Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-10
ROLD ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY.
McGlLPINs ASSAULT ON THE MclL-
VANS.

TOO Late.
On Monday last a young man named
George McAlpine, aged IS or 10 years. call
ed at the premises of Mr.. A. P. Mcllvaiu,
near Bellemonte, to pay his respects to the
family for whom he had worked as hired
boy year or two ago. He was kindly
received and remained with the family as
a guest until Wednesday night about II
O'Clock, at which time he aroused the family
by moaning and groaning and complain
ing of being seriously i'll. MIR. Mcllvain
went down stairs 10 get him some old
brandy to relieve him.. On entering Nc
Alpine's loom the latter drank the
brandy, handed back the glass, and
then slipping behind Mr.. McIlvain locked
the door, drew heavy revolver, pointed 1t
at McIvain's breast and commanded him
not to utter a word on peril Of his life.
Astonished and alarmed, Mr.. Mc1lvain,
| said, ''George, don't shoot me, Fat the same
instant throwing up his arm and dashing
| aside the pistol A scuffie ensued during
which McI!vain got McAlpine's finger
| in his mouth and bit it severely,
but his artificial teeth were not strong
enough to retain his prisoner. The noise
made during the scuffle, alarmed Mrs. Nc
| Twain, who fastened down stairs and
| vigorously rang the large farm bell, the
slgual usually used among farmers to let
their neighbors know that something is
wrong. The bell alarmed McAlpine, who,
breaking away from McIlvain, ran down
stairs with the design Of escaping. But
meantime, the neighbors, aroused by the
bell, were hurrying to the house from all
quarters and McAlpine ran uD stairs and
jumped into bed.
| kl,o N
was WIN. Taylor, who, Notwithstanding
Mr.. McIlvain's remonstrance and fears
hat McAlpine would shoot him, insisted
on going upstairs and arresting the rob-
ber and up he went and dragged him by
the hair from his bed. McAlpine at once
feigned insanity, but he was secured and
disarmed, and taken by the crowd that
had assembled to the Office of w. G. Frew,
esq.,, of Paradise, where he was given a
hearing.
Among the effects were found the large
revolver that he had drawn on Mr.. Nell
vain and a smaller one, both being very
finely finished pieces two boxes OF
cartridges to fit the pistols. Also very
fine and formidable bowie knife and belt
four masks, heavy false beard of red
dish gray color, fine compass, bottle o
ether and a sponge, a very fine ShefflelC
razor, gold Masonic cross, gold breast
pin in the fora Of a gun, another in the
form of pistol, fine gold pencil case
two handkerchiefs and some papers and
letters.
McAlpine continued to feign insanit!
during the hearing until the magistrate
was about to open sealed letter, when ht
suddenly said, "Don't open that letter
: it is my private property and you have III
right to break the seal.' The magistrate
opened the letter, which was written b.
the prisoner and addressed to his mother
who lives in Philadelphia. The writer in
forms his mother that he had got int
trouble at Phenixville, where he had bee'
; , working recently that it was nc. no
safe for him to remain i'll thi
part of the country ; that no wa
going to enclose her $25, and then star
for San Antonio, Texas, to see his brothe
Will that hereafter he was going to be
. any more trouble.
: The brother Will above referred 70 is III
, other than the famous marksman "Wii'
Harry who few years ago astonishe
Lancaster people by his wonderful riii
:. shooting at his gallery in Centre Square
and who during his stay here was arreste
. and sent to jail for pulling pistol o
, George II. Hartman, tho liveryman.
Another paper found among McAlpiLe
4 effects was an oath drawn up, but nc
:. signed. 1t was his intention to make MI
- McIlvain sign it after he had robbed hin
;; 1t is to tho effect that the subscriber coe
|. most solemnly swear before Almight
}. God, and on this Bible, that he will neve
publish, nor cause to be published, nor i
+ any manner whatsoever divulge anythir
IS that transpires in this honse tonight.
y After testimony substantially as abo>
had been given before Squire Frew, tn;
At functionary committed McAlpine to til
TX county prison to answer for felOnious a:
4. sault and battery, and ho was taken
IN the county prison by Constable Mile
After the hearing he confessed that it VI
his intention to chloroform Mr.. and Mr.
McIlvain, rob them Of all the money al
T. jewelry he could find, and,
'g they should awake and resist hi
en- before he had finished the 10
as he would make them sign tine oath
iy above, and on their refusal to do so wou
e. shoot them. 1t was then his intention
us send as much money as he could spare
IT'S his mother and then make his way to t
he far West. His plan of chloroformi
et them failed by reason Oftheir having thu
ed room door locked, and he then feign
a, sickness for the purpose OF ettecting t
a robbery, but Mrs. McIlvain's prom
an ringing Of the alarm bell frustrated
m plans. He says he did not think it wou
It. not bc necessary to shoot Mr.. Mcllvain
er ne believed he could frighten him in
til giving up his valuables by mere thrt
ct. of shooting him but that he would ha
ed shot him had it been necessary.
10 McAlpine is well-known i'll this cl
IN Through the recommendation given h
es- by Dir. McIlvain, he secured position
ne the Inquirer printing Office, where
nd only thing especially noticed about b
ne was his inveterate devotion to novel re:
re. ing. especially Of the the yellow cover
ere riety After being for some months in
Ike Inquirer Office he appears to have gone
icy Pknuixvillc where he was known as q
Harris. He also at times took the ma
OF George Williams and George Lytl
the last name being that of his sister, NJ
:: IN Lytle, who followed the Photographic br
ing ness few years ago at Leaman P'a
Sc: MISUNDERSTANDING to Philadelphia.
at Georges parents are said to be rcpu
oe bic people who have had great trou
an growing out of the waywardness of II
md sons. From the letter written but
gar sent to his mother, it is supposed t
70 George may have been engaged in i
ted berries or burglaries at or near Pheenixvi
the and that the pistols, knife, Masonic bat
ana and jewelry found among his effects
'urt have been part of his plunder.