Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-12-18
SHOOTING OF CHARLEY ROSS'S KID
NAPIER.

| SHOOTING OF CHARLEY ROSS'S KIP
NAPIER.
The New York Evening Post gives the annexed
interesting details of the exciting tragedy at Bay
Ridge on Monday morning:
1.-The house of Judge Charles Van Brunt of the
| Court Of Common Pleas is upon the Shore road,
leading from Bay Ridge landing down to Fort
Hamilton. 1t is small, pretty cottage, facing the
West and overlooking the bay, with the water
breaking on the shore not many yards distant. 1t
| has been vacant since the summer, and has been
| in charge of the family of Mr.. j. Holmes Van
Brunt, brother of the Judge. William Scott the
gardener employed by Judge Van Brunt. lived in
a small house to the rear ofand about one hundred
yards distant from the cottage of his employer.
Mr.. Holmes Van Brunt has been i'll recently,
and has been very wakeful at night, and last night
Mrs Van Brunt and her daughter were up attend
ing to the wants of a sick child, when they were
all startled by the loud ringing Of Il burglar alarm
which notified them of the presence of some one
in the vacant house next door, which was but
stones throw distant. A hasty examination as
| sured them that there was some one moving about
in the upper chambers of the vacant cottage as
the small light they carried could be passing
to and from the various chambers, as if search
was in progress for portable articles of value.
Although all were greatly agitated at the discov
cry, preparations were Immediately made for in
vestigating the cause of the alarm. Mr.. A. ii.
man sleeping in the upper part Of the house, was
called up, and himself and father hastily agreed
upon plan of action. The son called up Herman
| Frank his father hired man, and William Scott,
| and all being armed with shot guns, they divided
into two parties, the elder Mr.. Van Brunt, with
William Scott, stationing himself at the ofthe
house, about fifteen PAGES distant from a cellar
door, near the centre of the building, while Allie,
his SON. the young man referred to, IN company
with Frank, took post in the front yard. In add
ton to his shotgun the young man carried small
six shooter in his trousers pocket. The robbers
were still prowling about in the upper chambers,
| and seemed to be unconscious OF the preparations
made to give them warm reception.
After waiting for about half an hour Mr.. Van
Brunt, senior who began to feel very faint and as
if he should not be able to stand much longer,
sent Scott up to make noise at the rear door.
This he did, rafting the knob violently aud then
retiring hastily to his former station. Upon the
rafting at the door the light in the house was i'm
medately put out and all was quiet for at least
! fifteen minutes longer, when slight stir was
heard by Mr.. Van Brunt at the open cellar door at
the rear, through which it was evident that the
burglars had effected an entrance, and a moment
after two heads peered cautiously out together
| Mr.. Van Brunt, who stood out few yards
away, Immediately called out Stand! as the
heads appeared. \ moment elapsed, just suffi-
cent time, it seemed, to enable the robbers to dis
| cover the outlines of the waiting men, when two
| flashes were seen and the reports of two pistols
followed. Mr.. Van Brnnt fired Immediately, his
shot SCATTERING several panes of window glass and
probably wounding one of the men, who cried out
so loudly that his complaints were heard next door
| by the women who were anxionsly watching, and
who awaited the result of the firing with great
licitude. Both meu started off on run around
the house, when Mr.. Van Brunt directed Scott to
fire. He did so, and one of the men fell instantly
with deep groan, dropping down in the grass
plat near the fence between the two houses.
The other man kept on his way through the
opening between the fence and the house, which
lie was met by Allie Van Brunt, on seeing
whom he Immediately fired at him, when Van
Brunt returned the shot by discharging his shot
gun at the desperate thief The burglar was now
but few feet away. With an oath he raised his
revolver second time and fired at Van Brnnt,
while his weapon almost touched the young mans
arm Clubbing his gun, Van Brunt rushed at
him, striking him violently on the arm, and break
ing the barrel from the stock by the force of the
blow. Hastily drawing his revolver from his
pocket, be fired twice at his assailant, the second
shot taking effect in the back of his head. lie fell
dead instantly.
The man first shot was found to be dreadfully
mangled, his bowels protruding from a huge cash
made in his abdomen. Upon the arrival of the
physician who was sent for it was learned that be
was hopelessly injured. Constable Holland soon
arrived and arrested all the persons concerned in
the shooting. The man shot by Van Brunt was
scanty dressed, with gray side whiskers and
moustache. The younger man Of the two was
evidently dying the blood flowing from wounds
which could not be stanched.
About five o'clock he spoke to constable Hol-
land, saying that he had forty dollars in his pocket
with which he asked to be recently buried. He
also said that his companion, whose name was
Mosher, was one ofthe men who had stolen Charlie
| Ross from Germantown, and that Superintendent
Wslling would have given $40, 900 for his capture.
The man soon after died, and both bodies were
dragged beneath the stoop at the rear the house,
where they were gazed at by crowd Of curious
people, who locked from miles around to see
them The younger of the two was most repul-
sive-looking creature, while the elder may have
been at one time man Of good appearance
If the news which comes to us from Havana be
correct the Cuban instruction has taken a step
forward most threatening to Spanish power. For