The anti-monopolist., 1874-12-24
the CHARLEY ROSS BURGLARS.
Detailed Account Of Their Death,
A Thrilling Hand to Hand NIidnight
Ffght..The Wife Of the Chief Alb.
ductOr Of Charley Ross Beside the
Corpse of Her HuSband..I1er
Grief Over His Death.
fFrom the New York Sun, Dec. 1871

| (From the New York Sun, Dec. ISL
Judge Van Brunt's house is about
forty feet from the Shore road. at Bay
Ridge, and nearly mile above Fort
Hamilton. The building is two stories
high and is painted white. 1t is old
fashioned and roomy. 1t has a front
and rear porch, and in the centre of fine
grounds. The house is known as the
country seat of the Judge, but he has
not occupied it for t~ o or three seasons.
He and his brother, John Holmes Van
Brunt, and many of their heirs, were
born in it: John Holmes Van Brunt
now lives on farm adjoining the
Judge place, and has a much more
stylish dwelling. In the winter the
Judges dwelling is unoccupied. A ser.
want, William Scott, has a room over
the stable, about hundred yards from
the house, and watches over the premi.
ses. The house is elegantly furnished
and contains other property of great
value. An electric burglar alarm was
arranged to connect all the windows
and doors of the Judge residence with
the brothers.
TUE DETECTION OF THE BURGLARS.
Mr.. John Holmes Van Brunt has
been seriously i'll for many days. On
Sunday evening he complained more
than usual, and his wife sat by his bed
side and cared for him. About two
O'Clock the burglar alarm from the
Judges house startled them. The wife
called their son Albert, who hastily at
tired himself and hurried into the sick
room. The father thought that proba-
bly, the wind had blown with such force
against some of the windows as to start
the alarm. He told Albert to 60 to the
house and see what was wrong. The
young man put revolver in his pocket
and took a lantern with him. The
wind was blowing gale and there was
cold, drizzling rain. 1t was very
dark. When within two or three feet
Of the house he saw light in the
kitchen. Next he saw it disappear
from the kitchen and brighten up a
room adjoining. 1t was plain that he
needed assistance, and he went to the
lower barn where Scott was sleeping.
Scott took the lantern and Albert got
two shot guns. Hermann Franks, a
hired man, was also awakened, and he
and Scott were each given gun. Then
Albert told his father burglars were in
the Judges house. The elder Van
Brunt was scarcely able to rise from
his bed, but he insisted ON arning him
self with shot gun, and giving one to
his son they started out. The light
was still moving through the house.
The ground was very damp, and Mr..
Van Brunt was chilled, but he would
not 90 back. He discovered that the
cellar door in the rear Of the house was
open, and he and Scott took up posi-
ton about twenty-five feet away. They
stopped near big tree and awaited the
coming of tie burglars through the
cellar way. Albert and Frank station
cd themselves at the front gate.
THE ANBuscADE.
! About thirty seconds elapsed, and
the watchers plainly saw the light fit
ting from room to room. The elder
Van Brunt became impatient, and
thought of the great risk he was run.
ming in exposing himself to the night
air. He approached the house and
stepped upon the porch. SCOTS lam
tern was hidden behind little summer
house. and all was dark without. Mr..
Van Brunt looked through the shut
ters and saw two despcradoes. One
was carrying light, and the other had
something heavy before him. 81 could
have shot them then,'' said Mr.. Van
Brunt afterward, but l hadn't the
heart to do it, He went back to
where Scott was, and stopped as before.
Thirty seconds more probably passed,
and Mr.. Van Brunt lost all patience.
He ordered Scott to go to the kitchen
door and unlock it, while he kept
watch at the opened cellar door.
tScott put the key in the lock. which
was rusty. and the harsh sound must
have been heard by the burglars, as in.
stantly their light was extinguished
iScott fell back to where Mr.. Var
Brunt was STOPPING, and tn y saw
something like tho igniting Of match
in the cellar.
'rhey are coming, whispered Scott
| Mr.. Van Brunt raised his gun. In .
moment two dark objects emerged from
the cellar way. The white background
Of the house made plain the forms ol
the burglars They ascended the step.
slowly, and their heads were seen L
turn.
''Stand," shouted Mr.. Van Brunt.
The command was scarcely uttered
before the FIRE from two pistols wa
seen and loud report was heard. Tn,
balls whizzed past Mr. Van Brunt. H,
pulled the trigger of his shot gun, ant
one OF the I3rglars clutched at the eel
lar door hraced himself. This wa,
the one ah- ards learned to be Doug
las. Aosf n, he taller and more DOW
; erful. stared Fildly for the side Of tn,
house, and D,sglas started after him
. Albert Van E gnt and Frank were .
the front gate. They saw the burglar,
coming Abb, raised bis gun.
) stand, or shoot your Alber
AzAnD-ro-nArD TIGHT.
The answer vss . pistol shot tha
gra1ed the 1onfy mans coat. Alber
fred and nts he foremost burglar
vhe drew nSk % him. The voup,
1aa Aad lgtlf % lose. The desper
Jade vas - ssa,ag On hin, and Va.