Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-10-24
attempted Midnight Assassination
A CITIZEN OF RANDOLPH ROBBED AND
LEFT FOR DEAD.

We learn from the Randolph Eagle of
one Of the most cOld-blooded and fiend-
ish attempts at murder and burglary,
ever known in Vermont, which took
place in Wost Randolph on Wednesday
evening last.
The Eagle, which was published but a
few hours after the discovery, gives a
few particulars. At about twelve o'clock
on Wednesday night, Mr.. Alonzo Reed
a workman in the employ of G. E. Alb
bolt, Esq, of West Randolph and who
resides about midway between that vii
fage 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 undisturhed. Wren
the assassin had got iHto the room he
Stealthiiy 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 a revolver, fired it at
the. would-be murderer, and with good
effect, bringing him down. Reed i'm
mediately proceeded to tie the hands of
his assailant, and while so engaged, a
onfe derate, who, as it 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 a fearful blow on the back of
the head. and
RENDERING HIM INsENsIBLE.
That is the last Mr.. Il. remembers. Early
Thursday morning Gilman Mann, ESQ.,,
a near neighbor of Reeds, went to the
latter's residence on some erraad, 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 proper restor-
atives skillfply applied, MIR. 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
was found in the
HEAD-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 a Fearful
conclusiveness what the certain result
would have been had MIR. Reed been in
the bed, as ti.e miscreant supposed him
to be. '"'
BLOOD WAS TRACKED
On the frost some rods from the house
to where a carriage evidently stood and
traces Of blood have been discovered in
the road leading to Bethel as far as Jus:
tin ii. Moulton's,
Mr.. Reed has expected, we understand
that something of this nature would Or
cur to him,-though it is not learned
with the excitement that is r+Syailipg
exactly the reasons on which ais suspic-
ions were based, and wS3 prepared for
them to a certain eXLaaty, During che
day, which he haG occupied in working
on his own premises, he saw the men
near the edge of q. a wood close by and
taking a pocket field glass he brought it
to bear on them, and from their actions
his reasons for believing they meant
mI9cnlGI were COlltttfilCNls III tllC dlbCl-
noon he found that his revolver
HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH,
each barrel of which had been unloade@
and the caps carefully placed back as
though remaining as he had left Il. 1t
was by the merest accident sbat Read
found that it had been handled; he at
once reloaded it, and by this prOviden-
tial discovery his Iie alone in all proba
bility was saved. Wednesday evening
he gave his watch and some silver to a
neighbor, Mr.. Stack, for safe keeping,
saving he was sure there would be
trouble, before long. Mr.. Stack urged
him to stay at his house that night, but
Read declined, saying he was not a
coward.
1t was found that Mr.. Reads pockets
WERE RIFLED
to the amount of $15 or 500. With their
ill-gotten booty the villains have de-
camped. Sheriff Bass has offered
A REWARD OF ONE HUNCRED DOLgA,Gs.
for the apprehension of the robR9rs, and
with Constable Moses and y, volunteer
possee, he is actively eng%gedrin search
ing for them.
There is considerable mystery con-
nected with the affair, but when the
facts of the matter are made more pa
tent, as they doubtless will be soon, it is
probable things will appear in clearer
light.
Mr. Read though dangerously wound
ed. it is thought has good chances for re-
covery. He was alone at the time of the
assault, his wife being out of town on
visit.