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Dec 11, 2023
Franklin County (MA) News Archive
The Franklin County Publication Archive Index

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Article Archives: Articles: Kidnapping

Showing 25

Posted by stew - Wed, Feb 11, 2009

Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 6, 1875
A child on the witness stand

Little Walter Ross, brother of the missing Charlie Ross, was on the stand in the Westervelt (brother of the person who abducted Charley Ross [sic] but who was shot for burglary) trial at Philadelphia on Tues. He is about 7 years old, intelligent, and told his story in his own way with very little questioning. His evidence was as follows:

"I live in Germantown, on Washington lane; on the afternoon of July 1, Charlie went out with me into the lane and we were playing; two men came along and spoke to us; they were riding; they heard us shooting fire crackers up in the yard, and they said didn’t we want to go and buy some; and Charlie said he wanted to go and buy some and then the men asked us to get in; they lifted Charlie in and then I got in; they drove up the lane and then drove up toward Limekiln pike; before we got in they said they were going to take us to get some fire crackers.

I was between the two men and Charlie was sitting on one of the men’s lap; we went down Limekiln Pike down to Church Lane; then they turned up a great high hill and then turned up another street, and then they stopped at a hotel and got Charlie and me a drink; then they stopped in a street at the corner; they gave me money and I went in the buy the firecrackers; Charlie was in the carriage; I bought the fire crackers and came out of the store and then the buggy was gone.

A man came along and asked where I lived, and I said on Washington Lane; he asked me if it was in Washington and I said no, it was in Germantown; he asked if I wanted to go to the station house and I said no; I wanted to go home, and he took me home; I met my father in the lane coming up; while we were riding in the buggy Charlie cried a little, and the men said we were going to buy fire crackers now; Charlie said before he got in he wanted torpedoes; the men said they were going to buy the fire crackers at Juliann’s.

There was a red striped cover in this buggy; they had it spread over Charlie and all of us; Charlie rode all the time on the man’s lap; I had seen these two men before the day they took us away in the wagon; I had seen them twice before that and talked with them; when I saw them before that, they were riding in a buggy; they gave us candy first; they gave us candy twice before they took us away; they were right in front of Mr. Boutelier’s place; they were on the other side of the road from me, and they said Halloo; I did not see the buggy that day; that was in the afternoon when we were going to Sunday School...

The day they give us candy I took it up to Papa and told him that the man gave us candy; there were two new houses building opposite our house last summer; there was nothing said by the men about the houses at any time; one of the men had his nose up this way (pushing the end of his own nose upward); and the other had it down; the one whose nose was up had a cut on his nose, and the other had a mustache, which was red, and his hair as red; one man had on black pants and a light jacket; the pocket went below his knees; the other had on black pants and black jacket".

[For more information see Charley Ross in Wikipedia].
 

Subjects: Barber / Hair, Beverages, Children, Courts, Crime, Criminals, Economics, Family, Fires, Food, Germans, Holidays, Hotels, Households, Kidnapping, Literature / Web Pages, Police, Religion, Roads, Robbers and Outlaws, Stores, Retail, Transportation, Vendors and Purchasers, Architecture / Construction, Clothing

Posted by stew - Mon, Jan 12, 2009

Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 23, 1875
Charlie Ross

Over a year has now passed since the disappearance of Charlie Ross, and not the remotest clue to the hiding place or even of the existence of the child has been found. One Westervolt, a brother-in-law of one of the ruffian burglars killed near New York while attempting to rob a house, is to be tried Aug. 30 for a supposed connection with the abduction.

[See articles about William Westervelt in the New York Times Online Archive].
 

Subjects: Children, Courts, Crime, Criminals, Households, Kidnapping, Literature / Web Pages, Robbers and Outlaws

Posted by stew - Mon, Dec 29, 2008

Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 9, 1875
A New Jersey mystery solved

Charles Powell, a boy living at Englewood, N.J. [5 years old] was missed from home on June 10, and although diligent search was instituted for several weeks but no traces of the lad were discovered. It was supposed that the lad was abducted, but the detectives could not find him. last Fri. the Martial of the town was informed that a dead body had been discovered in the cistern of the residence of Rev. Dr. Smith of St. Cecilia’s church.

A jury was immediately empaneled and preparations completed for investigating the mystery. The corpse, which was removed from the cistern after some delay, was identified as that of the lost boy Powell by means of the garment which were found upon it. As the boy was last seen on Mr. Smith’s premises before his sudden disappearance, it is probable that he fell into the cistern, the cover of which was not fastened down, and was drowned. The taste of the water of the cistern led to the investigation of the cause and the subsequent discovery of the body.


 

Subjects: Accident Victims, Accidents, Beverages, Children, Courts, Crime, Government, Households, Kidnapping, Lost and Found, Missing Persons, Obituaries, Police, Religion, Clothing

Posted by stew - Sat, Dec 6, 2008

Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 5, 1875
Montague City

The community, usually so quiet, had a genuine sensation the other day. It appears that one Partridge, who has lived in the vicinity for some time, separated from his wife a year or two since. The couple were never divorced, but the woman, not waiting for that process, remarried, and has since lived in Boston. Partridge kept possession of their child, against the mother’s will.

Two women came to Montague a few weeks since, both well dressed and city bred in appearance. From inquiries they made, it was found that they were after the child, and Partridge was put on his guard. But two weeks later he met on the road a stranger with a lady closely veiled. It occurred to him afterward that the lady was his wife, and hastening to the place where the child was living, he found that she had been forcibly taken away, the mother of the child using a pistol to frighten those who opposed her. Partridge has gone to Boston, and says that he will stay there until he recovers the child.
 

