his wife, who is living in Altoona in this State. This was about the beginning of last January. At this time Madden had an oflice in this city, having come hero about two years ago with a quack named Gibson, now in prison hero for indecent assault on a female patient. The girl's story was as follows : " I declined at first to have anything to do with him until after ho should get a divorce- from his wife. He swore to my sister and my brother-in-law if I came to Scranton lie would take good caro of me, and as soon as a divorce was obtained, the second Monday in April, he would make me his wifo. I did not accompany him, however, and he kept writing until the 20th ut last February, when I consented to come. After our meeting in his office I said that I would go back and stay with my sister until the divorce was granted, but he would not hear ot this, and thought of my going away seemed to make him wild. Ho got a chain and locks, tied thorn about my ankles, and fastened one to tho bed in his room and the othor to the floor. I cried out for help, but he seized me by the throat and choked me until I thought he woul 1 kill me. lie has kept me chained day and night ever since. At first he brought some food in a basket from a rostaurant, and we ate it together, but after awhile ho took his own meals outside and occasionally carried in a sandwich for me. J made several attempts to escape.but it was no uso. He nailed down the windows and fastened the doors whenever he went out. He frequently threw me on the floor and stamped on my breast with his knees until 1 was sick and soro. I have known him for nearly two years. My people don't know he has abused me in this manner. What shall I do? Keep the affair from my mother." Madden, who fell on his knees and begged for mercy when the Chief of Police came to arrest him, denied the girl's story at first, but finally admitted having chained her to the floor for fear she would go out and tell about him. The evidence of heartlessness are overwhelming, and the Mayor ordered him to find bail in $4,500. Failing in this, he was taken to gaol. As soon as the story got abroad there was deep indignation among the people on the streets, and threats of lynching the scoundrel were freely indulged in. His victim is about 20 years of age, the wreck of a beautiful brunette. She is half-starved, and says often when he chained her to the floor at night she lay there in terror, thinking he would kill her before morning.