The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-22
THE MYSTERY SOLVED.

W. " 49,
-
THE ABDUCTORS OF CHARLIE ROSS.
A CLUE TO TEE MYSTERY Is FOUND AT LAST
II DARING BURGLARY AT RIDGE, LONG
IsLAND-THE CONFESSION OF oNE OF THE
DYING MEN ACCOUNT OF THE
The Brooklyn Eagle of the 14th inst. gives
the following full and graphic account of the
recent tragedy which has given a certain
clue to the abductors of Charlie Ross: The
usually tranquil village of Bay Ridge was
set agog this morning by a tragic occurrence
which took place at the beautiful country
seat of Judge Van Brunt, of the Marine
Court of New York. Two desperate
burglars ware scot dead in their
tracks by Mr.. Rulef Van Brunt, a brother
of the Judge, his son William and a
workman on the premises. The dying
confession of one of these men duplicates
them both as principals in the abduction of
Charlie Ross from his parents in Phila-
delphia. the facts of which are of country
wide nOtoriety. Judge Ruff Van Brunt's
house stands about twenty-five feet back
from the Shore road, about" mile above
Fort Hamilton. It is a modest summer
house, and presents no outward appearance
of great wealth. The protection OF the
house is, however, amply provided for by
the burglar alarm, extending to the next
house, which is described elsewhere. The
ARRAY occurred in the front yard, and the
lawn, which, is usually smooth and well
kept, is tramped out of all semblance to
smoothness by the footsteps of the contest
ants and of the various lockers on who have
gathered to look at the CHASTITY remains,
which had been laid under the back porch,
and to discuss, with wide open eyes and
gaping mouths, the details of the startling
- A. - l@o0., eotI H. 1000 -
u~noccupied at the time ofthe entrance OF the
burglars. Judge Van Brunt spends his
winters in the city. His household goods
are slowed away in his country villa,
which, during the judges absence. is under
the protection of his brothers. family, who
live on an adjoining plot. Additional pro-
lection is had in an electric burglar alarm
connecting the two residences. At two
O'Clock this morning the burglar alarm
sounded in the house OF Mr.. Rulef' Van
Brunt. 1t startled all the family from their
sleep. Mr.. Van Brunt, who ha6 been ailing
for some weeks, was 10th to rise unless the
occasion really required it. He called for
his son william, and told him first to search
their own house and then step over to the
judges and find out the cause of the
alarm. William hastily dressed him
self, and, taking a lantern, aroused
Scott, a workman on the place. They
ARMED THEMSELVES
with shotguns. William had a double bar
rel and Scott a single barrel. The former
also carried a seven shooter in his pocket,
Their own house, they soon aScertsined, had
not been invaded. They crept cautiously
over the house of the Judge, shading
the lantern as they went. They
approached the house from the rear. They
recOnnOitered a few moments, and sud-
denly they saw a faint light glimmering
through the dining room windows. A
couple of dark objects were moving about
in the room. They could not see their TEA
lures, but their general appearance was
rough and heavy. The son returned
to the house for his father, and told
him that he had better arm himself
and step over, as they might have
tough work. Mr.. Van Brunt, though feeble.
son and the workman. He placed his son at
the gate in 'front.', with Instructions to shoot
any one who attempted to pass. He and
Scott, the workman, stood guard in the
rear. They reclined on the bank lawn in
darkness and silence for overa an hour. They
could see the burglars light fitting from
room to room at intervals. They seemed to
feel secure, and did not hasten their
movements. Mr.. Van Brunt became
cold, chilly and impatient. He said to his
fellow watchers that it was time to break in
on the burglary, He told his son, who had
the keys to the house, to open the door to
the house and they would rush in and take
the marauders by surprise. The son turned
the key in the lock. The rust in the lock
caused a grating sound. The burglars evil
IDENTIFY had caught it, and their footballs
were heard coming down stairs. They
plunged into the cellar and lit a match, the
Pickering of which could be seen through
the crevices in the shutter. Mr.. Van Brunt
and his companions stood with leveled
weapons at the cellar trap to fire as soon as
it was opened. They did not have to wait
long. Soon the trap was pushed noiselessly
open and two dark heads were dimly discern
able. "Stand, /" shouted Mr.. Van Brunt. Two
pistol shots instantly answered the
The burglars had prepared themselves for
attack. Fortunately neither shot took eff
feet. Mr.. Van Brunt's weapon spoke and
one OF the men received the charge of shot in
his body. He gave a cry of pain and grasped
the cellar door for support. His companion
started on a run toward the gate. He was
called upon to stand. His reply was another
pistol shot. Mr. Van Brunt and Scott sent the
contents of tehir weapons in his retreating
direction. Meanwhile the man who had
been shot first had managed to get away
from The cellar and run. The second man
had reached the gate when he encountered
William.
"sTAND, OR I'LL KILL YoU."
William shouted. The burglar fired once at
his interceptor. For the third time his ball
missed. He was about to fire again, when
the young man raised his gun and brought
the stock of it down on his leveled arm.
h force of the blow broke the stock from
the barrel. "You---"t the burglar
howled in pain, aud was about to advance to
a physical contest, when William drew his
revolver and shot him twice, in the breast
and in the left shoulder. The desperate fell
heavily on the sward. sJ give It up,' he
cried, and in q few minutes was dead. He