Connecticut western news., 1874-12-25
A BATTLE WITH BURGLARS.
Two of Them Shot Dead While Leaving a
 House They Had Entered.


 At Bay Ridge, Long Island. two burglars were shot dead under peculiar circumstances. Judge Van Bruntss house is about forty feet from the Shore road, at Bay Ridge, The house is known as the country seat of the Judge, but he has not occupied it for two or three sea- sons. John Holmes Van Brunt now lives on farm adjoining the Judges place. In the winter the Judges dwell lng IS unoccupied. A servant, William Scott, has a room over the stable, about hundred yards from the house, and watches over the premises 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.
 Mr. John Holmes Van Brunt has been seriously i'll for many days. On Sunday evening he complained more than usual About two o'clock the burglar alarm from the Judges house startled them. The wife called their son Albert, who hastily attired himself, and hurried into the sick room. The father thought that p:obably the wind had blown with such force against some of the windows as to start the alarm. He told Albert to go to the house and see what was wrong. The young man put a revolver in his pocket and took lantern with him. The wind was blowing gale, and there was cold, 'r1zzhng rain. It was very dark. When within two or three feet of the house he saw light in the kitchen. Next he saw 1t disappear from the kitchen and brighten up a room adjoining. It 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. Herman Franks, a hired man, was also awakened, and he and Scott were each given gun. Then Albert told his father there were burglars ill the Judges house. The elder Van Brllnt was scarcely able to rise from his bed, but he insisted on arning himself with shot gun, and, giving one to his son, they started out. The light was still moving through the house. Mr. Van Brunt discovered that the cellar door in the rear of the house was open, and he and Scott took up position about twenty-five feet away. They stopped near big tree and awaited the coming of the burglars through the eel lar way. Albert and Frank stationed themselves at the front gate.
 About thirty seconds elapsed, and the watchers plainly saw the light fitting from room to room. The elder Van t'r,rnt became impatient, and thought of the great risk he was running in expos ing himself to the night air. He ap- preached the house and stepped upon the porch. Scott's lantern was hidden behind little summer house, and all was dark without. Mir. Van Blunt looked through the shutters and saw two desperadoes. One was carrying a light, and the other had something heavy be- fore him. "I could have shot them then," said Mir. Van Brunt, afterward, '' but 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. Scott put the key in the lock, which was rusty, and the harsh sound must have been heard by the burglars, as instantly their light was extinguished. Scott fell back to where Mir. Van Brrlnt was stoop- ing, and they saw something like the lgniting of match in the cellar
 They are coming,'' whispered Scott.
 MT. 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 of the burglars. They ascended the steps slowly, and their heads were seen to turn.
 Stand 7" shouted Mir. Van Brunt.
 The command was scarcely uttered be- fore the fire from two pistols was seen and loud report was heard. The balls whizzed past MT. Van Br1lnt He pulled the trigger of his shotgun, and one of the burglars clutched at the cellar door and braced himself. This was the one afterward learned to be Douglas. Mo sher, the taller and more powerful, start ed wildly for the side of the house, and Douglas staggered after him. Albert Van Brrlnt and Franks were at the front gate. They saw the burglars coming. Albert raised his gun.
 '' Stand, or I'll shoot you. :" Albert yelled.
 The answer was pistol shot that grazed the young mans coat Albert fired and missed the foremost burglar, who drew nearer to him. The young man had no time to lose. The desperado was fast closing upon him, and was point ing his pistol at his heart. Albert thought of the revolver in his pocket, but could not use it. He grasped his gun by the barrel and brought the stock down on Mosher's arm. The stock was broken from the rest of the gun. Mosher groaned and grasped his pistol in his left hand. By this time he had reached the front of the house, and Albert had time to draw his revolver. Mosher faced him to fire again and Albert shot him through the left shoulder. Mosher turned and staggered, and Albert fired two shots at his back. The balls took effect. The burglar uttered an oath, and, once more facing his antagonist, fell backward on the grass, feebly saying, q surrender" In an instant he was dead.
 In the meantime Douglas found him self hemmed in on all sides. He made a desperate attempt to gain the road. and leyeled his pistol at the German, Frank, and fired. Frank gave him the contents of his shot gun in his stomach. Douglas fell at the right of the house. near the fence. He was not dead. The nelghbors were soon out in force, and while the firing twas going on Mrs. Van Brunt was at the window of her house. She saw the quick flashes of the firearms and heard the reports. She says the whole thing didn't last more than a minute. She did not know who had been shot, and it was only when she heard her husband shout, "We're all right, that she again breathed freely.
 Theodore V. Bergen, who lives close by, brother of Alderman Bergen, heard the shooting, opened his window, and shouted, Do you want any help over there!" The answer was, in Mir. Van Brunt's voice, ''Yes."
 Then Mir. Bergen and a younger