The Portland daily press., 1877-12-07
DESPERATE FIGHT WITH A
BURGLAR
A suspender Buckle Saves a watchman's 3
Life.


The fight between Charles G. Morrill, and the
burglar, briefly narrated in the daily yesterday,
which occurred at the house of Hon. Lot NJ.
Morrill,, on Winthrop street, little past mid
night Wednesday, was of sufficient import
ance to place this policeman's name 10 the list
of heroes.
AS the house had been entered recently, Nor
rll was delegated to take up his abode there
portion of the hight as a special watcbman.
He began the job Saturday night going into
the house unobserved, and occasionally with
dark lantern making tour of observance
throughout the house, finishing his solitary
task little after midnight On Tuesday at
midnight be had made his usual rounds, before
taking bis departure, and had descended to the
lower floor, when he heard a team stop 10
front OF the house. Oh Winthrop street. He
remained quiet and listened intently. He
heard person enter the yard and try the wiu-
doWs on the west side of the house. TIE
windows were all down, and the shutters
closed. He then returned to the wagon, whera
apparently was his confederate. Remaining
there quite little while, he returned to his
operations at the window; broke out pane of
glass in one of the dining room windows,
which is in the main part of the house. He
didn't take any particular pains to conceal the
noise as be supposed no one was In the house,
and smashed the glass with an iron rcd. He
returned the second time to the wagon, but
soon came back to the window. He had
broken out one of the upper lights, so that he
middle SASH This he did. In the meantime
Morrill, had dsrkened his lantern and placed it
on the floor, and in his rubber boots crept
stealthily into the dining room and took his
position, crouchipg with seven.shooter in his
nand beside toe window, where the fellow on
the outside had commenced operations. The
lower sash Of the window comes close to the
floor. This the burglar showed up, and was
entering as large as life. thinking there was no
one to modest him or make him afraid. Just
ac n hn Aar tba
the burglar enter the loom, he seized him. A
tremor Of surprise made the body Of the bur
gar shake. Recovering himself, be struck
Morrilfs right wrist with iron bar, knocking
he revolver from his hand, which, as it fell TO
the floor, exploded. He also struck Morrill,
Two or three blows over the head with the same
bar. Then commenced hand-to- hand encoup-
ter, as the burglar was apparently bound not
TO be captured alive. Morrill,, thus un-
armed, as far as his revolver was concern
edsgraDbed Tor big marlin spike, such as Is
used by sailors on shipboard, which was in his
cardigan jacket; and while he held the house
breaker with his left hand, commenced punch
ing him 10 the face and mouth with the marlin
splBe. Ihls caused great pain, and he sore am
ed TO the confederate, outside 10 the yard 'sFor
GODS sake! l bslieve be is going to kill me!'
he squrmed and screamed tremendously, but
Morrill, who is ''stalwart Republican, held
him in wise, and kept up the pounding with
the marlin spike. Morrill, found that the bur
glar was reaching for his right hand Jacket
pocket, in which in the melee he thought be
had felt pistol. While keeping him from
effecting an entrance in his pocket, Morrill, felt
| the prick of knife in his left breast. The bur-
| glar had drawn dirk knife and struck at
MorrllL The blade of the knife (as was after
wards found) is about eight inches long, groun d
to q true edge on both Sides 1t looks as thoug b
1t had been swedged out by some country black
smith, and ground down, making it most
murdeIous weapon. The fellow aimed heavy
nnf~ ~la. 10
| Morrll's suspenders, passing through that, but
bringing up on the sides aud preventing the
knife from entering the body at any great
length, wound, between the ribs, in the re-