The Grange advance., 1874-12-22
THE CHARLEY ROSS BuR6laRs-
Detailed Account Of Their Death.

THE CHARLEY ROSS BuR6l lARS-
Detailed Account OF Their Death.
From the New York Sun, Dec 15]
Judge Van Brunt's house is about
forty feet from the Shore road, at Bay
Ridge, and nearly a mile above Fort
Hamilton. The building is two stories
high and is painted white. 1t is old
fashioned and roomy. 1t has 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 q farm adjoining the
Judge e's4 ce, and has a much more
stylish dwelling. In the winter the
Judges dwelling is unoccupied. A SER
want, William Scott, has q room over
the stable, about a 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 Judges residence with
the brothers,.
TIE 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 q 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 a 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 arming 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
rot go 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 aud awaited the
coming of tae burglars through the
cellar way. Albert and Frank station
cd themselves at the front gate.
THE AABUscADE.
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. Scott's lam
tern was hidden behind little summer
house, and all was dark without. Mr..
Van Brunt looked through the shut.
ters and saw two desperadoes. One
was carrying light, and the other had
something heavy before him. II could
have shot them then,'' said Mr.. Van
Brunt afterward, shut hadn't the
heart to do its 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 60 to the kitchen
door and unlock it, while he kept
watch at the opened cellar door.
Scott 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.
Scott fell back to where Mr.. Van
Bru,t was STOPPING, and tn y saw
something like tho igniting of match
in the cellar.
"They are coming" whispered Scott.
Mr.. Van Brunt raised his gun. In a
moment two dark objects emerged from
the cellar way. The white background
Of the house made plain the forms of
the burglars. They ascended the steps
slowly, and their heads were seen to
turn. ~ D.,
''Stand,'' shouted Mr.. Van Brunt.
The command was scarcely uttered
before the fire from two pistols was
seen and loud report was heard. The
balls whizzed past Mr.. Van Brunt. He
nulled the trigger of his shot pun: And