Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-10-25
Attempted Midnight Assassination.

Attempted Midnight Assassination.
A CITIZEN or RANDOLPH ROBBED AND
LEFT FOR DEAD.
We learn from the Randolph Eagle of
one Of the most cold-blooded and fend-
ish attempts at murder and burglary,
ever known in Vermont, which took
place in West Randolph on Wednesday
evening of last week.
The Eagle which was published but a
few hours after the discovery, gives a
few particulars. Atabout twelve o'clock
on Wednesday night, Mr. Alonzo Reed,
a workman in the employ OF G. E. Alb
bott, Esq, of West Randolph, and who
resides about midway between that vii
lage and Randolph Centre, a short dis
lance from the main road, was startled
from his sleep by hearing the noise made
by some one who was endeavoring to
raise the window to the room in which
his bed stood. Mr.. Reed hastily though
quietly arose, and allowed the intruder
to make an entrance undsturbed. When
the assassin had got into the room he
walked toward the bed and
FIRED A PISTOL
in that direction. AT that moment, Mr..
Reed, who had taken the precaution to
secure in his grasp revolver, fired it at
the would-be murderer, and with good
effect, bringing him down. Reed imme-
diately proceeded to tie the hands of his
assailant, and while so engaged, a con-
tederate, who, as it is supposed, had been
on the outside. came into the room, and
with some heavy, blunt instrument. the
back of revolver or club, dealt Mr.
Reed fearful blow on the back of the
head, and
RENDERING HIM INsENsIBLE.
That is the last Mr.. r. remembers. Early
Thursday morning Gilman Mann, Esq,
a near neighbor of Reeds, went to the
latter's residence on some errand, and
found him lying upon the floor in the
middle of the room. Help was rallied,
and medical assistance from the village
summoned, and by the use of proper re-
storatives skillfully applied, Mr.. Reed
was restored to consciousness. His skull
was badly crushed by the terrible blow
he received, the fracture being three
inches in length. A pistol shot was
found in the
HBAD-BoARD OF THE BED,
showing that it was the intention of the
one who fired it to have taken life, and
also showing to almost fearful conclu-
siveness what the certain result would
have been, had Mr. Reed been in the bed
as the miscreant supposed him to be.
BLOOD WAS TRACKED
on the frost some rods from the house to
where carriage evidently stood and
traces of blood have been discovered in
the road leading to Bethel as far as JUS
tin Moulton's.
Mr.. Reed has expected, we understand
that something of this nature would oc-
cur to him-though it is not learned
with the excitement that is prevailing
exactly the reasons ON which his suspi-
cions were based-and was prepared for
them to certain extent. During the
day, which he had occupied in working
on his own premises, he saw the men
near the edge of wood close by and
taking pocket field glass be brought it
to bear on them, and from their actions
his reasons for believing they meant mis-
chief were confirmed. In the afternoon
he found that his revolver
HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH,
each barrel of which had been unloaded
and the caps carefully placed back as
though remaining as he had left it. 1t
was by the merest accident that Reed
found that it had been handled ; he at
once reloaded it, and by this providen.
tial discovery his life alone in all proba-
bility was saved. Wednesday evening
he gave his watch and some silver to a
neighbor, Mr.. Stack, for safe keeping,
saying he was sure there would be troub-
lie, before long. Mr.. Stack urged him
to stay at his house that night, but Reed
declined, saying he was not a coward.
1t was found that Mr.. Reeds pockets
WERE RIFLED
to the amount of SIS or $40. With
their ill-gotten booty the villains have
decamped. Sheriff Bass has offered
REWARD OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS
for the apprehension of the robbers, and
with Constables Moses and a volunteer
posse, he is actively engaged in search
ing for them.
There is considerable mystery con-
nected with the affair, but when the facts
OF the matter are made more patent, as
they are doubtless will be soon, it is