Connecticut western news., 1877-12-21
FIGHTING FOR LIFE IN THE DARK.
Struggle Between q Policeman and n Burglar-Saved by Suspender Buckle.

The fight between Charles c. Morrill, and a burglar in the house of the Hon. Lot M. Morrill, ill Winthrop street, Portland, Me-, a little past midnight, should place this policeman shame in the list of heroes AS the house had been entered recently, Merrill was delegated to, take up his abode there @ portion of the night as special watchman. He began on Satrr- day night, going into the house unob- served, and occasionally with dark Ian tern making tour of fobservation, finish ing his solitary task little after mid night. On Tuesday at midnight, he had made his usual rounds before his depar- ture, and had decended to the lower story. Then he heard team stop in front of the house in Winthrop street. He re- malned sqttiet, and listened intently. He heared person enter the yard and try the windows on the west side of the house. The windows were all down, fastened, and the shutters closed. The stranger then returned to the wagon, where apparently was his confederate. He again came back to the window, and smashed the glass with an iron rod. He had broken one of the upper lights, so that he could reach in and unfasten the catch on the middle sash. This he did. In the mean time Merrill had darkened his lantern and placed 1t on the floor, and in his rubber boots crept stealthily into the dining room, and took his position, crouching with seven shooter in his hand. Just as, in the dark ness, Morrill, saw the form of the burglar enter the room, he seized him. Ther ruff; fan struck Morrill's right wrist with an iron bar, knocking the revolver from his hand, and the weapon, as it fell to the floor, exploded. He also struck Morrill, two or three blows over the head with the same bar -. 4....
 Then was begun hand-to hand en- counter, as the burglar was apparently determined not to be captured alive. Morrill, grabbed big marlinspike which was in his Cardigan jacket, and, while he held the housebreaker with his left hand, punched him in the face and mouth with the marlinsp1ke. This caused great pain, and the burglar screamed to the confed- crate outside in the yard, "For Gods sake believe he's go1ng to kill me " He squirmed and yelled tremendously, but Merrill held him as in wise, and kept pounding with the marlinspike. Suddenly Merrill felt the prick of 0 knife in his left breast The burglar had drawn dirk knite and struck at Morrill,. The blade of the knife was about eight inches long, ground to sharp edge on both sides. The fellow aimed a heavy blow, but the blade struck on the buckle of Morrills suspenders, passing through that, but bringing up on the sides, which prevented the knife from entering the body at any great length. A wound was made between the ribs, in the region of the heart, to the depth of about one-quarter of an inch. The policeman next effort was to wrench the knife from the hand of the would-be murderer, who pricked Merrill several times in the back of the head, cutting to the scalp, and cutting also his ear and neck. Merrill finally got hold of the knife handle, and by main strength took the weapon, dragging the blade through the burglars hand. ..s.E
 The Contestants had been upon their feet all the time. When the burglar lost his knife he stopped and attempted to escape, ordering his confederate to "shoot him p The confederate did shoot, and the ball came crashing through the window, few inches above Morrill's head. The burglar got away and as he went through the window Merrill followed him with two shots from his revolver, one of which he thinks took effect. Besides his hat and dirk knife, the burglar left behind an irol "billy" and large meal sack, in whicI he intended, probably to carry off nie | booty