The daily gazette., 1879-11-10
SECOND EDITION
Shot on the Highway.
II Probable Murder foa. Money
A Highway Robbery that II Likely
70 Result in the Death Of
the Victim.

- y VAIN Ut nib NUN II hooath'-
ED BY HIGHWAY ROBBERS, hoBBID
AND FATALLY woUNDED-DE TAILS OF
THE DARING DEED.
One of the boldest highway robberies
ever known i'll Wilmington, and one at
tended with very distressing results,
happened on Saturday evening, at the
corner OF Pennsylvania avenue and Clay
ton streets, in the Seventh Ward.
The victim of the crime was Millard
L. Toft. respectable yonng gentleman,
who resides with his father-in-law, Jas,
j. Vincent, on Pennsylvania avenue, be-
yoDd Scott street. He is proprietor of
streets, and about seven o'clock he closed
his store and started for home. He wet!t
up French street to Thirteenth, where
he stopped in the grocery store Of Vih-
cent Walker, bis cousin, and paid bill
lie next started directly for his home,
gSlng out by way OF Delaware and Penn
sylvania avenues.
His walk was without incident until
he reached the intersection of Peunsyi-
vania avenue, Clay ton street AMI Twelfth
street. The latter street runs up to PENN
sylvania avenue; and leayes little tri-
angular piece of street, the base of which
has to be crossed in continuing the walk
out the avenue. Clayton street runs be-
tween the west emil of j. 7. Causes resi-
dence AMI the residence q his son,
Horace Cause.
As he was proceeding along this local
ity Mr.. TOft heard his name pronounced
anu, look Dg arouDd,saw man tandlng
fe W steps below the corner, on Clayton
street. Supposing the man desired to
see him he obeyed the call, aud, as he
started, noticed another man coming be-
hind him. The first man seiZ d Mr.. Tofs
by the lapel of his coat and demanded
his money but Instead OF complying with
the demand Mr.. loft drew revolver
which he carried in his hip pocket, and
! repaired to make a forci5le resistance.
AT this point the second man stepped up
and struck Mr.. .Toft violent blow on the
back of the head stunning him almost 10
Insensibihty, and The first man grasped
the pistol and struggled to get 1t in his
possession. In the struggle the pistol
exploded, but whether IL was discharged
Dy the hlghwayman, or was accidentally
discharged in Mr.. Toft's hand, will pro-
baby never be known. Tho former the
ory is most generally, accepted, The pre-
vailing belief being that the villain de-
liberately put the pistol to Mr.. Toft's
unate victim fell to the ground with a
bulle. in his brain, and utterng few
feeble cries of murder, relapsed INTO un.
consciousness.
The murderous villains then rified Mr..
lofts pockets, and took out bag con
tanning about twenty dollars in specie.
He had more mouey about him, but the
villains were in great hurry, and on
securing the $50 they dropped the bag
and ran swiftly along Clayton street
| They were seen by servant girl in the
| the door, to leave Clayton street and
| atri Ira afr0sq the lots I ards the reSer-
| voIr.
| 1t was lust about this time that the
| alarm of tire pre- vailed, and among the
people passing along Pennsylvania Av
euue at the time we're Emmett ROBIN
son and Alfred Ferguson, residents OF
| McDowelville, who were going to find
out where the fire was. They heard the
pistol shot, but supposing it to he the
work of mischievous boys paid no atten
tlos to 1t until they heard the faint cries
| of murder uttered bv the wouLded mau
| They then turned into Clayton street
| and were borrifi-d TO find Mr.. loft lying
seuseless on the ground, with stream
| of blood issuing from wounded in hi'
head. He was lying on his back, will
his hands thrown up, and the deadly pi'
tol was lying close beside his head
The two men carefully lifted Mr.. Tof
from the ground, and carried him to hl
l
street. Drs. A. II. Grimshaw anu L.. 2
Greenleaf were at once summoned, AM
did all in their power for the relief o
the wounded man. They found that th
ball had struck about two inches abov,
the right eye, aud penetrated t. tn'
brain, to q depth that rendered it pre-
carious to probe very deeply in scar sh o
it,
Shortly after reaching home Mr. Tof
| rauainat h,s pnnsc, puSp pesS and Was al
to give some account of the assault upoi
him. He says the two men follower
him from Thirteenth and French street
though this fact did not impress itsel
with suspicious force upon his mind uuti
he was assaulted, Unfortunately he di,
not recognize either of his assailants, ,th
locality being very dark, and the stree
lamp on the corner not burning.
had evidently been extinguished by th
miscreants in order to insure the success
of their bold crime. Mr.. loft says gu
of the men-the first to assault him
was tall, and had heavy, dark bearc
the other IVES short. Beyond this he ca
give no points of personal identity this
would lead to the recognition OF the vi
lians.
During yesterday Mr.. Toft RENAME
In weak, though conscious condition
but he rested very badly last nigh. III
was apparently worse this morning an
but slight hopes of his recovery WEI
entertained
) This robbery is certainly the mo.
daring crime ever perpetrated in til
city. The locality is practically publ
one, as people are continually passiu
along Pennsylvania Avenue during I'll
early evening, and no one would thin
of being assaulted in such consplciol
Ilace. There is street lamp ON IL
corner (though it was extinguished, ;
stated above), and also a large lamp
: front of Mr.. Horace Gause's residenc
: which throws considerable Light upo
the street.
Mr.. loft is not over thirty years
age. and Is spoken Of as man of exec
: lent character, and possessing sing
: larly mild and agreeable disposition. II
has a wife and one child.
AsLIGHT CLUE.
A gentleman called at the police st
ton This morning, and gave the poll,
some information which may prove
| clue to the identity of Mr.. Toft's assa
D ants. He said he had been frequent
5 stopped on the streets at nights, recent
by a we'll known "bum," who would Ca
him to one side aud ask him for mon
by a companion, larger aud sLuuter, wi
\ the gentleman did not know by nam
, | He thinks 1t very probable that the
were the men who robbed Mr.. Toft. II
:, case will be closely worked up.
l Residents of McDowellvllle and v
y cinity are greatly excited over the o,
= rage, aud freely declare their willingue
to unite in offeriBg a reward for d
| arres; of the bold hi hwlvinen