Litchfield enquirer., 1870-06-30

A BURGLAR FOMED-HERo1sM OF LADY. On Thursday night about eleven o'clock, the wife of Dr. F. H. Gethell, residing at 1452, Spruce street, was awakened by the barking of 8 small terrier dog, which is usually kept in the house. Thinking there was sometheng wrong about tbe house, she arose with the intention of calling some of the servants, who slept in the fourth story. When she opened her bedroom door, which is situated on the second story, she saw that the dining room, on the same story of the back building, was brilliantly illum mated. The door being open. she observed a man standing at the table bend ing and twisting the forks and spoons, as if testing whether they were plated or solid silver. She turned back into the room just as he caught 8 glimpse of her. and seizing seven barrelled revolver belong ing to her husband, she started down the half flight of stairs leading to the dining room. The burglar, whose intention was either to kill or disarm her, rushed up the stairway and met her about half way. Moth ing daunted by his boldness, she, coolly aimed at his head and fired. He stagger- ed and fell against the railing, but recover ing himself he turned and fled into the di- ming room again, where he tried to screen his body by getting behind the table and chimney. By this time Mrs. Getchell aim ed and fired again, the ball entering the table. The burglar, who was now thor oughly demoralized, rushed wildly about the room bleeding copiously. and trying to hide behind the furniture. The lady main tained her position on the stairway and fired a third shot, which narrowly grazed the thief and lodged in the door.
 fhof %ho 1ol lakn T Ao shoot him, and seeing n other avenue of escape he rushed toward her, and getting outside the dining room door, turned and ran down side or back stairway leading into the kitchen. As he was passing down the stairway. Mrs. Getchell fired the fourth and last shot, which missed the mark by about six inches, the bail embedding itself in the door. Having reached the kitchen, which was dark, and being out of range of the revolver, he managed to open one of the windows, from which he escaped into the back yard. and climbing the fence, beat 8 nasty retreat. On making an examina- tion it was found that the burglar had packed up the Doctors instruments and a silver card basket in the office, ready for removal but, owing to his hasty departure did not take them with him. Some of the silver ware bears the indentation of his teeth, he having adapted that method of ascertaining whether it was of solid silver or merely plated. All over the stairway and dining room were scattered large clots of blood, showing that the first shot took effect. It is surmised that he was secreted in the house before the family retired, or. observing the doctor leaving the house to attend patient, he entered the front door by means of false keys, thinking that he would have an easy job of it, as the family were unprotected. The servants all slept in the fourth story mo one but Mrs. Ct tch- ell and small child being in the lower portion of the house. Mrs. Getchell's 8 knowledge of the use of firearms and bra very not only prevented her from being robbed, but also saved her from violence at the hands of the marauder, whom she described as short, well dressed. young man wearing light clothes.-Ph Philadelphia Public Record.