Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-11-22

TIE GALExA ATTENPT AT MURDER.-Mr
p. FITzGEEALD, father Of the young lady re
ferrcd to last week as having made narrow
escape from being murdered, sends US the SUBJ
tDinea authentic and circumstantial account
Of the affair, which he desires published in or
der to correct the many false rumors current
in reference to it. From this account it would
secm that the object Of the burglars in entering
the house was robbery, and that the assault
upon the young lady and attempt to take her
life weFe induced from fear Of her giving the
alarm and causing their arrest:
On the night Of the 18th inst, the house of
Henry Hodgden, Esq, in Galena was entered
by two men with the intention Of robbing Mr..
Hodgden Of money which they supposed he
had in his possession; they did not succeed in
getting more than about one dollar and half,
however, which they took from his wallet in
his pantaloons pocket. They entered the house
through a window leading into room in which
young lady "a Miss Fitzgerald) was sleeping.
When they entered the room, she awoke and
springihg from the bed, commenced screaming.
One ofsthe villains seized her by the throat
and thrust her back upon the bed, and the
other coming to his assistance, they tied her
hands and made an attempt TO take her life by
administering poison to her. but the effect og
the poison was counteracted by the timely ef
fort ofthe physicians and the life of tie young
lady saved.
The following statement of the particulars
Of the affair is given by Miss Fitzgerald herself:
was residing Mt Mr.. Hodgden's, and on
the night of the 18th inst. retired to rest at
the usual time. My room was in the front
part Of the house, on the lower floor. About
midnight was awakened by nose in the |
room; one man was in the room and another |
was entering through the window when / |
awOkc. ] sprang up and screamed; Que of the |
men seized me 0y the throa! and threw me |
back on the bed, and threatened to cut nv |
throat if j made any more noise. They had !
a dark lantern, and wore fur shoes, or had their
feet mufied with fur. They asked me where /
Mr.. HOdgden kept his money, saying that they
lad heard he had. three hundred dollars and
they were determined to have it. told them
did not think he bad any in the house. One
Of them stood by me with revolver in one
hand and knife IN the other, brandishing the
knife immy face and threatening to take my
life If | moved or made u noise, while hi com
rade searched the house for money After this
they got some muslin, tore off strip and talk
ed Of strangling me With it, but concluded 10
tie my hands. They then proposed TO kill M,
saying il they spared my life would raise an
alarm and be the means of having them ar
rested aud identified. They gave me my choice
either to have my throat cat or take poison
] tlIought'if had TO die ] did not care which
way. One Of them put his hand on my fore
head aud the knife TO my throat. asked them
for few moments to make up my mind. =
They Eaid they wou,d give me half minute.
! decided TO take the poison One held Il Sial
10 my mouth while the other held my nose and
hacked my forehead with a casc.knie to make
me swallow. AGtcr this they tied my wrists
together as tight liz they could They then
threw my arms over my head, to lie them to
the bed pOsts just at this time some noise
frightened them. One said they had given me
enough 10. kill three men. The other said it
WIS best to make sure Of it. They then left
through the window 10y which they had en-.
tered
had recognized one of the men US the per-
son who took some jeweiry from my lather's
hot SC, in Cheshire, about three months be,
fore. asked linn if hc was not the same
man. He said he was, aud had the jewelry
with him, and putting his laad into his pocket,
he took it out aud threw il on the table, say-
ing that it was of no value 10 him, aHl would
not be to me long. ~r
Afterth left succeeded in awakening
Mrs. Hodglcn, when Mr.. 1orlgden came to
my relief They offered no insult of any oth;r
character, as has been reported
The following is from Esq. Iodgden, certi-
tying TO the truth Of the young lady 5 state.
nent:
certify thai The within statement is correct,
as far as the facts came under my knowledge,
und that the house was thoroughly ransacked;
my pants were removed from where they were
lcf:, and about oHc dollar aud a half missing
from my wallet; the front door was bolted aud
locked, the bolt was showed back, but the lock
was difficult one to unlock, 10 which at
tribute the reason they did not leave by the
door HENRY HoDGDEN.