The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-06
A ROBBERS DEATH.
Terrible Tragedy i'm New.
town, Long Island.
RobSer Shot Dead by a Citizen Who Dis
covers Him in His Yard-Thres Burglaries
IN One Night-And No Arrests Yet.

caught tie criminal IN the act OF entering his
store. The encounter lasted but a lew minutes,
but tie robher ls a helcss corpse ana the
brave citizen who shot him is suffering from two
wounds.
Mr.. william Il. Furman keeps a large store in
Broadway. lie is forty-nne years OF age TALL well
built, with hair and beard prematurely white.
large, bold eyes ana expression of singular
rankness anu nianness. He has always enjoyed
the reputation OF being an excellent shot. Twice
before have burglars broken into his house. Some
eight years ago he shot at one, who made his
cape. Ever since he has always slept with a re-
volyer under his pillow,
READY FOR ANY EMERGENCY
that might arise. on Thursday night he retired
somewhat early He tired anu slept soundly
till haipast two O'Clock. lie awoke, ana, Is usual,
stepped TO the window to look into his yard and
see that all safe. 1t was dark. The moon had
disappeared behind the black clouds. He strained
his eyes and scanned every object IN the yard All
was quiet. Dark shadows seemed to fill the air.
but there was not u sound.
He started, all at once. What waS that The
figure of man, and right beneath the window
covering on the GROUND, The strangers head was
bent forward as though he were watching him.
Who could II be A thief, robber-perhaps a muir
derer2
"who's that 2" Mr.. Freeman cried, breaking the
stiffness of the night.
Not sound. Mr. Furman saw shadow passing
back towards the rear of the yard. The man-for
it was the shadow of the robber-glided quickly
past the gate and disappeared.
Mr.. Furman's blood tinged through his veins as
he rushed to his bed and
GRAsPED HIS PISTOL.
The window was open. The sky was dark, and
through the house the bleak wind whistled mourn
fully. He ran back to the window. There was the
shadow again. 1t rushed past him. Mr.. Furman
raised his pistol ana pointed IL AT the man. lie
paused ana ran back.
"He cannot escape men Mr.. Furman thought.
He knew very well that the burglar would try to
cross tue yard, jump the fence and gain the
street He ialrly Jumped into has pantaloons and
dashed INTO tne street. AS lie passed the corner
lence The clouds mad swept by by this time and
| the moon shone family down. The burglars bury
| fern now clearly visible. Mr. Furman thought
the man would fee, but he stopped and locked at
his pursuer. They met face to face. There was no
/ escape for the robber. lie must die or surrender
stand Mr.. Furman cried, and his pistol was
pointed at the criminals breast The ro6ber drew
/ his pistol. One moment more and only one
| OF THE TWO MIGHT BE ALIVE.
The moon burst now through the last clouds that
obscured it, and there they Stood some ten
PAGES apart each staring instant death in the face.
1t was one of those moments that can never never
be forgotten. The still night, the dark sky, the
pale moon, the fierce wind, and there was the
rohber before him, his eyes nashing with rage and
terror, and his nand quivering as he held out his
pistol before him.
Mr.. Furman was cool and sefpossessed. mo-
ment before and his brain hah whirled round, and
his form had been shaken by violent emotion but now
! he was comparatively calm A nash-two shots
smoke wreathng above the ground, and the robber
| rolled into the gutter. Mr.. Furman fired another
shot at the PROSTATE form OF the burglar. The
latter was wounded and writing with PAM but
he had still strength enough to fire at his adver-
sary. Five shots followed in quick succession. Mr..
Furman was wounded III the right hand and had
received another wound near the left hip He
staggered, but only for moment. The robbers
pistol dropped on the ground.
shoot him" he shouted as loud as he could,
| she's killed mel
| These words seemed to be
/ ADDRESSED TO SOME HIDDEN COMRADES.
"Good Godln a voice cried rom the distance,
| she's shot. Wen kill the murderous scoundre.h
There were sounds Of approaching footsteps;
and Mr.. Furman, nothing daunted, rushed back
into his store his gun. His three boys had been
reused meanwhile. The youngest boy-a child OF
eleyen-cung to his father and prayed him not to
| go out. What mortal agony the child seemed to
| suffer as his father lett him again.
| The spot where he had shot the robber was now
forsaken. lie looked IN vain Tor the burglar and
| his comrades. one or his neighhors came 10 the
| assistance OF the brave man, and after half an
hours search, they found the burglar in Howard
| place, distance of 100 yards from Furmans house.
There were no traces OF blood on the way. IL was
| evident that the other members Of the gang had
carried him to the spot, and then left HIN 10 his
fate.
The neighbors were by this time all awaked, and
the excitement in the village was intense. IL was
found that two other houses had been
BROKEN INTO DURING THE NIGHT.
| The carpenter shop Of f. l.. Van Wrinkle had been
entered Ivy burglars who had stolen all his tools.
| There was another shocking discovery. Mr.. Shell
ling, tailor, had been chloroiormed, his shop had
| been broken into and a quantity of clothing
sto.en gang OF three or four burglars, in
wagon had entered the village at ni2htfal They
had evidently gone from one place to another
until the death OF their leader had compelled them
to nee. There was no clew as regards the di-
rection they had taken. As far as they were con-
cerned the three burglars were complete mys-
teries. Were they to be unrayeed by the state
| ments OF their dying leader?
Furman and his friends had found him in the
mud, bathed in blood. AS they gazed upon him the
robbers heavy eyes. opened for a moment. Fur,
the man who had mortally wounded HIM lie shot
an evil glance at him and turned his face away
Two physicians were called. they ordered
THE REMOVAL OF THE DYING MAN
to the court house. There his bloody form was de-
posted on stretchcr. His lace bore an expression
OF wild rage and as he pressed ms hands upon his
breast, If to ste the agony no was suffering his
features looked scarcely human He was shot in
the abdomen, Just above the naval, and there was
no hope OF recovery. 80
where are you wounded P' DR.. Gayler mildly
asked :.
piteous moan.
''What Is your manner"
In the robbers eye. groan OF pain was stlied on
his lips ats not MATERIAL he gasped.
s'Have you any friends with whom you would
like to communicate" the doctor asked.
"No HAVEN'T was the reply. And the robber
WINGED under the intense bodily pain.
.'Can do nothing for your
ayes; the best favor you can do me- he gasped
wildly, sis to put bullet through my head and to
The men VINO stood round him looked at the
wretched man with something
ALMOST AKIN TO PITY.
Not a word was spoken for several minutes The
silence was only broken by. the means OF the dying
man.
ais there no hope at ALL doctor ~ he asked at
last.
MOI the Doctor replied. sadly, ''your wounds
are OF so fatal character that you can live but a
few hours more"
The robbers lips quivered, but he spoke not a
word. He seemed to form one word with his quiv-
ering Inns and to repeat IL incessantly IL was the
word ''death.D Yes, the Angel OF Death was near
him.
apo you wish to see any clergyman, Protestant
or Catholic2n the Doctor pursued.
His lips moved. mo, don't wish for one, was
the answer; che could do me no good"
lie folded his hands across his breast as though
In prayer. A deadly paor overspread his cheeks,
his eyes became CLASSY, the muscles OF his face and
neck stirened, his breast heaved and then he gave
one long, long sigh OF unspeakabe anguish II
waited his soul before his Maker, His head fell