Subjects: Amusements, Boston (MA), Children, Crime, Divorce, Fashion, Kidnapping, Marriage and Elopement, Montague (MA), Roads, Scandals, Urbanization / Cities, Women, Clothing

Posted by stew - Mon, Dec 1, 2008

Gazette & Courier - Monday, April 19, 1875
Christian K

Christian K. Ross of Philadelphia has grown almost insane in the search for his son Charlie Ross. Superintendent Walling of the New York police is still at work on the case, but is losing his expectations of success.
 

Subjects: Children, Crime, Criminals, Family, Insanity, Kidnapping, Police, Work

Posted by stew - Mon, Dec 1, 2008

Gazette & Courier - Monday, March 29, 1875
The hanging of the bandit Vasquez

The hanging of the bandit Vasquez [Tiburcio Vasquez] the other day in California, closed a career that in the romance of crimes deserves to be ranked with the stories of Robin Hood, Dick Turpin, Claude Duval and Fra Diavolo. Vasquez had a spice of all these romantic villains in his composition. He joined the delicacy of a woman with the ferocity of a wolf and the courage of a panther. He had the manners of a Spanish don and the morals of a savage.

/ He had committed 37 murders, stolen some thousands of horses, and abducted a dozen or more women, who for the most part were willing to go.

/ He was a California Don Juan. The frontiersmen knew now whether to fear their lives, their herds, or their wives and daughters. Murders, horse thieving and love episodes alternated in the career of the bandit. He has been the leader of several bands of which he has finally remained the sole survivor. A thousand hair breadth escapes seemed to prove that he possessed a charmed life. His first murder was committed at 10, on account of a woman, and he was finally trapped through a fondness for their company. His life of crime lasted for 29 years, though he was but 36 at his execution. His name will be a household word in California for a generation.
 

Subjects: Animals / Reptiles, Barber / Hair, Children, Crime, Criminals, Etiquette, Executions and Executioners, Gangs, Horses, Households, Kidnapping, Luck, Marriage and Elopement, Murder, Robbers and Outlaws, Seduction, Women, Europe

Posted by stew - Mon, Dec 1, 2008

Gazette & Courier - Monday, March 8, 1875
Aaron Denio's http://tinyurl.com/6klzbz dinner pot

Since the appearance of the Aaron Denio dinner pot on the table of the P.V.M.A. at its meeting last week, many inquiries have been made as to who and what Aaron Denio was, and what...[blurred]. I send you this paper - it is the appendix to [?] by John Williams, 'Redeemed captive', appears the [?], and concludes with "Three Frenchmen". It has recently been ascertained that one of them was James Den[?], and that Abigail Denio was his young wife. Abigail was the daughter of John Stebbins, one of the earliest permanent settlers of this town, and ancestor of all the name who have lived in Deerfield.

/ ....terrible march to Canada. When son Aaron was born in Canada, Dec. 14, 1704...When a lad, perhaps about 10 years old, he went with a party of Indians to Deerfield on some errand now unknown. When the Indians were ready to return, young Denio was not to be found, and they went off without him after much search and delay. It seems John Stebbins had taken a liking to his grand-son, and had persuaded him to remain. In his will, made about 1720, he gave Aaron that share of his estate which would have fallen to Abigail, on the condition that his daughter did not return to New England. She remained in Canada, and Aaron inherited considerable property.

/ He married in 1730, Anna Combs, and settled in the district of Green River, where he was for many years a tavern keeper, and a leading man in the town, on the incorporation of Greenfield. Aaron Denio was a man of an excitable temperament, impatient and impulsive, with a temper of comical quickness. This infirmity was often taken advantage of by his fun-loving associates, and many anecdotes are told of the tricks played on him ...by David Willard in 'The history of Greenfield'. The story of the dinner pot comes of the writer in this wise: The Denio Tavern stood on the spot occupied by Richardson's new block on Main Street, with a steep side hill at the rear of the building.

/ It was the custom of the house to have boiled vituals for dinner regularly each day of the year, and a custom of the landlord, nearly as regular, to pop his head into the kitchen door with the question "Vife, vat do you have for dinner?" On the day of the story, the good wife paid no attention to the usual query, when Aaron bounded into the room with "Vife, vat have you got in dat pot?" Still no reply. Aaron began dancing with excitement. "Vife, VAT is in da POT?" The landlady, still pretending not to hear, Aaron rushed up and caught her by the arm. "Vill you tell me vat is in da pot?" And when she coolly replied 'water', he became furious, and exclaiming "I, [?] vat is in da pot!" he snatched the huge vessel, [?] the crane, rushed out of the back door and threw it over the bank.

/ Down the hill it bounced, scattering as it went the daily bill of fare - beef, pork, cabbage, Indian pudding, beans, squash, turnips, etc. in steaming confusion. Aaron watched the progress of affairs until the pot rested in the ravine below, and the savory viands had found lodgment in various nooks by the way. When, shrugging his shoulders, he turned to his wife: "Now you go peck up your WATER". Deerfield, March 1, 1875. http://www.quinnipia...s/historictowns.html
 

Subjects: Bars (Drinking establishments), Beverages, Births, Clubs, Deerfield (MA), Family, Food, French, Furniture, Greenfield (MA), History, Jokes, Kidnapping, Literature / Web Pages, Lost and Found, Marriage and Elopement, Meat, Names, Native Americans, New England, Obituaries, Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assn, Rivers / Lakes / Oceans, Roads, Women

