The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-12-24

into Winant's Hotel at Bay Ridge,
little village on Long Island, and called
for liquor. They came ashore from
small black sloop, and after drinking,
several times, left the hotel The elder
was a man of about FIVE feet six inches
in height, with light hair, and side
whiskers and mustache. This was
William Mosier, bold river thief well
known to the police Of this city. His
companion vas also thief man about
the same height as himself, with red
hair and q luxuriant red mustache.
This man was known to the police as
Joseph Douglass. He appeared to be
about % years of age, while Mosier
seemed to be at least 45. Their appear
ance attracted no attention, aud al
though while at the hotel they CONVEX
sed in subdued tones, there was nothing
in their manner which aroused suspicion.
While drinking they seemed in the best
of humor. -"Here's luck!" said the
elder of Of the two, and his companion
answered, "Here's that we may have
it." These were The last words that
they uttered at the hotel.
About a mile from Fort Hamilton
stands the modest looking summer resi-.
dence of Judge Van Brunt, cf the New
York Court OF Common Pleas. The
house is not occupied during the winter.
Adjoining it is the residence of Holmes
Van Brunt, brother OF the Judge and
the two houses are connected by burg
lar alarm. On Saturday night, Mr..
Van Brunt and his son William were at
home. At about 2 O'Clock yesterday
morning, Mr.. Van Brunt was aroused
from slumber by the sound Of the bur-
glar alarm. He Immediately called for
his son, and the young man, upon being
informed of what had taken place,
rushed out of the house, armed with a
pistol, and ran over to the judges resi-
dence. Upon approaching the house he
saw hts moving from room TO room.
Without stopping to make further ilves-
tigation, he ran back to his fathers
house and informed him that burglars
were at work in the Judges residence
Mr.. Van Bruut, although suffering Sc
verely from an attack of rheumatism
sprang from bis bed, dressed very hastily
and seized a double-barrel shotgun.
lu the meantime his son called at the
house Of his fathers employees, Will
liam Scott and Herman Frank, and ac-
quainted them With the fact that Judge
Van Brunt's house was being robbed
In very few minutes Holmes Van
Brunt, his son, and the hired men were
on their way to the judges house. They
proceeded carefully, and upon arriving
at the mansion stationed themselves
where they could shoot the burglars
the moment they left the house. For
nearly an hour they stood there watch
ing the burglars as they moved from
room to room. Finally Mr.. Van
Brunt requested his son to 60 around
and open the back door. The son
obeyed, but the moment he opened the
door the burglars blew out their lights.
They knew for the first time that they
were in danger. Presently footsteps on
the stairs were heard, and then two men
emerged from the cellar. "S,op and
surrender or IN Shoot" shouted Mr.
Van Brunt. His answer was two pistol
shots, Taking quick aim at the nearest
man, Mr.. Van Brunt fired. The fellow
shreked from pain and ran off His
companion was by his side, and had pro-
ceeded only short distance before he
received shot from Mr.. Van Brunt's
son. The man who received the first
shot continued his fight through the
yard until he came within range of Her.
man Franks fowling piece, AS be did
so be was shot in the back, and fell.
The other fellow driven to desperation
turning upon young Van Brunt, pistol
in hand, anG aiming at his heart fred.
He missed his aim. "Stand, or I'll kill
you" shouted the young man, but the
burglar leveled his pistol again. Mr..
VanBrunt grasped his gun by the stock
and struck the burglar terrible blow
upon the arm. he stock flew off, and
the plucky young fellow drew a revolver
and fred twice at the thief, while The
1uffian was aiming at his head. The
man fell with the words, 'I'm through"
upon his lips. In few moments he
was dead.
His companion fell about Is yards
from the house, and was writhiDg in
agony, when Mr. Van Brunt stepped to
his side. This was Joseph Douglass;
his dead com panion was William Mosier
Douglass was in excrueiating agony
when Mr.. Van Brunt asked him if he
had anything to say. From his abdomen
the entrails protruded, and his right
side presented hideous appearance.
His first cry was for liquor. "For the
love of Cod" he moaned "givo me
drink of whiskey, quick, quick, quick"
The liquor was brought him, but as
soon as he touched it with his lips he
pushed it away, and cried Tor water. He
rolled upon the wet ground and placed
his hands upon his ehastly wounds, as
if to stop the flow of blood which
gathered in pools around him. He lay
there slowly dying, bat clinging to life
until the end. 1t was two hears and a
half before he died.
Mr.. Van Brunt is man about so