The New York herald., 1869-12-29
THE CARNIVAL OF CRIME.
Burglary nnd Murder in Central New York;
An Old Mans Brave Defence.

From The Utica On. Y.} Herald Dec. q.
On Thursday night most brutal outrage was per-
petrated near CLINTON, which resulted III the death
OF Mr.. James ID. Stebblns on Saturday evening. Mr..
Stebbns passed his eightieth birthday in September
last. His lifelong residence has been on the farm
where he was born, about one mile east OF the vii
age of Clinton, on what is known as the Hin road.
He was generally respected, and 80 lar AS he knew
had not an enemy IN the world.
On Thursday night OF last week, about half past
eleven, after the family had all retired, ms residence
was entered by two burglars. The entrauce was
effected through window on the west side OF the
house. The villains passed through The parlor aud
front hall to the sleeping apartment OF q niece uf
Mr. Stebblns, who was his housekeeper. Startied
by the noise and by tile light from the bullseye Of
a dark lantern the housekeeper started up in
bed, when the with the lantern said "Be
quiet, woman, ana you Will not be hurt" lie
with the lanterl then passed on through the
Kitchen towards Mr.. Stebblna' sleeping room.
The houseNeeper thinks tnat for an instant both
men were gone from tne room anu that during That
time MIR. SteDbns came to her door and asked Nv no
are these men in the house," but IN almost the
same instant she remembers that one OF the men
was guarding her, while the one with the light was
struggling with Mr. Stebblns In the Kitchen. From
the appearances found afterward II Is thought that
OF the men renamed by the housekeeper and that
The other one passed directly to the Kitchen where
he was met by the Old gentleman or into his seeping
room, To be driven OuL
s man sseSSs syaey .Mas @ n long os
stan assist him III walking, and for all his age
made a vigorous defense with that weapon. He lett
marks ON the walls ana furniture that Indicate no
feeble blows, although The length OF his stick made
1t unwieldy, and ne fought IN the dark. The man
cOmrade in 10 his aid and the hOusekeeper at once
ran up stars TO arouse man, hired to work upon
the place. who slept III the upper part OF the house.
Before the got TO the scene the miscreants
had escaped, leaving the Old man speechless and al
most UNCONSCIOUS upon the floor. Blood on the door
and on the window through which they escaped
gave evidence that at least one or them was
wounded. The hired man ut once called up The son
OF deceased Mr. ,l~M. SteDbns, who lives few rods
from his iather's house. ana ne FASTENED TO the
scene. The man was at once sent Ior doctor, and
while returning with MIN met three persons III
ftNn nnff fopsn Wn nIIf a
one Oi them was driving and both appeared mascu-
line 1t IS thought they were burglars.
Mr.. SteotiDs dld not speak from the time when
found ON The kitchen floor until his death, which
occurred al nine O'Clock on saturday evening. He
seeus 10 have died from the result Of the shock 10
his nervous system rather than nom the result Of
blows.
The assaultng party left behind them in the house
a chisel such as Is used with turning lathe. They
were tracked from the house TO EIiots ore bed,
where an overcuat was found. The cnisel was Two
and half inches wide, with q carved edge and was
identified by parties near Oriskany Greek having
been formerly used in the chair factory there. IL
mad been injured IN some way and cast aside rs
useless.
IL was remembered that man named Sweeny
who had been painter as the factory, finished has
work there about the time the chisel was last
seen, and his character was thought to be such
10 render hun liable to suspicion. He resided
near the foot OF College Ill., ana thiner an officer
and fIlend Of the deceased proceeded. They 1ound
HIM al home with his wife. fresh cut over one
eye he explained rs having been received Thursday
evening while he was cutting kindlng wood. While
he conversing with MS visitors his wife asked
them about the burglary ut Mr. StebDlns' house and
he Turned very pale. His actions the cut over his
eye ana the TACT that he mad been employed aG the
factory from which the chi5el was taken led 10 his
arrest on susplcl on.
The overcoat found In the ore bed was identified as
belonging To q named Rush, who with MS father
lives ana Keeps grocery the canal, near liarring
TOMS Mills lie, 100, Is under arrest. Thursday
night, 1T viii be remembered, two burglaries were
committed in Ciayyiiie. Perhaps one party was
sponsloe for all that nights work. At all events the
affair VIII he thoroughly sifted and it is be hoped
the guilty VIII be punished.