Posted by stew - Fri, Jun 23, 2006

Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 8, 1875
A lost baby

A lost baby - A ball was given at http://www.camptonville.com/history.html Camptonville , Yuba county on New Year's Eve, which was attended by a certain lady who resides some distance from that place. She had a baby that could not be left at home. Arriving at http://en.wikipedia....tonville,_California Camptonville early in the evening with her baby, she put up at the Globe Hotel, kept by one Jones. She told him she was desirous of attending the ball if she could find someone who would take care of her baby. Jones, being an accommodating fellow, proposed that he would 'father' the 'young'un'. The lady accepted the offer with joy, and putting the baby to sleep laid down gently in Jones' bed, then went to the ball! Up to midnight Jones made frequent visits to the room, to attend to the wants of his precious charge....Then Jones fell asleep. It happened, however, that a stage driver was asleep in a room nearly opposite to the one occupied by the baby. About one o'clock A.M., says the http://malakoff.com/goldcountry/camptonv.htm North San Juan Times , the babe began to cry fearfully and to appease it the stage driver took it to his own bed and kept it quiet the remainder of the night. He was up and off at daybreak, before the mother had returned from the ball, and before anyone was stirring in the house, leaving the babe fast asleep on his own bed. An hour later the ball broke up and the mother returned to the hotel. She went straight to the room where she left her babe. Lo and behold - it wasn't there - neither was Jones. Soon the whole house was in an uproar, and search was made for the missing babe, but all in vain. In the meantime the whole town was startled by the information that a child had been stolen and carried away. Finally it was remembered that the stage driver had slept in the house that night and that possibly he ight know something about the missing child. He was telegraphed to on the road to [?] and in the course of a few miniutes a reply was received from him, which was as follows: "Frank Rampin: You will find the child in my bed at the hotel". On the reception of the telegram the mother rushed frantically to the stage driver's room and found her precious babe lying in his bed fast asleep. Nearly everybody in Camptonville spent that day rejoicing over the event.
 

Subjects: Child Abuse, Children, Dance, Dreams / Sleep, Furniture, Holidays, Hotels, Households, Kidnapping, Literature / Web Pages, Lost and Found, Noise, Roads, Telegraphs / Telephones, Transportation, Women, Work

Posted by stew - Sun, May 7, 2006

Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 8, 1875
Singular circumstance

Singular circumstance - In 1747, a man was http://wesley.nnu.ed...701-0800/HDM0712.PDF broken alive on the wheel at Orleans for a highway robbery; and not having friends to bury his body, when the executioner concluded he was dead, he was given to a surgeon, who had him carried to his anatomical theater as a subject to lecture on. The thighs, legs and arms of this unhappy wretch had been broken, yet, on the surgeons coming to examine him he found him reviving, and by the application of proper cordials he was soon brought to his speech. The surgeon and his pupils, moved by the sufferings and solicitations of the robber, determined on attempting the cure; but he was so mangled that his two thighs and one of his arms were amputated. Notwithstanding this mutilation and the loss of blood, he recovered, and in this situation the surgeon by his own desire, had him conveyed in a cart 50 leagues from Orleans, where as he said, he intended to gain his living by begging. His situation was on the road side, close by a wood, and his deplorable condition excited compassion from all who saw him. In his youth he had served in the army, and he now passed for a soldier who had lost his limbs by a cannon shot. A drover returning from market, where he had been selling cattle, was solicited by the robber for charity; and being moved by compassion, threw him a piece of silver. "Alas!" said the robber, "I cannot reach it; you see I have neither arms or legs", for he had concealed his arm, which had been preserved behind his back, "so for the sake of heaven put your charitable donation into my pouch". The drover approached him, and as he stooped to reach up the money, the sun shining, he saw a shadow on the ground which caused him to look up, when he perceived the arm of the beggar elevated over his head and his hand grasping a short iron bar. He arrested the blow in its descent and seizing the robber, carried him to his cart, into which having thrown him, he drove off to the next town, which was very near, and brought his prisoner before a magistrate. On searching him a whistle was found in his pocket which naturally induced a suspicion that he had accomplices in the wood; the magistrate therefore instantly ordered a guard to the place where the robber had been seized, and they arrived within half an hour after the murder of the drover had been attempted. The guard having concealed themselves behind different trees, the whistle was blown, the sound of which was remarkably shrill and loud, and another whistle was heard from under ground, 3 men at the same instant rising from the midst of a bushy clump of brambles and other dwarf shrubs. The soldiers fired on them and they fell. The bushes were searched and a descent discovered into a cave. Here were found 3 young girls and a boy. the girls were kept for the office of servants and the purpose of lust; the boy, scarcely 12 years of age, was son to one of the robbers. The girls in giving evidence deposed that they had lived 3 years in the cave, that they had been kept there by force from the time of their captivity; that dead bodies were frequently carried into the cave, stripped and buried; and that the old soldier was carried out every dry day and set by the road side for 2 or 3 hours. On this evidence the murdering mendicant was condemned to suffer a second execution on the wheel. As but one arm remained, it was to be broken by several strokes in several places, and a coup de grace being denied, he lived in torture for near 5 days. When dead his body was burnt to ashes and strewed before the winds of heaven.
 

Subjects: Animals / Reptiles, Astronomy, Charity, Children, Courts, Crime, Criminals, Curiosities and Wonders, Economics, Education, Executions and Executioners, Family, Fires, French, Gangs, History, Kidnapping, Liquors, Medical Personnel, Medicine / Hospitals, Mourning Customs, Murder, Noise, Obituaries, Prisons

Posted by stew - Fri, Mar 3, 2006

Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 1, 1875
The Soko

The Soko - The geography of the region through which Livingstone traveled in Africa, the customs peculiar to the different tribes, and the habits of the various animals which he enumerated are described in this journal with his usual care, accuracy and fullness. The soko, which Livingstone speaks of interchangeably with the gorilla, seems after all to be an entirely new species of chimpanzee, and as such is entitled to the distinction of having his portrait reproduced at length, just as the explorer graphically sketches it.

In the Manyuema country, under date of Aug. 24, 1870, he writes: "Four gorillas, or sokos, were killed yesterday: an extensive grass-burning forced them out of their usual haunt, and coming on the plain, they were speared. They often go erect, but place the hand on the head, as if to steady the body. When seen thus, the soko is an ungainly beast. The most sentimental young lady would not call him a ’dear’, but a bandy-legged, pot-bellied, low-looking villain, without a particle of the gentlemen in him.

