The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-06-10
A Struggle in the Dark-The Danger
of Keeping Money In q Country


Store.
PoRT JERvIs, n. Y, June 1.-Divine, Du-
bos &c 20. do an extensive business as'gene-
raj country agents at Norstop, in Sullivan
county, on the line of the Midland railway.
They have in their employ as clerk a young
man named j. W. DeDham. The nearest
tank to Morston Is at Ellenvlle. 1t often
happens in their business transactions that
Divine, Dubois & CO. have charge of large
sums of money, which they are unable to
bank at once, and are obliged to keep it In
the safe in their store. This fact is well
known, and has no doubt led 10 The proba-
bic murder of young Denham, the clerk.
Denbam has always slept in room over
the store. On Saturday night about mid.
night be was aroused by noise in the
store. knowing that there was several
thousand dollars in the safe, Deuham at
once sprang out Of bed, and, taking his re.
70 Yer aud dirk knife, started down
stairs. As be opened the door at the foot
Of the stairs he saw man making his exit
through a panel which had been taken out
of tue front door of the store. Young Den.
ham took ann at the man and fired. The
man was updouD tedy hit, for he uttered
loud cry as be disappeared. The clerk
took q step forward with the Intention OF
tOllOWlUp JDC w uGu uClCSClfCu Oio"
on the lack Of The head which would have
te!led him 10 the fl DOR if he had not grasped
the counter. 1t was now evident that there
were two burglars, and Denham, although
somewhat confused by the blow he had re-
celved, determined TO capture the Que re-
ma,ning in the store if il were possible.
For some time not q sound was heard. Every
thing was wrapped in darkness, patch OF
moonlight that came through the broken
door and shoue on the floor heipg all the
light that could be seen. Presently the
cierk heard q man stealing from near the
srair-door toward the front door. He had
gone but lew steps when be ran against
\ stove that stood between the counter ana
the door. BY this time Denbam had recover
ed from the effects of the blow, and when
the burgl,r fell against the stove The clerk
sprang upon hun. He seized hum by the
uhrCa. and struck him with all his strength
q blow with bis revolver in the face. The
burglar at once grappl"d with him, and IN
such a manner that be could not use MS
weapon. After fierce hanu.to-band strug-
gle, lasting minute or so, Denham succeeded
10 Tripping the burglar and throwing him hea-
y,ly to the a ,or. The clerk found, however.
that he had not only desperate but a power
tui man to contend with. He had scarcely been
thrown when be turned with Dsnham,
and getting astride OF him pinned him to
the floor. He then rained blows With
billy upon the clerks face add head. The
latter placed his revolver at the burglars
side and tired. The man uttered cry and
threw up his hands. The billy dropped to
the floor, and Denham believed he had in
Hicted death.wound upon his antagonist.
The burglar did not relax muscle, now.
ever, but cooked pistol and exclaimed,
Is If that's the game, Well END ibis ID
ouick!n Denham threw up ms mana anu
struck the barrel Of the pistol just as Inc
weapon was discharged. The ball missed
its marx, but entered Denham's hand at The
middle finger, and tore passage through 10
the upper part of the wrist. The burglars
nistoI was only q sipgle-barrel one, and he
threw it away. He then attempted to
wrench Denbain's revolver away from him.
The clerk, after diScharging it once more,
without effect. threw it from him, and it fell
on the opposite side Of the store. DeDham,
seeing he was now entirely at the mercy Of the
burglar. began to shout for hep. de felt
himself growing weak from the loss
of blood and exhaustion. His antago.
mist then drew knife and buried II 10
the hilt in the fsshy part OF Inc young
mans shoulder, and twice in bis breast.
Not satisfied with his work, be then delibe-
rately plunged the knife into Denhan,s
side. 1t entered only quarter OF an men
below The heart, and struck rib, which
turned it from its deadly course. The bur-
plar thought, no doubt, that be had accom-
pIished his purpose, for he kicked Denbam
several times in the ribs. From That time
until daylight Denham was unconscious.
when he recovered his senses he was so
weak that he could scarcely move. Alter 4
time be managed to drag himself TO the
Morston Hotel, and succeeded IN areuslng
the landlord, who summoned physician al
once. Denbam told the above story, and
soon afterwards became delirious, In which
condition he was at last accounts, and very
little hopes are entertained of.his recovery.
A search ives at once begun Tor Inc meh'
AT The store, barrels, boxes, aud coalrs were
knocked about In every direction, and the
door was literally covered with blood; a
pistol. ball was found embedded In the noor'
A billy. broken dirk-knlfe One one belong
Ing to Denham), and q common s'nge.Dar-
relied pistol "a new one] was picked up. a
traif Of blood led to the store-door, % the
STOOD were large clots Of blood, and leading
tothe mountains was an occasional bloody
marx on the ground. All traces OF Inc ourg-
l,rs were LOST in the woods, although . WiQe
and thorough search has been mades
No description Of the mea can % 2iVepsas