Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-24
Shot Dead by a Burglar.

CEIViSC THE TATAL EHoT-THE VICTIN's
soN RESFwING Tug STEuGCLE ASp
rHE TWO TJNuLiSg DOWN
PLIGHT or sTAtgs--THE THIEF
HIPS AWAY ASD TscATEs.
VALLEY FoEGr. Pa, March ls.-This
historical village was thrown into a
high fever Of excitement at an early
hour this morning. when it became
known that William Clugston, one of
IT. leading and most respected citizens.
had been murdered by an unknown
/ burglar The story oi the tragedy -
[ best told hy the eldest son, Samuel
/ Ciust.on, who was in the house at the
time, aud who says that he took an
/ active part IN the conflict with the bur.
4 elsr. Ai about three O clock. Mr.. Cluc.
/ -ton Was awakened by noise in hi.
| hedroom. He saw a hatless and coat.
I less man moving about the room with
/ cat like tread. and he AZ once demand.
I ed to know who was there. The stran.
ger replied, keep still, old fellow, or
I you re a dead man Mr.. C!ucston
arose from hi- bed and gave the alarm.
I tiI'' thi"i instantly ernppled with him.
zn1 a terrible conflict ensued. The
aged wife screamed for her son who
sept in smother room. Thomas Cluc.
-ton, aged % says that he al once re-
! -poudcd, but bcforc he had time to
enter the room he heard two shots in
/ rapid succession. Those shots were
lifed by the burglar, who was still crap
plInc with Mr.. Clurston. The Ion saws:
"l Just A. ! entered the room my ia
/ ther rcelrd and fell. and al once knew
/ thsi he had been shot. Ny mother
/ was nearly frantic. saw the strange
Z man lxAle was attempting 10 leave the
1 room. <end al once attacked him. lie
was q Fttonc and determined man, and
/ ~ our violent struggle we fell TO the
I iloor. The door leading TO the head Of
Z the stairs was open, and we iumbled TO
/ the bottom Of steep fight. ] retained
my hold of him in the darkness, and
/ called for help. managed 20 get the
pistol from bin, and when thought |
l had mastered him be mysteriously
unhuiIoned his vest without my know
Ing II, aud thus slipped out OF my grasp.
ran 10 the front window, and escaped
a. he had entered. followed 50 best
could, and fred two shots at him, but
I did not hit him.
The msn escaped in the darkness.
hatless, costless and shoeless, leaving
his apparel behind him. BY this time
! the ncjchbors were aroused and began
to assemble, and when they reached the
I house they found old Mr.. Clucston lv.
I ing at the foot Of the stairs in the hall
way, having reached the landing at the
1 head Of the stairs after bis son and the
burglar had plunged down headlonc
and his strength deseriing him. he fell.
/ When found life was extinct. he having
lived Just twenty MINUTES after being
shot. Uuly one shot took effect, the
tall entering The right side OF the neck
above the clavicle and passing direct
into tie spinal column, severine in lie
course the iugular vein and carotid ar.
terry. Death was caused by internal
| hemorrbaee.
Among the effects left behind hy the
burglar was pocketbook containing q
pawn ticket issued by the National loan
office Of Baltimore. number -. .S26. and
bearing the name Of +. A. Abtott q
1 card upon which was written, Edwin
II. johnson, inquire at Nineteenth and
Poplar streets, S4l Mattock. lSignedl
a friend = photograph of = little girl,
| probably s or 2 Years Of age several
hotel cards, three dollars and ten cents
in currency, aud 4 ten dollar note Of
1854. issue Of the Allegheny county
State bank. The clothes left behind
consisted Of brown overcoai. light
sack uniercoat, black diagonal vest,
and black Derby hst. There was only
one thief in the house. bat he had an
accompllee outside. The bat has the
initials GO s." inside.
When the son and the thief tumhled
down stairs, locked in each others
arms, the son says that he held his man
about ten minutes in the dark. The
county officials have the case in hand.
but up to late hour no arrests had
been reported. Mr. Clugston vas super.
intendens and principal owner Of the
Valley Forge Palmfbre paper company.
lie recently took Joseph Jordan as :
partner. He leaves wife and eleven
| children,