Other animals are graceful, especially the antelope, and it is pleasant to see them, either at rest or in motion. The natives are also well made, lithe, and comely to behold, but the soko, if large, would do well to stand for a picture of the devil. He takes away my appetite by his disgusting bestiality of appearance. His light-yellow face shows off his ugly whiskers and faint apology of a beard; the forehead, villainously low, with high ears, is well in the background of the great dog-mouth; the teeth are slightly human, but the canines show the beast by their large development. The hands, or rather the fingers, are like those of the natives. The flesh of the feet is yellow, and the eagerness with which the Manyuemas devour it leaves the impression that eating sokos was the first stage by which they arrived at being cannibals; they say the flesh is delicious. The soko is represented by some to be extremely knowing, successfully stalking men and women while at their work, kidnapping children and running up trees with them: he seems to be amused by the sight of the young native in his arms, but comes down when tempted by a bunch of bananas, and as he lifts that, drops the child: the young soko in such a case would cling closely to the arm-pit of the elder.

One man was cutting out honey from a tree, and naked, when a soko suddenly appeared and caught him, then let him go. Another man was hunting, and missed in his attempt to stab a soko: it seized the spear and broke it, then grappled with the man, who called to his companions, "Soko has caught me". The soko bit off the ends of his fingers and escaped unharmed. Both men are now alive at Bambarre. The soko is so cunning, and has such sharp eyes, that no one can stalk him in front without being seen; hence, when shot it is always in the back; when surrounded by men and nets, he is generally speared in the back, too; otherwise he is not a very formidable beast; he is nothing, as compared in power of damaging his assailant, to a leopard or lion, but is more like a man unarmed, for it does not occur to him to use his canine teeth, which are long and formidable.

Numbers of them come down in the forest within a hundred yards of our camp, and would be unknown but for giving tongue like fox-hounds: this is their nearest approach to speech. A man hoeing was stalked by a soko and seized; he roared out, but the soko giggled and grinned, and left him as if he had done it in play. A child caught up by a soko is often abused by being pinched and scratched, and let fall. The soko kills the leopard occasionally, by seizing both paws and biting them so as to disable them; he then goes up a tree, groans over his wounds, and sometimes recovers, while the leopard dies: at other times both soko and leopard die.

The lion kills him at once, and sometimes tears his limbs off, but does not eat him. The soko eats no flesh; small bananas are his dainties, but not maize. His food consists of wild fruits, which abound. The soko brings forth at times twins. A very large soko was seen by Mohamed’s hunters sitting picking his nails: they tried to stalk him, but he vanished. Some Manyuema think that their buried dead rise up as sokos, and one was killed with holes in his ears, as if he had been a man. He is very strong, and fears guns, but not spears; he never catches women. He draws out a spear (but never uses it), and takes some leaves and stuffs them into his wound to staunch the blood; he does not wish an encounter with an armed man.

He sees women do him no harm, and never molests them: a man with out a spear is nearly safe from him. They live in communities of about ten, each having his own female: an intruder from another camp is beaten off with their fists and loud yells. If one tries to seize the female of another, he is caught on the ground, and all unite in boxing and biting the offender. A male often carries a child, especially if they are passing from one patch of forest to another over a grassy space; he then gives it to the mother."
 

Subjects: African-Americans / Blacks, Animals / Reptiles, Barber / Hair, Births, Cemeteries, Child Abuse, Children, Explorers, Eye, Family, Farmers & Farming / Flowers, Fires, Food, Jokes, Kidnapping, Literature / Web Pages, Meat, Medicine / Hospitals, Noise, Obituaries, Religion, Sex Crimes, Trees, Women, Work

Posted by stew - Sat, Dec 31, 2005

Gazette & Courier - Monday, January 4, 1875
Don't

Don't - pray don't - Don't tell the little one who may be slightly willful - "That the http://www.harvestfields.ca/HerbBooks/02/07/28.htm black man will come out of the dark cellar and carry it off if it does not mind". Don't create a needless fear to go with the child through all the stages of its existence. Don't tell the little 5 year old Jimmy "the school ma'am will cut off his ears" "pull out his teeth", "tie him up", or any of the horrible stories that are commonly presented to the child's imagination. Think you the little one will believe anything you tell him after he becomes acquainted with the gentle teacher who has not the least idea of putting those terrible threats into execution? Don't tell the children they must not drink tea because it will make them black, while you continue the use of it daily. Your example is more to them than precept; and while your face is as fair as a June morning, they will scarcely credit the oft told tale. Either give up drinking the pleasant beverage or give your child a better reason for its non use. Don't tell them they must not eat sugar or sweetmeats because it will rot their teeth. Pure sugar does not cause the tooth to decay, and sugar with fruits is nutritious and healthy notwithstanding the "old saw" to the contrary. The case of city children is often cited; the case of their pale faces and slight constitution being an over amount of sweet meats with their diet, when the actual cause is want of pure air and proper exercise. Don't tell the sick one that the medicine is not bad to take, when you can hardly keep your own stomach from turning "inside out" at the smell of it. Better by far to tell him the simple truth, that it IS disagreeable, but necessary for his health, and you desire him to take it at once. Ten to one he will swallow it with half the trouble of coaxing and worry of words, and love you better for your firm, decided manner. Don't teach the chidlren by example to tell white lies to each other and to their neighbors. Guard lips and bridle your tongue if you desire to have the coming generation truthful. Truthfulness is one of the foundation stones of heaven. Remember the old, old book say, "no liar" shall enter within the gates of the beautiful city. There is no distinction between white lies and those of a darker hue. A falsehood is an untruth whether the matter be great or small (Rural New Yorker).
 

