The Star And Newark Advertiser

TORTURED BY HER ABDUCTORS BRIDE LEAPS INTO SWAMP

Searchers Unable to Find Any Trace of Pain-Maddened Woman.

MRS. MERRIONGOLA STOLEN TWICE IN ONE WEEK

Dragged from Husband's Arm by Armed Men--Two Arrests Are Made.

HUNTINGTON, L. I., Oct. 19. - Driven insane by the torture she endured at the hands of abductors, Mrs. Abbie Merriongola, the 17-year-old bride of Nicholas Merriongola, a well-to-do contractor, of Huntington, L. I., is either dead or lost in Long Swamp, a few miles from her home. Bands of farmers with bloodhounds have been searching throughout the night for the lost woman, but as yet no trace of her has been found.

Twice within a week she was kidnapped by the same men, it is believed, at the instigation of some man who was infatuated with her. The woman is extremely pretty and well developed for her age. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wicks, who have one of the largest farms in the vicinity of Huntington.

The first time the woman was kidnapped she was taken away by two men while the husband was held at the point of a revolver. Two arrests have been made and the men have been identified by her husband as the same two who kidnapped his bride.

On October 10 Merriongola arrived at the Wicks house, but was told that his wife had not been there as yet. He waited several hours, and when she did not show up started for his house. He was about 100 yards away from it when he heard his wife screaming and saw her rush from the cottage and start down the road, pursued by two men.

The husband ran forward and Mrs. Merriongola threw herself in his arms. The two men who were pursuing her, however, laughed at the man when he threatened vengeance and knocked him unconscious.

The young woman had fainted, and when Merriongola recovered his senses neither his wife nor the two men were in sight.