The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-01-25

BOLD RoBDERY.-On Thursday the
10Th instant, the house of John Ben
ninghoi, on Benninghoff Run, was fell
onicusly entered, at about halt past sew
en-, and robbed OF $200,000. He re-
sides 10 farm. house about mile ard a
half distant from Petroleum Centre
His house stands near an untrequented
road, and the nearest neighbor is quar-
ter of mile distant. Mr.. b. is Penn>
sylvania German. a plain, hard working
farmer, and about sixty years of age -
The old gentleman all OF a sudden had
wealth thrust upon him by the discovery
o. oil on his sterile acres, and is one OF
our Petroleum milionaircs.
On the night in question the house
was entered by four men disguised by
haDdkerchicls over their faces aud rob.
bed Of 100000, forty thousand in
bonds and the rest in currency. They
presented revolvers at the heads Of the
inmates, when they proceeded to tie
Mr. John Benuinghoff, his wife, two
sons, a hired man and girl. Taking the
key from Mr. Benninghof, they entered
the safe aud extracted the above amount,
after which they sat Down and waited
half an hour for the return of Mr.. Jos.
Benuinghof, another son, who was abb
sent, who had in the house one of Lilies
Patent Burglar Proof Safes, containing
a large amount, but he did Dot return
until the burglars had left, taking with
them three horses and cutter.
Mr.. Bcuuinghoff had taken the fool.
ish notion to be his own banker, and to
deposit his bonds and greenbacks in his
own safe and house. Now he has paid
the penalty of his folly,
This robbery we trust, will be salu-
tary lesson to Old John Beuninghof aud
men like him, who persist in boarding
the wealth which has been conferred
upon them, instead Of doing what good
they can with it. Such men are au in.
iury to the human !acc, and are little,
If any, better than the burglars who
would rob them. We do not of course
justify burglary or robbery, but We have
no sympathy for BenninShoff The
witlcss johnny Steele, with all his reck-
less, extravagant, foolish and corrupt
ways, did more real good for the com,
muuiiy than many like John Benning-
hof. A miser is infinitely worse than
4 spendthriit, for while the latter may
iuiure himself. he benefits the commu-
nifty by freely circulating his cash. The
former, on the contrary, intlcts posi-
tive injury upon his fellow creatures by
boarding up large amounts of money
which would otherwise be in circulation,
and at the same time he is in no way
bencftting himself, but rather making
his condition worse, for he is all the
time cultivat;ng one of the worst Of hui
man passions-avarice.
Why God suffers such men to exist
on the earth, is beyond the comprehen
sion of short,sighted mortaIs. While
We hope the perpetrators Of this rob
berry will be eau hit and have justice
mcted out to tEem-that the majesty Oi
the law may be vindicated we trust
that they will get the most of theil
pluuder into circulation, so that some
good may result from the evil doue.-
With about million dollars in reserve
and an income of forty thousand pei
month, We do not imaginc that Mr.
Benniughof win be reduced to want i
he never RECEIVERS the amount Of whicl
he has been robbed, especially as hc
can content himself with the bare ne
ccssities of life, having no desire for thu
comforts and no taste for the luxdries
Up to this time the burglars hay,
moi bocn Patolc Record.