The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-01-29
BURGLARY AND MURDER.
DID TUoRx,s soN-IN-LAw, AKIN,
CAUSE MS MURDERf

1 WIN tue tuuIy-hts SuCCtnHtNt huUut-
ries Of the Old mrn-Over n Hundred
| Thousand Dollars stoes-Akin'- Career
ne n Wall street Brok~r-His Flight 20
| Canada, and Residence in Montreal
| Jnii-A Mysterious visit to Pougbkcepsic
The late diabolcal outrage at Poughkeepsie by
| which the NE OF an inofensivc old man was sacri
feed by n set OF villains who made burgarious
visit to his house at midnight, involves the history
OF long series OF swindles and robberes Of when
| Mr.. Thorn, the murdered man, was the victim, and
his son-in-hw, now fugitive from Justice sojourn-
ing In Canada tho principal actor and points to the
samo party rs ut least the intelligent Of the
| present crime.
A RESUME.
Tn order to get AZ full understanding Of this
strange and mysterious case, one Of reporters
| paid a visit to the former residence Of the dead
man, and made searching inves tigatlon throughout
| tho community for any facts that would throw light
| upon the subject. And that the reader may clearly
comprehend It, we repeat brief sketch Of the mur.
| der.
THE MURDER
On the night Of Tuesday, Jan. 4, the residence OF
MIR. Robert Thorn, n farmer residing six miles from
| Pouglkcepsie, was entered by burglars. Mr.. Thorn
who was an old OF 90 years, and his housekeep-
or, Mrs. Jane Pratt were the only occupants Of tie
house at the time. The burglars after entering the
| house through tho cellar, approached the
| door OF Mr. Thorn's room the ground floor
and knocked. Mr. Thorn asked who
there, and getting no answer, proceeded
to open the door He was Immediately seized by
two men and terrible scufnc ensued. Finding the
odds aginst him, Thorn shouted to his housekcepcr,
who occupied an upper ROOM to bring light. Mrs.
Pratt hastcned 10 respond and reaching the spot
noticed The old man lying on the floor with strange
man seated on his breast She was Immediately
seized by two other men who pinioncd her arms and
In "a very rough manner dragged her IRON room to
room through tho house, commanding her to
| point out 10 them the spot where Mr.
| Thorn kept his money. She shouted murder
md resisted with all her strength but without avail
| The nearest neghbor was thrce.quarters OF a mile
distant, and her were lost on the midn ght
DIR. AZ last after her persistent protestatons that
she was ignorant OF the place OF sament Of the
money, the robbers showed her into n room where
they choked and beat her most shamefully then set
| her In chair. and tied her hands and feet TO II,
gagged her aud left her. saying, Old Thorn Is dead,
and wen make clean job Of II this time, and burn
the house y then proceeded to the old
mans r., demanded OF him where
his money lie replied, In his pantaoons
| pocket This they secured, and seating their victim
in chair tied him securely 20 It and proceed.
ed to count the money. between s9O0 and $3.50 IN ALL
then throwing some bcicotaing over their victims
mead, they left him. In the mean time Mrs Pratt,
released herself and fed to neghbor's house. Mr..
Morgan l.. Motifs; and raised an alarm. Assistance
| soon arrived ard MI. Thorn was release :. though
| badly bruised and injured internally. lie lngerud
along Until the 18Th INST, Whcn he died having drst
made viii, leaving his immense property u the
hands OF trustees, With provision Tor annuity Of
| 1900 TO his daughter during her hetim tie
| whole property 20 20 to her daughter wlen she
| shall become twenty one years o. age.
MYSTERIOUS RIFoBrs TO SUPPLIES ruE CRIME.
When the old man died the immediate friends o.
the family objected to having an inquest held. Tsc
Coroner delayed for day TWO IN Difference to the
barn I'd OF tie judicial district. irat h. had no NJ
Tentative but 20 hold tho irquest. Pending this de-
~ telcsiam, vas received lou tlc fugitive son.ir
law. Richard W Akin, IN Montreal. ulelng that tie
inquos! be held How did Akin kroT there was
an delay ,l Ne sn'w of the maIrd,r' because tn
| regarding TIE pforosed II qlrsf.
AN INQUEST ASD THE RCsuLr.
Tho inquest was tod on sa'urdiy, she 22l irs'
| and resulted IN verdict THAI u' Old uHr came to
Immediate cause was rosurc ard b'ui- icrc we'd
at the hands o. three to nc Juro- urknow u
| ON the night o! the 9Th or Oh Of JdnL.r..
