The daily gazette., 1881-03-19
A SHOCKING MURDER.
A CITIZEN OF VALLEY FORGE KILLEI


IN HIS OWN HOUSE BY A BURGLAR.
Al Valley Forge, Montgomery county,
Pa, early yesterday morning, burglar
entered the residence OF Mr.. Samuel
Clugslon, on the main street, about TWO
hundred yards south Of the railroad s.a-
tion,re wed his oveTcOat and boots and
assembled to the second floor of the
hous-, where the family bed rooms are
situated. The back room, at the head
Of the stairs, was occupied by Mr.. Clugs-
ton and his wife, and the other rooms by
the children OF the family. At about 8
O'Clock In the morning Mrs. Clugstcn
was awakened by feeling a strong
draught Of wind blowing through the
room, and, arousing her husband, she
remarked TO HIM that the door must be
open. MIR. Clugston then got up out of
bed and was walking towards the open
door, when he stumbled over something
Oh the floor and Immediately felt him
self gfasped about the body. He made
an effort TO free himself, and then began
a struggle between the two men.
The robber finally succeeded in get
ting clear from Mr.. Clugston long
enough to draw revolver and fire at
his adversary. The ball lodged in Mr..
Clugston's neck, but he continued his
hold upon the burglar for, perhaps, "a
minute or two. The report Of the pis
tol alarmed the household, and s. of
the wounded man, who slept in the ad-
jJining room, rushed to his fathers as
sstanee. He seized the man and they
tusseled, the burglar discharging the
second barrel of his revolver, but this
time without serious effect. The young
man, who is of powerful frame, clutch
ed the burglar around the neck. There
was no light in the entry, and the men,
still struggling, reached the head Of the
stairway and fell down the long flight
of steps.
Young Clugston then managed to get
the revolver from the mau, but not
knowing, he says that his father had been
injured he made no attempt to shoot the
man, merely continuing to hold him
tightly by the shoulder. Suddenly, aud
almost before the young man could rea-
lize 1t, the robber had slipped from his
coat aud vest, made rush for the parlor
and leapt through the window which he
had lett open. Cldgsion attempted to
follow, but IL was sllll dark and the man
was easily enabled to make his e. cape,
going towards the bills on the South, and
in the opposite direction from the Rail
road. Y Oung Clugstou then found up-
on the porch Of his house heavy brown
overcoai, black hat, aud pair OF boots
that had been left there by the man who
IN making his escape, wore only shirt,
pants anu pair Of stockings. Returning
INTO the house, Mir. Clusstnn, Sr., was
found lying al the top ot The slaiIs in an
UNCONSCIOUS condition. with deep pistol
wound III the right side ol the neck. He
made no eHolt 10 speak, and died In
about twenty minutes.
THE MURDERER's CLOTHES.
Il is thought that some clue was aff1r-
ded by tile murderer's clothes, and the
effects found in his pockets. The over
coat was OF thick brown cloth, the other
coat being of glayist color. The hat
was a low crowned black felt. In the
pockets of his coats we're found silver
watch, sheath for a dirk kuifa.
photograph of a little girl wrapped in
paper bearing several addresses, pawn
ticket issued on March 9th by The Con-
solidation Loan Company of 90 West
BalllmOre street, balllmOfe, IOr silver
watch on which five dollars had been
paid, "E. Abbott" being the name given
ON The ticket; several men orauda, with
names and addresses thereon; two
pairs of shirt studs, and number of
pairs of new stockings and handkerchieis.
The clothes were identified by a number
OF persons, as those wo by mqn who |
had been seen lounging about the village |
for several days past, aud who Is rather
well known about The Forge as desp9r-
ate character.
Tn lmas Clugston, the son of the mur-
dered man, states that his fathers
assailant was man about five feet, six
inches in height, rather thick set and
about IS years OF age. The young man
SAYS that when he took the pistol from
the robber the latter said "Don't shoot
am almost killed." or something of
that sort, and that the man spoke like a
German Jew. This description answers
In more particulars than one the man
who is So ,ected ef the murder.
The murderer Is supposed to be hiding |
in the Forests around VALLEY Foi &c, and |
a stric. search Is being mad sor him. ]