The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-07-21
A KENTUCKY TRAGEDY.
The Mysterious Old Man ard, his de
fence of a Widows Home "A Strange
Tale.
From-the Louisvil. 3 com.areis,.

From.the Louisville Com1arcial
Last week there occurred in Bullitt
county strange affair, which is as yet
unsolved in its particulars, but which
was one OF those very peculiar transac-
tons which seem to have no motive. A.
widow lady, with her daughter some Is
years OF age, lived near Mt. Washington
They were without male protectors, and
lived quietly and securely. One day the
old lady received $1,000 in payment OF
an old account, and locked it up IN her
trunk. The night following was dark
and gloomy, and one that would cause
people naturally to bar and lock doors
and windows, and cause one to hesitate
to open them to stranger. Toward
night an old, bent-up decrepit man came
to the door, and on its being opened ask
ed for shelter for the night. The widow
told him she was alone, with no men
folks about the house, and she disliked
to take stranger under her roof The
old man said he was a stranger. poor, de-
crepit, and destitute, and only asked for
shelter from the approaching night.
The lady acce3ed to his request, and
in due time he was shown to his room
up stairs. The night grew darker out
side, and the widow and Der daughter
were preparing to retire when heavy
knock came upon the door. and voices
Of men outside were heard demanding
admlttance in threatening tones. Terri
fed, knowing the danger of possessing
such large sum Of money, the widow
concluded that the parties outside we're
confederates Of the man to whom she had
given shelter. Acting upon this SUSPECT
on, with trembling limbs she ran up
stairs and locked the door of the SUSPECT
Gus stranger Returning down stairs,
she heard the blows of an axe on the
door, and as she reached the foot of the
stars encountered the man she supposed
SShe had locked safely in his room. No
longer decrepit, bent and feeble, the
stranger stood upright and assumed stall
wart proportions. The gray hair, the
trembling voice had gone, and instead
was a man of powerful build and determ-
ined mein. s 's5.lsl
Believing that all was lost, the widow
exclaimed, You know what I've got
III give it W. p
The stranger, instead Of acceding to the
terrified woman's offer, replied: s'Don't
annoy me; go into your room, and I'll
protect you.' He held in his hand a
rifle he had taken from the rack, and,
as the blows of the assailants' axe fell
fast upon the door, pushed the widow
into her room. The door gave way, and
the first man that entered was shot by
the stranger, who grasped the. falling
body and pulled it inside the door. He
then pulled the door wide open and fred
again, killing another of the assailants.
The party turned to fly, and another of
their number received a shot from the
valiant stranger.
The attacking party having fled, the
door was secured, and the affrighted in
mates took occasion to examine the fea-
lures Of the dead robber, who proved to
be the son-in-law and neighbor of the
widow. vEsslE I'D
in the morning another man was found
leaning over the fence, with his arm
thrown over tie rails, dead. Mortally
wounded, his failing strength had car
rled him to the fence, where in support
ing himself up, he died. The stranger
gave himself up to the magistrate, who
examined into the case, the stranger re-
fusing to give either his name, place of
residence, or the nature of his business.
The magistrate ordered his discharge.
and the mysterious stranger departed.
Who he was, why he assumed the dis
guise he did on that night, what was the
nature of his business, or whittier he
went, is mystery not yet explained, and
comment would be superhuous.