The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-11-02
Terrible Conflict With a Burglar,


From the Scranton, (Pa.) Register, Oct. 5.
On Monday morning last about3 clock,
Mr.. James Wait, merchant at Holster
vile, was awakened by noise in his room,
and looking from his bed where himself
and wife were sleeping, in the second story
of his house, he discovered man endeav-
oring to open his bureau drawer. He i'm
mediately leaped from his bed and caught
him, one arm around his body and the 9TH
er his throat. The latter caught an i'm
mense pail of false whiskers and NOUS
taches, that gave way at his grasp, leaving
a finger tightly clenched i'm the robbers
mouth; Il severe struggle ensued, Mr.. Wait
holding tightly to the robber, and both
went tumbling down the stairs together.
At this the noise and cries aroused the
household. Mrs. Wait, feeble woman,
first came to the rescue, and feeble as she
was, having Just recovered from bilious
fever, grasped a foot and held on to the best
of her ability. He had, by this time, pass
ed through the sitting room into a narrow
entry, where the burglar was still using
every effort to rid himself of the firm hold
Of Mr.. Wait; at this time his son, some IS
wears of age came also to his assistance.
As soon as he entered the narrow hall, the
scoundrel shot him in the groin, inflicting
a dangerous if not fatal wound, and rem
dering him powerless. Just then another
and elder son came bringing light, whom
he also shot, the ball taking effect in the
left shoulder. but did not disable him; he
discharged two other shots that did not
take effect, and snapped three other caps OF
his revolver that missed fire. The last son
also brought revolver with him. and shot
one ball through the thigh, and another
slightly wounding the forehead of the bur-
glar. He then went to the woodpile and
found a club. and vigorously applied it
over his (the burglar's) head, so that the
third blow brought him down: now he was
nj their mercy. His son would have dis
patched him, but the father Objected.
After ehort time the neighbors were
aroused. and such house is seldom met,
blood marked the skirmish from the first,
and the hail and porch was covered with
blood and torn garments. A search being
made while the robber lay senseless on the
ground, resulted i'm the discovery OF dark
lantern ofbeautiful construction. skeleton
KEYS. a revolver. false whiskers. moustach-
as, match box. and every other article nee
essary for carrying on his nefarious husir
ness. Mr.. Wait was struck several times
on the head and face with the pistol, and
bruised severely all over his person, vet
held fast until the scoundrel was finished
beyond all danger by the son. The rohher
was identified rs one of those who had
been about the neighborhood peddling lin-
Ell table cloths. Mr.. Wait had about $500
i'm bis wallet in the ptrket of his pantaloons.
This was probably taken first. and before
he retired to "A lower room. He put large
rag i'm the pocket book from which he had
taken the money. This is the fourth rob-
berry that has been committed i'm that Viz
cinity within the past year. and from ten
| To twelve thousand dollars taken, OF which
no part has been recovered.
Since the above Iacts were received, we
learn the r0hber has So far recovered rs To
be able to give his name. that he had two
accomplices, and one of them was i'm the
house when the skirmish commenced, but
! fled and left him alone.
| The proiect of n railroad from Nson,