Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-03-28
pairing Robberies.

From the Salem Republican, March Il
On Wednesday evening last. in Butler
township, two Of the most daring rob-
berries were committed that ever occurred
in this vicinity. Somewhere between the
hours of nine and ten o'clock, two men
came to the residence of ChalkleY Har-
ris. about four miles southwest of Salem,
and, unperceived, one of them entered
the sitting room. Mr.. II. wal occupying
a seat BY the fire, Mrs. II. having retired.
The robLer sprang forward and seized his
victim from behind, and after a brief
scuffe. felled him to the floor. By this
time robber No. 2 entered and demanded
all the money about the premises, or he
would take their lives, There being only
Mr.. and Mrs. H., and they both old per-
sons, about the house.) Finding resis-
lance useless, Mr.. II. told his wife to give
them the money. She went to a drawer
in another room. accompanied by villain
No 2, mo. l still holding Nj. Il. on the
floor, J and delivered up about $I45. The
williams both declared that was not ALL
Mrs. II. persisted that it was all, except
a few dollars in silver, which she also
gave them. They insisted that they had
not received all the money, as they kneag
there was $4,000, IN gold, in the house.
They were told that such was not the
fact, when No. 2 demanded a light, which
he received, and proceeded to search the
house, up stairs and down, but finding
nothing, they concluded to leave, after
having threatened Mr.. Harris, if he gave
any alarm until morning, they would
burn the house over their heads. During
all this time the villains we're masked by
having handkerchief tied over their
faces, with holes cut in them through
which to see. Consequently but an i'm
perfect view could be got of them. As
soon as they left, Mr.. H. went over to his
nearest neighbor, Josiah Cameron, and
gave the alarm, but too late to catch the
scoundrels.
On leaving Harris house, the robbers
passed over to the residence of Miller
Haines, about two and one-fourth miles
from Salem, on the New Garden road
They reached there about one o'clock
Mr.. H. hearing a noise, got up and
slipped on his clothing, opened the door
10 90 out. Just as he did so, one of the
robbers, masked as at Harris, grabbed
Mr.. II. by the throat and began choking
him, at the same time forcing him back
on the floor. By this time robber No. 2
had also gained a~dmittance, and seizing
Mrs. II. threw her violently on the floor,
and began the anne process of choking
that his confederate was practicing on
Mr.. H., and at the same time demand
ing their money or their lives. In order
to save his wife from strangulation, Mr..
H. gave them all the money he had in
the house, amounting to SOS. Ia the
scufie Mr.. II. endeaVored to draw his
pistol, which he had slipped into his
pantaloons pocket on getting up, but be-
ing entirely lame in his right hand, failed
TO do 80, whilst the r~ufian, seeing the
movement, seized the weapon himself.
and carried it away with him as part of
the booty. Both wore masks answering
the description Of those worn by the per-
sons who robbed Mr.. Harris an hour bs-
fore, and there can be no doubt that they
are the same individuals. Mr.. II. sue
eeeded in tearing the mask from the face
of the villain with whom he was conten-
ding, and has It now in his possession
1t is marked with certain initials that
will, before many days we opine, bear
heavy testimony against the guilty
owner.
Means are being used that viii. proba.
bly,, very soon lead TO the detection and
arrest of the thieves; ana when they are
found, they will prove to be persons who
are not by any means strangers in the
community. Crime is becoming SO ram
pant everywhere, that the very boldness
with which it IS committed often insures
its success. It will no longer do TO
trust IN peace or non-resistant principles,
but every man who wishes to sleep in