The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-12-30
WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA, DEC. 80
CHARLIE ROSS.

CHARLIE ROSS.
The eChlld-0tealers Fato.-RelRAbuti~n
swift ooa Terrible.
Apparently clue has been at last
to the abductore of Charlie
Ross. Two burglars, named William
Mosher and Joseph Douglas, were shot
and killed yesterday morning while
leaving country house at Bay Ridge,
occupied in the summer by Judge Van
Brunt, of this city. just before dying
Douglas charged Mosher with being
the abductor Of Charlie Ross. Judge
Van Brunt's summer house is close
to the Shore road at Bay Ridge, some
three-quarters Of mile below the fer
~ docks. During the fall and winter
months Judge Van Brunt closes up
the house and the servants are sent
back to his residence in this city, the
house being looked after by his
brother Holmes and family. With
view of affording better protection and
safety to the property left in the un-
occurred house, burglar alarm was
affixed, which communicated with the
house occupied by Holmes Van
Bfunt.
In appearance the house is a modest
summer house, and presents no out
ward appearance OF great wealth. 1t
is square white building, with q
porch in the front and one in the rear.
Since Judge Van Brunt has left the
house, William Scott, man employed
to do odd work, has acted as watch
man. but resided in the adjoining
house with Holmes Van Brunt. Last
evening at dusk everything appeared
to be quiet, and all residing in Holmes
Van Brunt's house had retired to rest.
The inmates of Holmes Van Brunt's
house consisted of himself, his son
Albert, his daug ghter, and Scott, the
watchman employed to look after
the Judges house, Herman Frank, a
laborer employed around the build
ings, and two servant girls.
THE ALARM AND THE FIGHT.
Shortly after 2 o'clock yesterday
morning, Mr.. Van Brunt, who has
been unwell for the past ten days, was
startled at hearing the sounding of
tie burglar alarm. He, to allay his
nervousness, called to his daughter,
who slept in the next room, and re-
quested her to tell his son Albert to
come to him. On Albert's arrival
his father told him what he had heard,
but at that time not thinking there
was any particular cause for alarm,
requested him to 60 over the house
and ascertain if any one had affected
an entrance into it. Young Van
Brunt called up Scott, and cautiously
commenced a search over the house,
but no trace of any burglars could be
discovered, and on his returning, at
tention was drawn to the unoccupied
house of the Judge. Shading the
light of the lamp, the father and son
cautiously looked through the window
blinds at the unoccupied house, and
there they saw distinctly feeble light
Pickering through one Of the rooms
Of the Judges residence and two men
moving about.
There was but little time for action
AZ h was plain burglars had effected
an entrance for the purpose Of ran
sacking the house. The men in
the Holmes Van Brunt's were quickly
gathered together, all being armed
with guns and revolvers in case Of any
serious conflict taking place between
them and the burglars. The elder
Van Brunt said he was determined
not to let them escape if possible, and
called upon his son and two farm as
sistants to follow him and act under
his instructions. Having left their
own house thus armed they surround :
ed the house of the Judge. Albert
Van Brunt and Scott keeping guard
in front of the house, and his father
and Herman Frank stationing them
selves in the rear of the house, about
fifteen PAGES from the cellar door,
where they supposed the person or
persons inside the house had entered
They waited thus for about half an
hour, when Mr.. Holmes Van Brunt
becoming tired of the delay, told
Frank to make some alarm which
would signify to those inside that they
we're watched. Frank accordingly ad
vanced to the back door and ratified
the knob. The noise produced the de.
sired effect The lights wele imme.
. diateiy extinguished. and the house
! was wrapped in darkness. A moment
after the watchers at the back of the
, house preceived that the cellar. .doo1
was raised slightly, and caught !:
glimpse Of two heads cautiously
, emerging. The burglars evidently
. were we'll satisfied that they had some
unknown friends to deal with, anC
: nothing daunted prepared themselve,
for an ARRAY. Then they started 70,
? the trap of the cellar fol
i the purpose of beating a retreat, bu
:. the watchers. who had been able Il
, understand their movements through
' the inside light, had posted them
!, : at the entrance of the cellar. "Stand,
Z shouted Mr.. Van. Brunt. Two pisto
shots instantly answered the sum
mons.
The burglars had prepared them
selves for attack. Fortunately neithe
: shot took effect. Mr.. Van Brunt'
4 weapon spoke and one of the men re
= ceived the charge of shot in his body
e He gave cry Of pain and graspe,
e the cellar door for supporA His com
q panion started on a run for the gate
!, He was called upon to stand. HE re
n ply was another pistol shot. Mr.. VA
= Brunt and Scott sent the contents Q
, their weapons in his retreating direc
q ton. Meanwhile the man who had bee
r shot grst managed to get away fro,
. the cellar and run. The second ina
Is had reached the gate when he encou
= lered Albert Van Brunt, who calle
= out to HIM to stand" The burgls
j fired once at his interceptor. For th
+ third time his ball missed. He wa
# about to fire again, when the youn
;. man raised his gun and brought I'll
!. stock Of it down on his leveled arm
y The blow was struck with such fore
Ie that the stock ofthe borrel was brok
;. en-, and the man writhed with dreadfr