Subjects: Astronomy, Beverages, Child Abuse, Children, Crime, Diseases, Education, Family, Food, Kidnapping, Medicine / Hospitals, Names, Racism, Religion, Sports, Urbanization / Cities, Women, Words, Work, Superstition

Posted by stew - Sat, Nov 12, 2005

Gazette & Courier - Monday, December 21, 1874
A desperate battle in the dark

A desperate battle in the dark - Shooting of Charlie Ross’ kidnappers - The New York Evening Post gives the annexed interesting details of the exciting tragedy at Bay Ridge on Monday morning: "The house of Judge Charles Van Brunt of the Court of Common Pleas is upon the Shore Road, leading from Bay Bridge landing down to Fort Hamilton. It is a small, pretty cottage, facing the West and overlooking the bay, with the water breaking on the shore not many yards distant.

It has been vacant since the summer, and has been in charge of the family of Mr. J. Holmes Van Brunt, brother of the Judge. William Scott, the gardener employed by Judge Van Brunt, lived in a small house to the rear and about 100 yards distant from the cottage of his employer. Mr. http://longislandgenealogy.com/1891/Surnames/V.htm Holmes Van Brunt has been ill recently, and has been very wakeful at night, and last night Mrs. Van Brunt and her daughter were up attending to the wants of a sick child, when they were all startled by the loud ringing of a burglar alarm, which notified them of the presence of someone in the vacant house next door, which was but a stone’s throw distant.

A hasty examination assured them that there was someone moving about in the upper chambers of the vacant cottage, as the small light they carried could be seen passing to and from the various chambers, as if a search was in progress for portable articles of value. Although all were greatly agitated by the discovery, preparations were immediately made for investigating the cause of the alarm. A.H. Van Brunt, the son of J. H. Van Brunt, a young man sleeping in the upper part of the house, was called up, and himself and father hastily agreed upon a plan of action. The son called up Herman Franks, his father’s hired man, and William Scott, and all being armed with shot guns, they divided into two parties, the elder Mr. Van Brunt, with William Scott, stationing himself at the rear of the house, about 15 paces distant from a cellar door, near the center of the building, while Allie, his son, the young man referred to in company with Frank took post in the front yard.

In addition to his shotgun, the young man carried a small six shooter in his trousers pocket. The robbers were still prowling about in the upper chambers, and seemed to be entirely unconscious of the preparations being made to give them a warm reception. After waiting for about half an hour, Mr. Van Brunt Sr., who began to feel very faint and as if he should not be able to stand much longer, sent Scott up to make a noise at the rear door. This he did, rattling the knob violently and then retiring hastily to his former station. Upon the rattling at the door the light in the house was immediately put out, and all was quiet for at least 15 minutes longer, when a slight stir was heard by Mr. Van Brunt at the open cellar door at the rear, through which it was evident that the burglars had effected their entrance, and a moment after two heads peered cautiously out together.

Mr. Van Brunt, who stood but a few yards away, immediately called out "Stand" as the heads appeared. A moment elapsed, just sufficient time, it seemed, to enable the robbers to discover the outlines of the waiting men, when two flashes were seen and the reports of two pistols followed. Mr. Van Brunt sent immediately his shot, shattering several panes of window glass and probably wounding one of the men, who cried out so loudly that his complaints were heard next door by the women who were anxiously watching, and who awaited the result of the firing with great solicitude; both men started off on a run around the house, when Mr. Van Brunt directed Scott to fire. He did so, and one of the men fell instantly with a deep groan, dropping down in the grass plat near the fence between the two houses.

The other man kept on his way through the opening between the fence and the house, which ws not more than 50 or 75 ft. wide. He was met by Allie Van Brunt, on seeing whom he immediately fired at him; when Van Brunt returned the shot by discharging his shotgun at the desperate thief. The burglar was now but a few feet away. With an oath he raised his revolver a second time and fired at Van Brunt, while his weapon almost touched the young man’s arm. Clabbing his gun, van Brunt rushed at him, striking him violently on the arm, and breaking the barrel from the stock by the force of the blow. Hastily drawing his revolver from his pocket, he fired twice at his assailant, the second shot taking effect in the back of the head. He fell dead instantly.

The man first shot was found to be dreadfully mangled, his bowels protruding from a huge gash made in his abdomen. Upon the arrival of the physician who was sent for, it was learned that he was hopelessly injured. Constable Holland soon arrived and arested all the persons concerned with the shooting. The man shot by Van Brunt was found to be about 40 years of age, shabbily and scantily dresed, with gray side whiskers and mustache. The younger man of the two [ http://my.net-link.net/~prostock/reward.html Joseph Douglas ] was evidently dying, the blood flowing from wounds which could not be stanched.

About 5 o’clock he spoke to Constable Holland, saying that he had 40 dollars in his pocket, with which he asked to be decently buried. He also said that his companion, whose name was http://freepages.his...che45133/chap19.html Mosher , was one of the men who had stolen http://www.abacci.co...okID=5&pagenumber=26 Charlie Ross from Germantown, and that superintendant Walling would have given $20,000 for his capture. The man soon after died, and both bodies were dragged beneath the stoop at the rear of the house, where they were gazed at by a crowd of curious people, who flocked from miles around to see them. The younger of the two was a most repulsive looking creature, while the older may have been at one time a man of good appearance.
 

Subjects: Barber / Hair, Bridges, Cemeteries, Charlemont (MA), Children, Courts, Crime, Criminals, Diseases, Dreams / Sleep, Economics, Family, Farmers & Farming / Flowers, Germans, Glass / Windows, Households, Kidnapping, Light, Literature / Web Pages, Medical Personnel, Missing Persons, Mourning Customs, Noise, Obituaries, Police

Posted by stew - Thu, Nov 10, 2005

Gazette & Courier - Monday, December 21, 1874
Two burglars were shot and killed at Bay Ridge, Long Island, N.Y. Monday morning, while leaving a dwelling in which they had been plying their trade. One of them [ Two burglars were shot and killed at Bay Ridge, Long Island, N.Y. Monday morning, while leaving a dwelling in which they had been plying their trade. One of them [ http://websleuths.co...dex.php/f-34/t-17852 William Mosher ], just before his death, voluntarily confessed his participation in the abduction of Charlie Ross; he did not know, however, where the boy was.
 

