The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-25
1 FIGHT FOR LIFE IN TIE DARK.


A desperate struggle took place recently
between Chas. c. Morrill,, a Portland ME, II
policeman and burglar in the house of
tho Hon. Lot NJ, Morrill, in that city. As
the house had been entered recently,
Morrill, was delegr0tod to take up his abode
there portion of the night as a special
watchman. He began on Saturday night,
going into the house unobserved, and
occasionally with dark lantern making
tour of observation, finishing his solitary
task little after midnight. On Tuesday
at midnight, he had made his usual rounds
before his departure, and had descended to
the lower story. Then he heard team
stop in front of the house, III Winthrop
street. He remained quiet, and listened
intently. He heard 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 Morrill, had darkened his lantern and
place it on the floor and in his rubber
boots crept stealthily Ito the dining room,
and took his position, crouching with q
seven-shooter in his hand. Just as, in the
darkness, Morrill, saw the form of the
burglar enter the room, he seized him
The rufian struck Morrills right wrist with
an iron bar, knocking the revolver from hia
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
Then was begun a hand-to-hand encounter,
as the burglar was apparently bound not to
be captured alive. Morrill, grabbed big
marlinspike which was in his Cardigan
Jacket, and, while lie held the housebreaker
with lis left hand, punched him in the face
and mouth with the marlinspike. This
caused great pain and the burglar screamed
to the confederate outside in the yard
For Gods sake believe he is going tc
kill mel" He squirmed and yelled
tremendously, but Morril held him as in {
vice, and kept pounding with the marlin
spike. Morrill, felt the prick of knife in hi
left breast. The burglar had drawn dirl
knife an I'd struck at Morrill,. The blade o
the knife was about eight inches long
ground to sharp edge on both sides. Th
fellow aimed heavy blow, but the blad
struck on the buckle of Morrill, suspenders
passing through that, but bringing up on tn
sides, which prevented the knife from enter
ing the body at any great length. A woun'
was made between the ribs in the region o
the heart, to the depths of about on
quarter of an inch The policeman's mex
effort was to wrench the knife from tn
hand of the would-be murderer, VIII
pricked Morrill, several times in the bacl
of the head, cuttingt to the scalp and cutting
also his ear and neck. Morrill, finally go
hold of the knife handle, and by mali
strength took the weapon, dragging tn
blade through the burglars hand.
The contestants had been upon their fee
all the time When the burglar lost hi
knife he stopped and attempted to escape
ordering his confederate to shoot him .
The confederate did shoot, and the bal
came crashing through the window, fey
inches above Monill's head. The burgla
got away, and as he went through TIA
window Morrill, followed him with tw
shots from his revolver, one of which h
thinks took effect. Beside his hat an
dirk knife, the burglar left behind an iro
"billy" and large meal sack, il whic
he probably intended to carry of hi
booty. .,.--------