Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1872-11-22
The Titusville Robbery.

A special dispatch from Pittsburg, Penn,
gives the following details Of II yillainous rob-
berry in Tltusvile
Titusville, in the oil regions, is in O state Of
excitement over most daring robbery, which
was perpetrated there on Friday night. While
the family Of John Watson, residing on the
hill opposite the old Hinkly refinery, were at
supper, party of men, Numbering five, en-
tered the house, and approaching Mr. Watson
with pistols in hand and masks on their faces,
demanded his money. They cautioned the
family not to make the least noise telling
them that it was their money they wanted,
and that all must submit to he bound and gag
ged, and that il they made the least resistance
they would call in the balance of the gang,
who were guarding the entrance outside. They
proceeded TO handcuT the family, applying
leg-irons to The men-Johu Watson and Arch
ibald Stewart--the latter the son-in-law OF the
former, Mt the same time paggiug them, and
then tying the entire family together. They
next ordered Watson 20 open his safe. The
latter replied, "My money is all at Warren,
deposited with my brother" They replied,
''We know whom you refer TO, but your mo-
ney is in the house, and we must have it,
Watson thereupon, with the muzze of a huge
revolver placed against his ear, opened the
safe, and something like two thousand dollars
were distracted. After the safe bad been rob
bed the family were tied in long row and
compelled 10 follow the thieves down in the
cellar, then up through every room in the
house, and, at the peril Of their lives, infor-
nation as TO where yaluabes were kept was
demanded and given After a thorough search
the family were conducted back tothe dining
room Mrs. Watson, Susan Stewart, and Ar
chibald Stewart, were placed on n lounge,
biindfolded, ironed, and gagged, and tied 10
the stove in snch a manner that if they moved
he stove would tip over on them. The fends
then left the house, having remained about M
hour and n half, while the balance--nine in
all-wcre standing watch on the outside. In
the hurry TO depart the lighted lamp was mp
set and the house set on fire
The robbers then returned, and taking
clothes from the wardrobes, threw them on the
burning portion Of the dwelling, and with the
utmost difficulty succeeded in extinguishing
the flames. Mr.. Watson was severely burned,
but the robbers made no endeavor to pail him
from the flames. james Stewart, member
of the family, arrived home after midnight and
found the family in n sorry plight. The irons
on Watson cut him into the bone, and he was
bleeding profusely. Those on the other mem
bers of the family were also very painful and
were taken off only by scvering them with n
file The thieves had handouts for every mem
Der of the house, and their pockets full of
handkerchieis They had also plentiful sup
ply Of leg-irous. The police were notified,
and at 2 O'Clock this morning all the hotels in
the place were searched and the town secured
but no arrests have so far been made. The
villains have so effectively done their work as
10 give no clue 10 their whereabouts. The
greatest excitement exists in the oil regions
over this devish outrage. II is very evident
that the party were aware that Watson had
money in the house, as he had neglected 10
deposit sum, the exact amount of which he
does not know. None of the family were Sc
yerev injured but Mr.. Stewart, whose feet
and hands are dreadfully burned by the up
setting of the lamp.