Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1858 — A Courageous Housemaid. [ARTICLE]

A Courageous Housemaid.

In a -detached cottage at Twickenham, says an English paper, has resided for some time an elderly maiden lady in very delicate health, whose establishment consists of a cook and housemaid. On the 14th ult., however, there were only the housewraic and her sick mistress in the house. At about nine and a half in the evening the housemaid, whose name is Ann Retford, and who is a remarkably.fine, handsome young woman, twenty-two years old, went into=her mistress’ bed-room to inquire if anything was wanted before retiring to rest. On opening the door she was astonished to see a lad, not more -than sixteen, standing over her mistress as she lay in bed, apparenti’v in the act of striking her with a bludgeon. Without hesitating,“she.immediately rushed upon him, closing so rapidly with hirn that he was unable to use his bludgeon. A desperate ami long-protracted -struggle ensped, the poor invalid-lady awaiting the issue with intense anxiety. At length the braveu.girl succeeded in completely overpowering * her antagonist, and kneeling upon him as he lay upon his back on the floor, she held him down and called for her mistress to bring her a cord, with which she firmly secured the hands of her captive, who was then locked up, in spite of his entreaties for mercy, in a long cupboard, and shortly afterward delivered up to the police to whom he was well known. The lady states that she was asleep, when he awoke her, and raising his stick, demanded her keys. She was dreadfully frightened, and was on the point of delivering them up. when her servant entered the room. The maid afterward received a handsome present from her mistress.