The New York herald., 1870-01-06
BEATEN, ROBBED AND GAGGED.
A farmers House in Dutchcss County AZ.
tackled by acknowledgements Acts Of the
yillaIns-An Heroic Housckceper.

farmers House In Dmtchcss County At.
tackled by acknowledgements Acts Of the
yillains-An Heroic Housckceper.
POUGHKEEPSTE, Jan. 8, 1870.
Robert Thorn Is a wel-to-do farmer OF Dufchcss
county, residing about FIVE miles from this CITY, on
the Hackensack road He is about ifty-nve years OF
age ana no one lives with HIM but his housckceper.
some time ago three burglars entered his house and
disturbed his slumbers, when ne rose from his bed
. fierce night ensued, during which dr.. Thorn was
badly beaten, and his housekeeper screaming,
startled the burglars and they ned leaving cap
behind. In spite OF tnls warning Mr.. Thorn did not
take any unusual precautions for the safety OF his
life and property, and AFTER q while the affair was
forgotten.
Last night he and his housekeeper were alone IN
the house as usual, and at bed time sepe, ated for
rest. At one O'Clock THIS morning Mr.. Thorn heard
some one knocking at his bedroom door and in
CURED who was there. Receiving no answer he in
quired second time the rapping still continuing.
Getting out OF bed he stepped 10 the door and un-
boltcd 1t, when lie was suddenly seized and hurled
upon the moor Of tho hall BY ruiIan whose face
was blackencd, and there cnoked ana beat TIL he
could scarcely speak. Two other robbers stepped
over mis- body and proceeded TO hts bedroom where
stood Jane Pratt, the housckeeper having been
attracted thlther by the NOISE. She screamed
..Mnrdern when the two thieves rushed
upon her, one OF them cxclaiming, "You
raised the devil when we were here before,
wen fix you now.' Sho beseecned them TO spare
her life, and III the same time struggled heroicay
with BOTH Finally they 0verpowered her, and
fastening her arms escorted her from room TO roon
demanding to be shown where MIR. Thorn's money
was She replied, III you XIII me can't toll you;
for I do not knows One said. Thorn Is dead, or
soon Will be- ana the other remarked, "Wc'll mako
clean work Of IT, and then set fire TO the house.u
Despite Mrs. PratCs struggle, and seeing they
could get no information from her, the scoundreis
carried her to the room next to Mr.. Thorn,g and
placing her IN char, bound her hand and foot
with strips OF muslin from torn sheets,
gagged and then leaving her proceeded 20
10 the nall OF Mr.. Thorn'5 bedroom, where
the latter lying PROSTATE, with the burglar
sitting on his breast. Seeing that horn could not
Tree himself they walked into his bedroom and
after ransacking everything found ms psntaloons,
from which they took nearly 5000 In greenbacks.
Returning To their pfostrate victim they demanded
MIN TO tell where there was more money. He ,old
them they had got all; but they would not believe
hum, and beat and pounded him In a shocking man
ner. They then took MIN into the bedroom and
placed hn In his rocking chair where all three or
the burglars stood about him and tied his feet to
the rockers Of the char, his wrists the and
around his neck and tying 1t 10 the back OF the
chair They then flushed the Job by covering his
head with Dedclothlng.
In the meantime the hOusekeeper, Mrs. Pratt, by
shrewdness and perseverance, managed TO Tree her
sell from her irksome position, and with but llte
clothing on and parefooted, ran tnlee-qnafters u
mile To the next nelgnDor's, Mir. Mott, where she
told her ssory. As soon possible the male inmates
OF MIR. Motifs house proceeded TO MIR. Thorn's resi-
dence, but the desperadoes had fed. They found
Mr.. Thorn In an Almost suffocoiing condition, ana
quickly released MIN. Besides the money tie bar
giai3 took Off pair OF aDtaIoons ANA pair OF
boots. Mr.. Thorn Is badly, though not dangerously
injured. Mrs. Pratu5 eyes are both black anu
swollen, her face and head are cut and her arms
black and blue The AFFAIR has create much
excitement among the farmers. and tho p9llce are
WORKING the case up.