ARRESTS.
The Police Of Pouehkeersie were exceedingly
| chnry about making any arrests in thr case, not
outstanding some OF them rretcrdcd To know the
| guilty parties. One officer to the friends Of
Mr. Thorn and offered for $500 to ares, the mur.
| dercr. but the fmiy'rciused 10 offer any reward
| But Ofcor saclds proceeded independently 10 work
the case uD ard on SATURDAY nd Sunday last made
| three arrests-lames p. Williams, j mes r. Lee
! and Peter Wilhams-all OF wIom ure-noted thieves
named skerrit, got wnl OF Olicsr shicids doll =
AMI hed. The . rec arrested were subsequently, *.
ahmed before Recorder Ia 5lor. an conn iited To-
await the act on OF the G'a'd Jury. Jan,es an
Peter Williams were fully dgcnthcd by Mrs. Pratt
! as participant in tie crime. lie held NJ "a uar-
teipont In former burglary on tie same premises,
REPEAIED BuRcLARIrs.
II NAV az well be stated here that within two
| weeks Of the fnel visit ~ the Villains to Thorn's
| house, three midnight VISIT h.d been made to the
same premises, on two occasions the burglars salts.
Tying themselves with ugging or considc rahlc guam
Titles Of butter; on tie third VISIT invading the pro
| pretors room, whence they were elected by q show
| OF FIRE arms, and fed; aud 1naly, rs above That
the same parties were concerned IN al these bur
glaries II apparent rom ne language OF one of the
| villains to Mrs. Pratt; "Ws'h MAZE clean Job Of
| 1t this time"
THE MURDERED DIVES.
| Mr.. Thorn's wife died many wears AGO lcs VIM
him an only child, daughter. Thorn vas q brrd-
working. ru:al. honest man, AMI raj tcquircd a
nrEe prS % $4,000. So'" as the lime n, at a from
This Is exclusive of upward Of goo 90 Of
which he rs known to have been robbed an /
swindod during a series Of years past. THIS laf-c
propcry was al acquired by his own industry an /
!rucahiy. Indeed the lai''r trait developed itscll
almost to the degree OF par.lmonou.ncss and some
people have even dubbed HIM miser But this vas
only partly Just. lie certainly miserlv IN hi
personal expenditures ANA n,ing but was
generous and free otherwise his money wns
invested IN bank and railroad ~, cks bonds
and mortgages, and personal lolns lie seldom
or never pressed creditor Frequently
he has been known to have large sums OF niopcy N
the hands OF people for VII Oh ne had no secnrity,
dressed most snnbuly rode TO town i'm nm ola
rickctty i1rm wadon, did the most of his own vnrl;
his tarm aud IN the caro- OF his DAIRY and saved
money wherever he Couli-Aut never re- used TO he II
anybody N distress whot or o. loan or m either
with o. without securities
THE THIEF THAT STOLE THoHNs p,rGrlrrn
Ten or twelve years ago Richard w. Akin. 4
Duichcss county MN, appeared ln the nti .hboruot
as q liIhtningrOd pcutT Ills character was I,
good lie, However, MANAGED 10 iuIi IN with Thorn
duu-htcr then attending school IN the city Of pou IN.
kCepslc AMI won hCr affections. Thorn. knoWinn
AlW'- reputation, reused his consent To his dan IN
| trr's marriage and the two were clmdrst.n /,
Joined Subsequent cvu nts Indicate hat tin. was
surely spg cut live movement the uurt of AKIN
! Tie soon elected q reconciliation Win his wife
| father, and was recognized as sou.in.lav Thou
commenced series Oi vilianCus trunsartions
amounting 10 little lets than doNyrr hit rnhherv by
which he scourdrel has swudlcd The ovtrcoud,ting
old mln out OF thousands u dollars OF money
AND IHES BRGAS TO STEAL ms MONEY.
Tho first that has come to the knowledge of ON,
| icIur cr Occt rcd during tho vcprs l32.3rt ghCul
that time. Az Undue Mr. Z horn to back rim IN
u c pro .uce rus mess In THIS City. 4 tru WIS or
Vauized under tly me Of Thorn & Akin, and nc
old mnn did Put some Uon'y m IT, Int how much i.
not known. ttnl WAS rented and Akin began
business on an extensive sCae. by
dhgcnt system Of lighting" among tut