Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-12-06
4 MIDNIGHT FIGHT.
IIASD-TO-UAND STRUGGLE WITH A
HOUSE KER.
FULL PARTICULARS or CHARLES {. MoRRnLs
ENCOUNTER WITH Az ARMED PURGLhR

this pohcemans name in the lit of heroes.
As the house had been entered recently Nor.
rill was delegated to take up his abode there 8
portion of the night as a special Waterman. lie
began the job Saturday night going ilto the
house unobserved, and OCCASIONALLY with a dark
lantern, king tour Of Observance Throughout
the house, finishing his llaty task a ltlle after
midnight. On Tuesday at midnight, he had made
his usual rounds, before tax ing his departure and
had descended to the lower floor, when he heard a
team stop in front of the house, on Winthrop
street. He remained quiet. aud listened inteny
lie heard person enter the yard. and try the win
dews on the west side Of the house. The windows
were all down, fastened, and the shutters closed
lie then returned to.the wagon, where apparently
was his confederate. Remaining there quite lit
tie while, he returned to his operations at the win.
dow; broke out pane of glass in one of the din
ing room windows, which is in the main part Of
the house. lie didn't take any particular pa ns to
conceal the noise, "a he supposed no one was in
the house, and smashed the glass with an non rod
He ictu' ned the second time to the wagon, but
soon came back to the iudow. lie had been br k
OF the upper lights, that he could reach in
and unta-ten the catch on the middle sash. This he
did. Ia the meantime Morrill, had darkened hi,
lantern aud placed it on the floor, and in his rub.
Der boot, crept sealthly into the dining room,
and took his position, crouching with seven
shooter IN his hand, beside the window where the
fellow on the outside had commenced operations
Tne lower sash of the window comes close to the
loor This the burglar showed up, and was euter.
10, =. r.,
modest HIM or make him afraid. Ju.l a.. ia the
darkness, Morrill, saw the form Of the burglar en-.
ter the room he seized him. A trcmor Of sur
prise made the body Of the burglar shake Re-
covering himself he struck Morfilr- right wrist
with an iron bar, knocking the revolver from hi,
han', which, as il fell to the floor, exploded. He
also struck Morrl two or three blows over the
head with the -aue bar. Then commenced a
hand to hand elcounter as tie burglar was ap.
paraut y bound no, t. be captured alive. Morrill,
thus unarmed, a, far As his revolver was concern
"a, grabbed for big marlin spike such as is used
Nv sailors On shpboald, which wa. in his cardigan
jacket; and while he held the hou.ebreaker with
Ms lett hand, commenced punching him in the
face and mouth with the marlin spike This
caused great pain, aud be screamed t. the co3rrd-
crate, outside in the ward, For Gods sake, | be-
lieye he's going to XII me-" He .quiimed and
screamed tremendously, but Morrill, who i. a
"stalwsrt republican" held him as in a wise, and
kept up the pounding with the marlin spike Nor
rl found tina, the burglar reaching for bis right
jacket pocket, 10 which in the melee he thought he
had felt pistol. While keeping him from effect
l1g an entrance into his pocket, Morrill, felt the
pick Of knife III his lett hress'. The burglar ha
drawn dirk knife and struck at Morrill, The
blade of the knife (as it sf crvatds fouud) /.
about eight in hes long, ground to true edge on
both sides. IL looks as though it had been
swedGcd out by some country blacksmith. and
gr"uut down, making ii most uurderouS weapon.
The fellow aimed heavy blow, but the blade
struck the buckle of Molri!ls .uspenders. ma,
ln4 through hat. but bringing up on the sides and
preventing the kni'e from entering the body a,
any great length, wound, between the ribs 10
the region of the heart, being made to tie derth
Of about one-quaittt Of an inch. Thus Mouill's
life was saved by the gahow- The presence Of
that hu kie the only thin. hat prevented in
SAINT DEATH The po!ieenans next effort was to
wrench the knife from the hand of the would-be
murderer; and to do TINS while he was slasbipv
around IL he dark, was no easy undertaking. He
picked Morrill, several time. in the back of the
head, eating to the scalp and cutting also his ear
aad neck, in face becoming qlite familiar on a
frst a,q laintance. Morrill, concluded he aust re-
heve the fellow of that knife. He fit round aud
fally got hold Of the knife handle. and nv SUI
Pc i"iiy Of strength took from him the knife,
dragging he blade through the burglar, hand.
|, must nave left it, marks. 1he con estanr, had
been upon their feet all the time. When the
hnel II lost hi. knife he stopped and attempted To
escape, ordering his conted, rate to shoot him ~
The confederate did shoot; the ball came crash
i5G through the window, fe y inches above Nor
iiN- head, but at this time the burr ar got away
rom Morrill,, who had him by the hair of the
head, leaving pretty large lock as u remembrance
of his midnight visit; but after he went through
the wndo" Mouii followed him with two shots
from his revolver, ore of which he thinks took
effect. Tie fellows then made off and had not
heen captured at last accounts. The one who had
the tusseI with Morrill,, is large man, some six
feet tai. He was well armed ard evidently came
to cita the house, no matter VINO was in it. lie
wore black felt bat of large ,ze, which he left
behind bat his footprints in tie snow showed that
he has small foot. Besides his hat and dirk
knife, he ltf, behind an iron "bilv" and large
meal sack III which he intende 1, probably, to car
~ oil bis booty. If that man Is living now he
Games his head in sling The Mayor has
promptly otieled a reward for the detection and
convection of the thief.
Mr.. Charles c. Morrill,, The brave policeman,
who bad this han4-to- hand encounter with a
desperate, fully AIMED house breaker, is % years
of age. weigh lS5 pounds, and is the picture of
health Ills great courage and full command OF
hm,elf on this occason has eli ted the praises of
all who have heard oil the terrible midnight eucoun
ter. 1t vas IA struggle for dear fe aud Morrill, til
umphed by the exercise of deliberate iudg ment
and superiority OF muscular ability. lie cannot
Of course tell the length OF time occupied in the
encounter; II probably lasted bot a minute or
two, as mluu'cs seem hours under such ciIcum-
stances.
Months courage has been te.t 4 before, when
some Give weeks since, on u Sunday evening, at
the upper END of Water street, IA crowd of ruff
fans knocked him down aud used him roughly.
two of them are now in kennebec county Jail.
skOvhr gan Locals.
The reformers dedicated their new ha II hall last
Sunday. 1t was packed to overlooking. Speech