The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-20

ClugstOn ana eleven cDllurcn, ranging from
five TO thirty years OF age, but only the nine
Youngest were at home when the crime was
committed. There are three rooms on the
second floor OF the house, all OF which open
on ball three feet and bali wide. Mr..
ClugstOn and his wife occupied the rear
room on this floor, and their son Thomas,
aged twenty-five, slept in the middle room,
the door OF which is opposite the stairway
leading TO the lower ball. Two young
ladies sleep in the front room, and the six
other children have apartments on the thlId
floor. The burglar ripped open an outside
celar-dOOr, expecting, no dOuO', 10 make III,
way ND stairs, but the door at the head Il
the eellar.>tairs was bolted on the inside
and he was compelled TO give up that plan.
lie then, BY means OF some powerful iron
instrument. broke the bolts and tore open
tbe shutters Of one Of the front parlor-wln-
dows on the first floor. Dight-lamp
burned dimIy in the sleeping apartment OF
Mr.. and Mrs. ClugStOn. and about O'Clock
she awoke, got up, took a drink OF water,
and returned TO bed. she was restless,
however. and did not sleep as soundly a
usual. A few minutes before O'Clock she
awoke again, and touching her husband
whispered, "Sam, sam, believe there is
burglar in the house; | closed The door
when was up, but now it Is open"
TBRoTTLED BY The BURGLAR.
Mr. Clugston Sprang out Of bed at one,
and A. he did 50 a man, who was lying OH
the floor at the side OF the bed, jumped 10
his feet. and, tbrOttling Mr.. ClugstOn, said,
Hush. don't boiler, or you're dead
man" Undaunled by the threa', Mr..
CIugston grappled with the burglar and
dies peratc struggle began. Mrs. Clugston
was so paralyzed by fear that she was I'M
able to move, and sat in the bed watching
with terror the progress OF the combat.
The burglar was the most powerful man,
ae Mr., Clugston has been in bad
health for some months; but the fight
was by no means unequal. Neither OF
the combalants uttered word as they
struggled around the dimy-liehted room,
but when they approached the door and the
mortified wife saw the burglar draw re-
yolyer she regalned her power OF utterance
and burst into a scream so indescrlbably ter
rible that il pierced the ears Of every one in
the house and. startled sleepers block
away. At the instant the burglar struggled
into the hall with Mr.. Clugston clinSing to
his shoulders, Thomas Clugston, aroused by
his mothers shriekS, came out OF his room
in his night dress.
A FEARFUL BATTLE IN THE DARN.
The bali was very dark. the only light be-
inc q few RAYS from the night.lamp in Mrs.
Clugston's room, but as Thomas reached
the hall he saw the burglar raise his arm
and discharge a revolver. Then the burglar
shook off Mr.. Clugston and advanced on
Thomas, firing two shots as he came. The
| BALI. however, entered the hall-ceiling, and
before another shot was fired Thomas pluck.
ily clinched his man. The burglar fought
with desperation, but Thomas clung TO
| him with the tenacity OF bulldog.
aud in The dark, and locked in
each others arms, they pitched headfore-
most down the long flight of stairs. Both
men were stunned by their fall, but they
struggled to their feet, and finally Thomas
succeeded in wrenchiDg the revolver out OF
his antagonists hand. The burglar fought
| so vigorously that Thomas could not cock
the weapon, but was compelled to struggle
and wait until The parlOr was reached.
When Thomas succeeded in getting the
muzZle OF the pistol against his opponents
head hat individual stopped fighting. Then
came plr!ey.
"Let me co." said the burglar.
! Bring a light down STAIRS" yelled
Thomas 10 the screaming women and chill
dren in the second story.
"Pll cut your heart OUT said the burg
lar.
"Kecp quiet, or I'll shoot YOU replied
courageous Thomas 81 want TO see your
face.V All this time the house was ringing
with the screams Of the people upstairs, all
OF whom were 30 thoroughly frightened that
they did not offer to come down. 1t must
be understood that Thomas was not aware
that his father was wounded by the burglar 5
first shot, or, as he expressed It later III the
day. 81 would have killed him when | got
| hold of the revolver" In continuing, he
said 81 didn't think it would be right TO
Kill a man because he wanted to steal The
burglar suddenly and deXteIously slipped
out of bis coat and vest, leaving those gar
ments behind him as he took flying leap
through the front window and slammed
the shutters behind him. Thomas fred a
parting shot. but the ball missed it, mark
and passed through one OF the shutters.
Thomas scrambled out Of the window in
time TO see the burglar close the front gate
behind him and dash up the lane towards
the bills on the west side OF Valley Forge.
While Thomas and the burglar were In
the parOr Mr.. Clugston tottered to the head
Of the stairs and tumbled to the ball below.
where he was found in>ensible a few mo-
ments Later by his son, who was returning
from his unsuccessful chase after the burg
lar. When Mr.. CIugston died the police
authorities Of all the neighborng towns
were notified Of the crime and told to watch
for the murderer.
THINGS LEFT BEHIND BY THE MURDERER.
Before entering the house the burglar re-
moved his shoes, pair OF well-worn Con-
gress gaiiers, and left them on the front
porch. He left his oyerc0at, brown chin
chilla with q velvet collar. neatly folded on
a lounge in the parlOr, and bis undercoat, q
sack garment Of black cloth, is qui;e dressy'
looking. His vest was old, but Derby
wool hat, knocked off in the struggle, Is
new and OF fashionable shape, and has the
letters &C. e. written inside the lining
In the pockets OF The garments just men
toned were found haf.emptied bottle oil
whiskey, three dollars in silver, a counter
felt ten-dolar bill, toothbrush,
comb. woman's green veil, four
pairs Of mems socks, pair OF women''
striped stockings, silver watch, Inc
leather case OF dirk-knlfe, two bandker
chiefs, a meerschaum cigar-holder, seyera
interchangeable, lot OF No. 81 cartridges
a ticket for silver watch pawned In BATH
more in the name OF A. +. Abbott, and thu
photograph Oh pretty h'lie gu" Oh NV
brown paper in which the photograph wa
wrapped Is written The address OF " MRS
Jones, 20 Lafayette street." The blanl
side OF the pawn.ticket bears these words
edward ii. Johnson, inquire at Nine
tenth and Poplar streets and at S4l Mat
lack. A Friend"
The revolver the burglar did the shooting