A Case for Aunt Harriet: Electronic Edition
A CASE FOR
AUNT HARRIET.—In Ulster county, New York, one
Benjamin Boyce lives in the mountain called the "Traps." Fifteen years ago his
wife was found frozen to death in the road. Ben had a daughter, and this
daughter, some time afterwards, he swapped with a man named Cross for his (C.'s)
wife, whom he had fallen out with. Soon after this arrangement Ben's daughter,
now Mrs. Cross, gave birth to a mulatto child. This, however, did not interrupt
the relations between her and her husband, who seemed to have no objection to
this kind of Cross. The child was a girl, and growing to be nearly fifteen years
old, was seduced by a man named Jacob Gosling, and was about to become a mother.
Gosling, about the 20th ult., attempted to kill her in the following manner:
The two were in the woods near a precipice, and G. called the girl to look over
and see a bird below. As she was looking over he gave her a shove and she was
precipitated down the awful abyss. He injuries were terrible: her abdomen was
ripped open by the stones, and she was awfully cut and bruised. Wonderful to
relate, she was not killed; but made to crawl toward a house, and was two days
and nights exposed before she was discovered! She was not dead at last accounts.
Gosling had fled. It was believed that Mrs. Gosling had stimulated him to the
commission of the deed.
Now here is a case, altogether Northern, more horrible than any of Mrs. Stowe's
"facts."
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