The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-12-29
From the New York Sun.


Inc auuacious proceedings OF the ,
masked ruffians at Astoria, on Friday
night last, are we'll calculated to alarm
all dwellers in suburban neighborhoods
of this city, and more especially resi-
dents along the Westchester and Long
Island shores, a region which the organ
lied bands who infest the Sound seem
to have made peculiarly their own.
In the present instance, Mr.. William
Green and his wife are awakened at l
O'Clock of the night, to find their bed
surrounded by four men armed with re-
volvers, and the lower part of their
face masked with handkerchiefs. These
gentry-the story reads quite like ro-
nance of the days and doings of Dick
-Turpin of Mr. Green his
money or his life. He unhesitatingly |
accepted the position, begged the scoun-
drels to spare the lives of the family, |
and proceed as expeditiQusly as possible
in their burglarious appropriations.
The whole affair seems to have been con-
Quoted with great courteousness, and on
basis Of mutual concessions. After re.
ligiously stripping Mr.. Green's room of
whatever they could conveniently lay
their hands on, they politely expressed
a wish to ego through" the adjoining
room, occupied by Mr. Green's sister-in-
law, then ill. Mr.. Green asked permits
sion to announce the visit of these
thoughtful burglars to that lady-a de-
mand to which they gracefully acceded.
The visit was short, and, to certain de-
gree, considerate. They took but few
objects, and those OF trifing value. Be-
ing about to enter another room occu
pied by Mr.. Green's brother George,
Mr.. Green, with great thoughtfulness,
informed them that his brother, having
been robbed of three hundred dollars
some six weeks previously, had made
ample preparations for future visits of
a similar description; in fact, that they
could hardly expect a cordial reception
at his hands. They saw the point i'm
mediately, abandoned the idea of dis
turbing "brother George" and adjourn
I'd to the bar-room to "liquor up" and
lay in liberal supply of cigars for fu-
ture use. Before shaking Green finally
by the hand they asked for five hundred
dollars in gold, which they understood
he had in the house, threatening him
} with instant death if he did not hand it
over. On Mr.. Green's positive assur-
ance that he had nothing of the kind in
! his possession, they cheerfully accepted
, his statement, and finally departed. II
is somewhat singular that, of the twelve
or fourteen occupants of the house, only
Mr.. Green, his wife, and his sister-in
law were disturbed; the others, three O
: whom we're men, slept through the
e whole proceeding.
e After short interval Green acquaint
n ed the police with the Transaction; bu
}, the officers pointed out the probabilit,
: of the burglars having "vamosed tn
ranch," and the consequent uselessnes
: of any attempt at pursuit.
b Meantime the robbers quietly proceed
ed to the house of Mr. NJ. L. Hitler, OIL
e Vernon avenue, opposite the foot G
r Eighty-sixth street, Mrs. Hitler wa
Z, awakened by the pressure of the barre
n of a revolver against her forehead
o Four armed men surround the bee
e they threaten to kill her if she make
n the slightest resistance. Her HUSBAND
l. now awake, sees at a glance the utter fl
If tility of any attempts at defence. TIL
p ruffians then secure the whole family
e one room on the second floor, leave tw
b, members of the gang to mount guar
n over them, and proceed leisurely to sac
ID the house of jewelry, silver, &C., to Il
h extent of $4,000. The wantonneas {
r these mon found vent in smashing mi
lie rors, breaking furniture, and general
re destroying everything in the upp'
e, rooms they could not carry off The
n remained an hour and half in M
ze Killers house.
j. These desperadoes had commence
is their work early in the evening, about
,g o'clock, by stopping William Woot
,e. while driving in sleigh on the sho
so road. They stripped him of coat, ye:
in and pants, took what little money
ny had, turned him loose in blindir
its snow storm, with nothing but his u
ne derclothes, and drove off in his sleig
er This gang, thoroughly organized a,
nt. drilled, is apparently under the cor
Is mand of one man, who gives all orde
I'M and is implicitly obeyed. We subm
ed that no ordinary precautions will suffi
eet to protect householders against the
rd midnight attacks. These rufians c.
ito enter almost any house, never mind he
IN, we'll secured, after careful survey
i'll the premises, and certain knowledge
, a the habits of the occupants. The pl
er- fessional burglar of the present day /
III attained to very great perfection in
mp art.
!b Mr.. Green had provided himself wi
i'd pistol for just such emergencies.
was under his pillow, within han
reach, but the stealthiness and suddt
"' ness of the attack rendered ii usele
s and put him entirely in the power of
~ assailants, who quietly forced him
ns hand over his pistol. 1t is said Il
,,'' -, burglars rarely address themselves
H houses protected by dogs. Even
W smallest and most insignificant pet 4
is great protection at night, by glvi
-! the alarm the moment strangerrss
his foot inside of the house.
" A Model Factory Village.
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