Subjects: Children, Crime, Criminals, Households, Kidnapping, Missing Persons, Obituaries, Robbers and Outlaws

Posted by stew - Sun, Mar 6, 2005

Gazette & Courier - Monday, November 23, 1874
Serious Indian troubles

Serious Indian troubles - http://www.lockport-ny.com/Museum/geology.htm Prof. Marsh [ http://www.curator.o...nks/ajax_project.htm Othniel Marsh or Othniel Charles Marsh] of Yale College, with his scientific expedition, were at http://www.franadams.com/words/redcloud.html Red Cloud agency on the 12th, and his expedition was opposed by Indians. He held a council with the chief, who didn't believe he wanted to hunt http://jagspage.tripod.com/apatosaurus/id11.html bones in the Black Hills, but thought he was in search of gold. The Indians showed great excitement, but the professor, after a harangue by the chief, White Sail [i.e. http://www.genealogyimagesofhistory.com/cf-cj.htm White Tail ], made a short speech, which had the singular effect of mollifying the Indians and gaining their full consent for the progress of the expedition provided it was accompanied by some Indians. On the next day, the 13th, when the party reached the agency where the Sioux scouts were to join them, a great number of fully armed Indians were there, excited and gathered around their chief. All the Indians who were to go with the http://www.wyomingta...s.com/bonewars2.html Professor then refused to go. Red Cloud stated that his young men believed the party were gold and not bone hunters. In the midst of the talk, http://www.genealogyimagesofhistory.com/pp-pt.htm Chief "Pretty Crow" rode up and shouted: "White men going into our country to find gold. We must stop them at once". Immediately a shrill cry was made to the women and children who ran away, and a line of mounted Indians formed in the front and rear of the soldiers and wagons.A collision seemed inevitable, but http://www.famousame...0thnielcharlesmarsh/ Professor Marsh turned back and a conflict was avoided. A council was to be held on the 13th. A hard fought battle occurred near the head of the north fork of McClellan Creek, Texas, on the 9th, between Lieut. Baldwin, with 98 cavalry men and one howitzer, and 250 Cheyenne Indians. The battle lasted from 8:30 a.m. till 1:30 p.m., when the Indians fled, leaving behind two little starved white captive girls, named German, whose father, mother, eldest sister and brother were recently massacred in Kansas while en route for Colorado as settlers. The two remaining sisters, age 13 and 15 years, are yet held by the Indians, doomed to worse than death. Two separate charges were made by the Indians to regain their little victims, but they were bitterly repulsed, and handsomely charged in turn by Lieut. Overton's company, who got close enough to use their pistols advantageously. The horses were so much used up after this that the men had to fight afoot. About 80 or 100 trophies were captured and much property destroyed. The camp of from 400 to 500 Indians, counting women and children, was captured. The pursuit lasted 20 miles, but was abandoned because the horses were worn out, having had no forage for 4 days, and having marched 2300 miles since October 28th and 500 the same week. No losses were sustained on our side. At least 20 Indians must have been slain. The bloody state of the field attests that the Indians dragged off rapidly a number of their wounded comrades. Col. Redmond Price's battalion of the 8th cavalry, and Major Compton's command of the 6th cavalry were at remote supporting distances on the left and rear, as also was Gen. Davidson with the 10th cavalry. Capt. Neill of the Tenth cavalry, with 100 picked men from Davidson's command, took up the trail and pursued the savages, who have gone to the staked plains. Maj. Morris and Col. Hartwell of the 8th cavalry, with companies K and L, have gone to the Adobe Walls country.
 

Subjects: Astronomy, Birds, Charlemont (MA), Children, Economics, Education, Family, Food, Horses, Kidnapping, Murder, Native Americans, Noise, Racism, Science, Transportation, War / Weaponry, Women

Posted by stew - Sun, Jan 16, 2005

Gazette & Courier - Tuesday, November 10, 1874
Two little girls, aged respectively 8 and 10, while on their way to school at Chenoa, Ill. Monday morning, were abducted by 4 men, since whi

Two little girls, aged respectively 8 and 10, while on their way to school at http://chs1972.homestead.com/ScottHouse.html Chenoa, Ill. Monday morning, were abducted by 4 men, since which nothing has been heard of them. They were living with their uncle, and it is supposed that the seizure was at the instigation of their father.
 

Subjects: Children, Crime, Criminals, Education, Family, Kidnapping

Posted by stew - Sun, Dec 26, 2004

Gazette & Courier - Monday, October 19, 1874
A great capture of slaves by her Britannic Majesty’s ship Vulture, Commander A.T. Brooke is reported. The Vulture was crossing off the northwest coast of Madagascar on the morning of Aug. 11, when a

A great capture of slaves by her Britannic Majesty’s ship Vulture, Commander A.T. Brooke is reported. The Vulture was crossing off the northwest coast of Madagascar on the morning of Aug. 11, when a sail to the southwest was reported by the masthead man. Chase was given and nearly 5 hours afterward the dhow was come up with and boarded. It was full of slaves - 41 men, 59 women and 137 children. The slaves were suffering acutely from weakness and cramp, having had to remain in one position for a long time. Several of the children were unable to straighten their legs for 3 or 4 days after they were received on board. One woman was found buried up to her neck in damp sand at the bottom of the slave dhow, under the lower slave deck. The owners were 35 armed Arabs, and the captain determined to take them to Zenzibar and have them summarily dealt with.
 

