The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-06
JERSEYS MASKED BURGLARS.

The three men who committed the masked bur-
glary recently in Vantage township. Sussex
county. were brought before the Court of
Oyer and Terminsr this morning and pleaded not
guilty to the indictments found against them yes
terday. For three days past large numbers Of tho
best citizens Vantage township have been in this
place anxiously watching. far az they might. the
of the Grand Jury with respect to this matter
Thirry-sevcn witnesses subp@naed to appear
before the Grand Jury in this and many Others
came voluntarily Itis the first case OF the kind
that has cver occurred in this county and great
interest is manifested all sides.
BRIKF RESUME CRIME.
About two o'clock one morning MIR. Sanford
Hough and his wife wero awakened by the appear
snce in their bedroom Of three masked men. who
presented rovolvers their heads aud threatened to
kill them II they made the least nolse. Mr.. Hough
is wealthy and respected farmer living about six
miles from Deokertown. to the right OF tho Glove
road. Besides himself aud wife there were
in tho house At the time man named
Stall. ibis sister Jane and Mr.. Hough's
sister Sarah. who is eighty years old. Hough is =
very nervous mau. and his wife has heart disease
Naturally they were frightened. They begged for
their lives. Offering 70 give mp everything and prom
Using be very quiet While burglar stood guard
the other two riasd the house OF money the
OF $500. Tho work hand. STALL aroused by his sister,
went to Mr.. Houghs room, armed with u revolver
but he was SO surprised at what he saw there that
he forgot his pistol for tho instant. movement OF
Hough caused the burglar TO turn toward Stall.
He told Stall that II any motion was made By him
to fire the old man should die. At the same time
the burglar called to his companions and they
up and disarmed, bound aud gagged Stall. they
also did his sister they brought the old sister into
the roomntoo, but she helpless they took
her back 70 bed again. Before leaving the house they
told their victims not to move out OF the house
for the space Of three hours pain Of
being shot. saying also that they had just
disobeying Instructions. To embarrsss pursuit
they changed the horses III the stables and cut the
harness. Mrs. Hough was completely prostrated.
Mr.. Hough did not recover from his fright suth-
GENTLY to allow any one out OF the house until ten
o'clock the next morning. when he sent Stall
neghbors None OF his neghbors had been dis
turbed. and all were greatly surprised and alarmed
CAPTURE OF THE THIEVES.
The same evening, just after dark, young man
named Dewitt, while taking milk to the station at
Deckertown, three strange men ut the Midland
Depot in that village. who answered the description
of u party he had secn the afternoon before
MIR. Hough's residence. Officers in the village We're
notified. and two OF the fellows were arrested
had gone utter buying tickets for New York;
the other one had taken the westward
guarded. and an opportunity occurring one OF them
broke away and out OF the door, closely followed
by crowd OF men, At the door he turned on his
whiskers, went through the collar OF another mans
coat and passed within two inches of two other
mems heads The whose whiskers were cut,
who is q powerful blacksmith was excited by the
shot that he drew large knife from his pocket.
seized the other prisoner and would have put an end
to his career had not the officers interfered. After
firing the shot the fugitive ran through tho
garden, which extended down to the top Of a
the darkness he plunged over this wall, but
not seriously injured. although he was stunned
another man and nred shot at him. and then made
good his escape Soon after this the milk train
rived from the West. and the constsbles. thinking
the third man had gone West to elude them. in-
tending to return and join the others in New York,
boarded the passenger car and captured their man.
legs snd other oos and rsvo
vers besides about $75 in bills. found their
persons. the money being found in the Innings Of
their clothes: They gave their names as George.
Johnson and William Fredericks.
SAWYER THREATKNED BY A MANIAC.
Tho man who escaped lnstead OF leaving the State
returned TO the vicinity Of Deckertown. hiding in
what Is known Is the Drowned Lands" He was
seen several times-once in the village but man
aged to keep out OF the way OF the officers Several
evenings later. while the milk tram lay ing
at Martins Station. near Deckertown. Conductor
Ss~ t sei
Conductor Cody ut Ogdcnsburg to be prepared to
assist in capturing him. When the train arrived
that place Cody discovered the man top OF one
OF the cars Climbing up on one end. and . man
named Murphy on che other, after q short struggle
name as John Sawyer of Boston. and proved to be
the man who escaped from the officers ut Decker
town. He was in . terrible condition. his feet were
badly frozen and be wis nearly starved having
eaten nothing but some corn which he had
picked up in the fields. He was taken to
by Justice stoddard Sawyer was handcuffcd
and placed in the cell with Frederick Grill who is
awaiting sentence for the murder OF his daughter.
He had heard OF Grill as the crazy murderer. but
did not know no was being confined with him ct
the time. As soon NJ the light was removed to tho
hall Grill stood up In his bed and commenced going
through his contortions and making his peculiar
noises: ana IN the aim hight renec'ed through the
Sawyer realized the situation 1t once. The climax
reached when Grill stepped out OF his bed and.
seixing = club. commenced to ch use Sawyer about
the coll. The fellow. who but short time before
had been 30 bold and daring in escaping from the
officers of tho law. and had suffered such privations
lapparsnt lanstic. and. getting down on his
him from the coll. lie said. my hands
bound; Am helpless; this old Is not RESPONSE
bio for hts actions he will kill for Gods sake
take me out" Some one ssked him IL he could now
imagine what tho feelings OF Mr. Hough's
lily when no and his companions were standing over
them threatening to take their lives. To this he
made no answer. Grin was finally removed from
tho cell
ToBIN coxyKssEs HE KNEW uouen.
The HERAI.D correspondent visited the prisoners
cell. in company with Mr. Hough and Thomas Ii.
Stall. tho father OF Houghs work hand. and heard
conversation between them aud John Tobin. MIR.
Hough asked Tobn II he remembered working for
him SIX years before. He SAID no did, aud acknowl-
very kind to him. lie was asked yhy he com
mitted the burglary. In answer he SAID that
no know nothing about It. had not boon
1T Mr.. Hough's place. not acquainted
with his two fellow prisoners, and had never seen
them until shortly before the arrest; that he In
the neghborhood looking for work. and was travel
ling alonc. He ssid also he was satisfied he could
man who stood guard over him and who did all the
talking: no can swear TO his voice and
to his general appearance. Mr.. Stall rccog-
nized the three prisoners ~ the Same per-
sons Who took dinner with him the day before
the robbery aud who made inquiries OF him
corning Mr.. Hough. There is sufhcient evidence 10
convict them ali. Part OF tho money found
them has been identified and some admissions have
been made by them. Mrs. Hough has not recovered
from the effects OF the shock received that terrible
night. She is I'm critical condition and will proba
bly, not long survive.