The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-23
MIR. sTouGHToN's assAILANE
The Old Fable OF the Farmer aud the Viper
vividIy Called 10 Mind

The Childrcn's Aid Society erected four
story brick edincc four years ago. at 3lA Enst
Thtty-nlth street. and made Mr. George Z.
Stoughton its superintendent He was then 70
years " age. He hai been for years superin-
tcndcnt OF the schoolshp Mercury. His assist
ant Mr. Montanyt was several years younger
than himself The two did their work - well
and go kindly that they gained the golden opin-
ions Of tlIcir employers and Of the parents OF
thcjr pupi-. n well III, the love of the bows that
they shcltcrcd and taul b..
Nearly two years ago william Merritt. being
destitute applied for aid. and Mt Stoughtcn
made employment for him IA night Waterman.
Merritt seemed grateful. and devoted himself
most faithfully to his duty. But rs he fattened
i'm thc cntnrarativc ease of his place he grew
somewhat Indifferent to his duty. and MIR.
Stoughton transferred him to duties in Mrs.
| Higgin-'s department. putting a tru,tier man
| in his plnce.
Fora while Merritt was humhlcd and diligcnt.
But. about two months ago. he again began To
b, consc,mcntial. and made himself notorious
a. the victor In II san-uinary street broi with
an employee Of Mr.. Eli +. Bruce. proprietor of
the bakery at Third avenue ard Thirty nh
street Merritt WAS locked ny in the Thirty
NTH street police station over night but, on tho
following morning. the charge against MN nav
East week Mr.. Stoughton learned that
MERRITT had roughly handled one oi
,6c pupils TTheT.sfors he ".,ogE cgcd vI1tr McrTi'i
morning. told him that he had deserved dir.
charge, paid him fully, and ordered hlm on, OF
Mr. Stoughtons determination. but failed. He
went out Of the door opening into The school
room. Tho door opening into the hallway %ns
! locked. but the bedroom door wis orcn. Mr.
Stoughton. sitting at the centre table. strewi
Th wT,ns aas %eiSrs Ms%wSl MSn1anie s Went %n
and tho night wntchmnn went home; At
o'clock Merritt re"ntered the oillcr. and hegge'
Mr. Sioushton to reconsider his dismissal. Thu
Mr. Stnmghton declined To do. without raisins
his eyes from his paper. Merritt sidled. unseei
by Mr.. stoughton. toward the book cnSc. by IN,
side of which were two Indian clubs. "nci
Weighing seven pounds. that Mr.. Stoughton has
used to expand his chest and develop his arm
suddenly Merritt caught up one OF. the clubs
and. swinging i in the air, struck M. stonsh
: his face resting on his paper. and blood fowc,
down upon t. lie was only p9r,ialy ,so s,uhhheS hno
mord n his aSsa nsad & me shpw .n SS
other murdcrous blow from Merritt He shout
ed. Myrdsri Hep ana T,nGgeTrd & ISSnn ,9EHrh hd IN
til he fell. covered with blood. and seeiAingl
r Thcrcat Merritt laid aside the club and pre-
, | pared for flight. lie dragged Mr.. Stouehton
" body out Of the way. and. as he went out oi IN
y room. Then hc put the key into his po ket. an
u walked out 81 the building and toward Secoh
Z. Mrs. Higgins heard Mr.. stoughton's cric
y and. going 10 the street door. shouted an alarm
n some bows ran To the Thriy-nith street poli'
: station. The sergeant in command sent ono,
= Grcnnan In pursuit A boy pointed out Merritt
= riding on the rear platform OF car going r3
II officer got into the next ear and asked the drive
z 10 WHY up his horses. The driver did SO.
n At Thirty -ninth street. the ear being block,
Al By a coal cart Ofiicer Grennan got on. and b.
II gan to run toward the ear on which Merri
:. stood. Merritt sprang from tho ear and ra
~ down Forty third street Near Lexington "a
/ "nuc tho oficcr gained so that he was within
:, quarter Of q block ot Merritt But MerrI
10 dashed into Lexington avenue. and down TO Il
j. Grand Central depot. and sprang upon car e
, tering the tunnel. Before the officer reach,
u the tunnel several ears had entereI H.
le searched all of them. but did not find Merritt,
u; A. soon ia the telegram from the Thrty-ilf
ld street police station reached the Police Cent?
" Ofilce a general order was teegraphed. as Il
W lows:
ny Arrest William Merritt Aas Jones' asei ~ lie ia n
a. eight inches In height has smoth nce, sandy cu
xiOn dark clothes and sluuch hat ana Il DE
~ when neighhors burst open the door of n
~ Stoughton's office they bore him into the b'
sv | room. and he became 80 violent that six stro
lt | men were barely able to restrain him. lie
hE bnrely conscious last evening.