Subjects: Birds, Charlemont (MA), Children, Crime, Criminals, Diseases, English (and England), Kidnapping, Racism, Transportation, Women, Arabs

Posted by stew - Sun, Dec 26, 2004

Gazette & Courier - Monday, October 19, 1874
Mrs. Mary A. Symington, the lady from Scotland who brought a suit before the Supreme Judicial Court at Worcester, for the recovery of 5 children whom her divorced husband had clandestinely removed to

Mrs. Mary A. Symington, the lady from Scotland who brought a suit before the Supreme Judicial Court at Worcester, for the recovery of 5 children whom her divorced husband had clandestinely removed to this country, received a decision in her favor on Fri., and the children have been placed in her charge. They had been awarded to her by the Scotch courts.
 

Subjects: Children, Connecticut, Divorce, Family, Kidnapping, Law and Lawyers, Women, Scots and Scotland

Posted by stew - Sat, Oct 9, 2004

Gazette & Courier - Monday, January 19, 1874
Crystal wedding in Sunderland

Crystal wedding in Sunderland - A huge company of the friends and relatives of http://www.townofsunderland.us/nrhpsec8.htm Israel Childs and wife assembled at their residence on Mon. eve., the 15th anniversary of their wedding day. The affair was a complete surprise to them, the good man of the house being in the barn at work shelling corn when the party, numbering over 100, took possession of his house. On being called in his astonishment was great, but with characteristic good nature he welcomed them all. He then thought it would be proper to attire himself more suitably for such an occasion, but behold, every room in the house was full, so taking his clothes in hand started for the barn, but finally thought of the cellar, to which he repaired and made his toilet. Plenty of provisions had been brought along and soon a bountiful supper was served and the best of humor prevailed, after which Mr. and Mrs. C. were invited into the best room, where they were again surprised by the wedding gifts presented to them by J.L. Delano in behalf of the company... Among the presents were an upholstered rocking chair, silver cake basket, study lamp, vases, caster, etc., costing in all $25 or over. The following poem was read by Mr. Delano: To Israel Childs on the 15th anniversary of his wedding day...Mr. Childs responded in a short speech, thanking all for the gifts, but more especially for this expression of confidence and neighborly love. A delegation from the Field family of Leverett was present, and favored us with some music, rendered in the manner which is so natural to them amid so charming to others.
 

Subjects: Family, Farmers & Farming / Flowers, Food, Furniture, Households, Kidnapping, Light, Marriage and Elopement, Parties, Poetry, Sunderland (MA), Work

Posted by stew - Tue, Aug 31, 2004

Gazette & Courier - Monday, February 13, 1871
A remarkable criminal

A remarkable criminal - http://chnm.gmu.edu/aq/photos/essay/3.htm Edward Ruloff , recently convicted of murder at Binghamton, N.Y. is a remarkable case. During the 50 years of his life he had been a druggist, a teacher and a lawyer, and maintained a certain appearance of respectability in each occupation. However, in each case he perpetrated crimes, and on discovery would adopt a new alias and a new occupation. So adroit was he that the police were unable to penetrate his disguises. A scholar, he employed his time when not engaged in planning crime in the preparation of a work on language. 26 years ago he married an estimable lady. In the year 1845 his wife and child disappeared and have never since been heard from. He was arrested for abduction, convicted and sent to http://www.correctio.../jnmchair_index.html Auburn State Prison for 10 years. He then confessed to his counsel that he had murdered them both. Upon his discharge, he was arrested on a charge of murdering his child. He pled his own case. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. But the verdict was set aside by the Court of Appeals on the ground that no murder had been proved, as there had been no body produced. He was discharged, but narrowly escaped lynching. He then disappeared for a few years untill he was apprehended. The crime for which he has been convicted is fresh in the public mind and needs no repetition, With two confederates he attempted to rob a store in Binghamton, and being detected shot the clerk dead. His confederates were drowned in the Chenango River while attempting to escape. He was caught the next day, and from day to day, circumstances appear to fix the crime more surely on him. First, a peculiar deformity of one of his feet was observed to resemble closely a misshapen shoe left behind by the robbers, and this on trial was found to fit perfectly [a criminal Cinderella!]. Among other evidence was the production of a copy of a New York paper, found in the store where the robbers had dropped it, and from which an article had been clipped. In Ruloff's desk, the missing slip was found. Another link was the identification of one of the dead robbers as the son of the jailor in whose charge Ruloff was during the imprisonment 27 years ago, and who had been led astray by Ruloff, becoming his inseparable companion in crime. These circumstances have convicted him, and his career of crime is likely to be closed on the gallows.
 

Subjects: Crime, Criminals, Drugstores / Drugs, Education, Executions and Executioners, Handicapped, Kidnapping, Law and Lawyers, Murder, Police, Prisons, Rivers / Lakes / Oceans, Robbers and Outlaws, Words

Posted by stew - Tue, May 11, 2004

Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 31, 1874
Charlotte Wyeth, a white girl, 9 years of age, was kidnapped at Newport R.I. a few evenings ago from some Indian squaws, to whose care she had been left.

Charlotte Wyeth, a white girl, 9 years of age, was kidnapped at Newport R.I. a few evenings ago from some Indian squaws, to whose care she had been left.
 

Subjects: Children, Kidnapping, Native Americans, Women

Posted by stew - Mon, Apr 26, 2004

Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 24, 1874
Mrs. Ross, the mother of Charlie Ross, the stolen Philadelphia boy, is now subject to fits of violent hysteria. She insists upon a suit of clean clothes being laid out every day to await the arrival

Mrs. Ross, the mother of Charlie Ross, the stolen Philadelphia boy, is now subject to fits of violent hysteria. She insists upon a suit of clean clothes being laid out every day to await the arrival of her little boy.
 

Subjects: Advertising, Diseases, Fashion, Kidnapping, Sales, Women

Posted by stew - Fri, Apr 9, 2004

Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 17, 1874
There was considerable excitement last week at the supposed discovery of the kidnappers of charlie Ross of Philadelphia at Bennington Vt. A woman who had a boy in her charge that answered the descrip

There was considerable excitement last week at the supposed discovery of the kidnappers of charlie Ross of Philadelphia at Bennington Vt. A woman who had a boy in her charge that answered the description of Charlie Ross was arrested, and a telegram summoned an uncle of the Ross boy from Philadelphia. But it was finally ascertained that this was not the missing child, and so the affair continues to be as great a mystery as ever.
 

