Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-27

DRowSED IN A cIsrRRy WHILE RETREAT
ING FhoM THE rIRs OF AvIcrrM-sroLEN
FAYT- II, Pa, July 24.-This vicinity has
been " ted a number OF times during the
summt ny burglars, and the good success
dueed another visit on Friday night last,
which resulted fatally 10 one OF the depreds-
tors In q singular manner. Simon Feldt, q
rich German farmer, living With his mother
kened about midnight on Friday by q peca-
liar noise near his bed room door. Suspect
stantly the sound Of rapidly retreating foot
steps was heard On the stairs. Feldt seized
. shot gun that stood In the corner OF his
which was open. Just then the form OF q
man appeared running across the garden.
Feldt fired at him, but the resreating burg.
disappeared. The farmer and his wife were
highly excited, but finally began search OF
the house TO see II anything had been stolen,
was lurking about Feldt was sure that
that there had been more than one burglar,
from the sound OF the footsteps on the stairs,
ever. The rooms down stairs had been
thoroughly ransacked and q plumber OF ar
ticles were missing, among them a silver
watch belonging TO the farmer. 40 exsmi-
nation of the garden next day revealed the
fact that Feldts shot had taken effect In the
flying burglar, for the caboages through
along his track. The trail could not be
followed after he climbed the fence, aud no
clew to his whereabouts has been found.
THE BURGLARS BODY DISCOVERED.
Detached from the farmhouse, but only q
few feet from ii, is a summer Kitchen or
washhouse. Under this Is large cistern,
floor, covered with a trap door. This doof,
however, has always been left open as often
as closed. There is q door at the end OF the
washhouse next the dwelling, and another
0nnOsifa n Ia a
These doors are never closed, as the building
contains nothing that any one would care to
sisters went to the cistern to draw some
water by means OF bucket tied to the end
OF rope. The trap was open. She let her
bucket down and 1t came in contact with
Feldt peered down into the cistern and
started back in horror at the sight that met
her gaze. Plainly revealed by the light that
streamed down through the opening was the
white face OF dead man, the eyes wide
open and staring up through the trap. The
rest of the body was dimly outlined I'm the
the house screaming "MurderI' Mr.. Feldt
was in the barn, and on hearing the cries
rushed to the house. On being told what
moved the body from the cistern. 1t was
that Of man not more than twenty-five
years old. Il was decently dressed. On
evidently bled considerably. The body was
laid ON q bench in the workhouse, and Mr..
Feldt came to this place and summoned DIR.
Caldwell and an officer, VINO returned with
him to his farm. A large number of people
followed to see II they could identity the
dead man. No one had ever seen him before.
On his person was found the silver watch
stolen from the farmer, ten-dOllar bill, q
six barreled revolver, cooked, and Q bunch
OF keys. On one of his wrists was pricked in
with blue India ink the letters 80. T.u Moth
ing tending to identity him was discovered.
The theory of his death was that In fleeing
from the house the deceased burglar was In
the rear of his companion. who reached the
garden in sight OF Feldt before the former
made his appearance around the house.
Hearing the shot, and not caring to run the
risk OF being himself q target, the burglar
had turned and started to run through the
wash-hOuse and toward the barn. The open
cistern was in his path and he fell headlong
into 1t, striking his head against the side OF
the opening with such force as TO cut the
cash In 1t that was seen, and to no doubt SO
stun him that he was drowned before know
ing what had happened to him. The body
was handed over To the township poor au-
thorities, who buried 1t In field near Feldt's
farm.