Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-07-31
A Midnight Robbery.

1he Mechanicsburg Independent
journal of the 24th inst, gives the full
particulars as follows:
Mr.. Jacob Eckert, aged seventy SIX
years, and his wife few years young
er, reside in Silver Spring township on
their farm, near the Cumberland VAL
ley railroad two miles west of Mechan-
icsburg. They, with Mrs. Hannah Fa-
gan, a lady about the same age, were
the only occupants of the house.
On Monday night, between III aud
II o'clock, Mr.. Eckert was awaken
ed by the bursting open of his front
door. Jumping from bed and looking
out of his room he saw in the dim light
six men disguised with wells on their
faces, three on the stairs, one in the
hall, and two in the open doorway.
AS soon as be realized the situation he
tried to run for his gun, which, was in
an adjoining room, before be 60. three
steps he was seized by q powerful man,
who thrust revolver into his face,
when a second one came up, and the
two threw him upon the bed, bound his
hands and feet with leather thongs,
apparently cut from boot legs, making
hin fast to the bed post. They then
proceeded to tie Mrs. Fagan, threaten
ing to kill any one who made any noise.
The three robbers inside striking a
light, ordered Mrs Eckert to go with
then while they searched the house;
ooe on each side of her, holding q re-
voiver at her head, and the other in
front held large knife across her
throat. In this style they escorted her
down stairs making all kinds Of threats
if she attempted to give an alarm.
They demanded to know where Mr..
Ecker. kept his money. She then told
them of some money in the bureau
drawer in the front room down stairs,
which they proceeded to take. 1t
amounted to S235.00. They then
took her up stairs, tied her hands aud
threw her on the floor.
They now commenced operations up
stairs, and found In a valise $50 and a
silver watch belonging to John Eckert
i son of Jacob Eckert. They tore up
all the beds and carpets ransacked
drawers and chests, pulled up boards
in the floor, scattered papers in all
directions, and made general havoc
throughout the house. They removed
the clock from its place, took off the
back, hoping to find money concealed
there. The clock stopped at 20 min
utes to IL o'clock, being about the
time of leaving. Their search was so
thorough that they did not even neglect
the cellar, and devoured the pies found
there.
When the robbers had gone, Mrs.
Fagau, by untying the knots with her
teeth, worked her hands loose and
crawled over to another room where
Mrs. Eckert lay, and released her.
The women at this time screamed for
help, and were heard by their nearest
neighbor, Mr.. Benjamin Albright,
whose residence is about an eight of a
mile distant. Mr.. A came to the
rescue, aroused the neig gbors, and sent
fer Mr.. Eckert's Sous, one of whom re-
sides in New Kingston and another in
Monroe, both of whom made their ap-
pearance at their fathers house at an
early hour in the morning.
After thorough examination of the
premises no traces tending to the
Identification of the robbers were found.
Mr.. and Mrs. Eckert are feeble as we'll
as old, having lately recovered from a
serious illness; the latter is nearly
blind, and Mrs Faean is quite deaf.
Considering the treatment they re-
ceived, they have pretty clear ideas of
the transaction. They all we're a good
deal bruised, and now are suffering
considerably. They say the disguise
of the robbers was generally complete.
One was tall, stout man, and another
was short, stout man with black
mustacbe. Messrs. Joseph Eckert and
John Eckert called at our office at
8 o'clock on Tuesday morning aud fur
nished us with the foregoing particulars
They showed us the straps with which
the tying was done.
This affair is one of the boldest known
in this vicinity or elsewhere. The
community is greatly incensed, and ef-
forts are making IN d,s,ovsr the ynf-
fans. Where such formidable and
so well organized party could have
come from is mystery. That it was
predatory band of tramps is most
probable. Although it is known
that Mr.. Eckert had lately received
money for bis crops, be is as likely to
have been selected at random as by
design.