Subjects: Children, Crime, Criminals, Family, Kidnapping, Murder, Police, Telegraphs / Telephones, Vermont, Women

Posted by stew - Mon, Mar 29, 2004

Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 10, 1874
(Deerfield) The trustees of Deerfield academy had their annual dinner at the Pocumtuck Hotel on Wed. Robert Abercrombie was elected trustee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father, Asah

(Deerfield) The trustees of Deerfield academy had their annual dinner at the Pocumtuck Hotel on Wed. Robert Abercrombie was elected trustee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father, Asahel Abercrombie. The Deerfield Academy was incorporated in 1786. John Williams, grandson of Rev. John Williams, the Canada captive, was its originator and main benefactor. The board of trustees when full consists of 12 persons, chosen for life.
 

Subjects: Deerfield (MA), Education, Elections, Family, Food, History, Hotels, Kidnapping, Native Americans, Obituaries, Religion, War / Weaponry, Canada

Posted by stew - Wed, Mar 24, 2004

Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 3, 1874
(Greenfield) The Purchasing Committee of the Greenfield Library Association desire to procure a copy each of "Hoyt's Indian War

(Greenfield) The Purchasing Committee of the Greenfield Library Association desire to procure a copy each of http://freepages.gen...~massasoit/foot4.htm "Hoyt's Indian Wars" and http://www.historic-.../bookpages/3867.html "The Redeemed Captive" . Parties who may have them and are willing to dispose of the smae will please communicate with the Librarian, Miss Moody, stating price, etc.
 

Subjects: Deerfield (MA), Economics, Greenfield (MA), Kidnapping, Libraries and Librarians, Literature / Web Pages, Native Americans, Vendors and Purchasers, War / Weaponry, Women, Work

Posted by stew - Fri, Mar 12, 2004

Gazette & Courier - Monday, July 27, 1874
The Indian war cloud

The Indian war cloud - The uneasiness of the Indians appears to be increasing rather than decreasing. In Wyoming territory the raiders have become unusually daring, and within the past ten days, have boldly attacked large parties of miners and settlers in close neighborhoods to the settlements. On Wed. last 200 Sioux attacked the miners in the Seminole mines, and fought the camp of 35 miners two days. One miner was killed. On Fri. a bridge gang and the section hands at Greenville station were attacked and driven into http://w3.trib.com/~leebo/rawlins.htm Rawlins . Before leaving they succeeded in killing one Indian and wounding two others. The one killed was stripped by his companions, a stake driven into the ground, and his blanket hung thereon, evidently to mark the place for future revenge. All the depredations were committed in this neighborhood by 3 different bands, but they are now united and have gone in the direction of the Wind River Valley, fully 150 strong. A band of its citizens, mounted and equipped, left Rawlins Fri., for Seminole in pursuit of the Indians. Fears are entertained that the Indians have attacked other camps that are too small to resist. http://wyoarchives.s...overnor/CAMPBELL.htm Gov. Campbell of Wyoming has telegraphed to General Ord for assistance from Fort Steele, and Gen. Ord has ordered a company of cavalry to go at once by rail from Fort Russell. Several war parties are reported camped on Deer Creek, near http://spacr.state.wy.us/sphs/fetter.htm Fort Fetterman . On the 10th, snakes and Utes attacked the large party of Arrapahoes [i.e. http://www.wrtribalcollege.org/arapaho_tribe.htm Arapahoes ] at the head of http://www.ohwy.com/wy/p/powdrive.htm Powder River , killing 26, making several prisoners, and taking away with them 150 horses. A severe fight occurred a few days since, 30 miles west of Fort Sill, Indian territory between a company of the 6th cavalry, under Col. Carpenter, and a large body of comanches. Col. Carpenter was badly wounded, and 6 men were killed. The Indian loss is unknown. After the fight the Indians came upon a stage keeper and his wife, killing, scalping, and skinning and most shockingly mutilating the body of the keeper in the presence of his wife. The woman was carried into captivity. The Indians also attacked a party of wood choppers, who it was feared had all been killed. http://dsdk12.net/dm...cs/delanodontgo.html Bishop Hare will soon proceed to the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies to resume the investigation of affairs in those quarters. The permanent garrison of the agencies will depend upon the character of his report. There is no information at the War Department showing a combined hostile movement of the Indians. It is said by prominent army officers that the present raids are not more numerous or wide spread than heretofore at this season of the year. The difficulty complained of is the failure generally to discover depredators, whose movements are extraordinarily quick and in an unexpected direction, where troops are not within ready call for assistance. There is no doubt many of these Indians have left the reservations to commit outrages on the whites; others have never been seen on the reservations. the military authorities are anxious for swift punishment of all Indian wrongdoers, but find themselves checked somewhat by the peace policy. A dispatch from Austin says that late intelligence from the Indian Territory states that June 18th, the Comanches, Kiowas and Cheyennes, attacked the settlement of Doty Wells and were repulsed with the loss of 15 killed and 20 wounded. A large number of horses were also killed. Three surveyors employed by Hock, Bush & Armstrong were killed by Indians. The friendly Indians are collecting around Wichita Agency. The warriors and young men of the three tribes above named are all on the war path. It is reported that a company of cavalry were attacked at Otter Creek and 4 men and all the horses captured.
 

Subjects: Accident Victims, Animals / Reptiles, Barber / Hair, Bridges, Gangs, Government, Horses, Kidnapping, Mines and Mineral Resources, Mourning Customs, Native Americans, Prisons, Religion, Roads, Telegraphs / Telephones, Trains, Transportation, Trees, War / Weaponry, Women, Work, Vigilance Committees


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