New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-28
A PLUCKY WOMAN'S CONTEST.
MRS. CROSBY'S STRUGGLE WITH A BURGLAR.
HOW SOLDIER FROM FORT SCHUYLER FAILED TO

HOW SOLDIER FROM FORT SCHUYLER FAILED TO
ROB HOUSE NEAR THRoGG's NECK.
The old Stillwe!l homestead. at Throgs's Neck
Westchester County, now the home OF A. NJ. Crosby,
was broken into on Friday just before midnight by
man. who frightened all the inmates and severely
assaulted Mrs. Crosby The house is large and
roony two-story frame building, standing 200 feet
back from the road Tho stables and
the house for the coachman and farm
hands are about the same distance in the rear Mr.
Crosby is seldom at homo and when he Is absent
the house is deserted at night by everybody save
Mrs. Crosby, her five children and the women
servants Lion. big mastih, Is the only protector
they have. The fastenings of the house have been
thought strong and secure, however, and the IN
mates have not felt any alarm.
On Friday night Mrs Crosby went to bed abont
1870, having secured, as she thought
ell doors and windows In about fifteen
minutes she was aroused by the
ringing of the front door bell. She opened her bed
room window aud asked VINO was there. For some
time there was no answer; but finally mans
voice replied that he wanted to get in. Mrs Cros-
by ordered him away. but his only reply was:
You'll rue it il you don't open that door,"
Mrs Crosby and the nurse girl who was with her
then called for help, and rung bell out OF tho WIN
dow. The children by this time became aroused
and screamed in frightened way and Lion
barked, but all to no p1rp Je. No help
came. The man then went around
to the back of the house where there is small
conservatory, and breaking pane OF glass
with his hand, able to unlock me
door from the inside. Here he seized
box containing a croquet set and tried to force
open the back door OF the hOuse with IT, but IN this
! he failed. lie then tried window to the
left OF the door and found .t that Al ~
/ ba avf hn hotrun ion a
| rolled him over but the children, with whom inc
dog is great pet called frantically for Lion ana
the dog left the intruder to give his protection TO
| them.
I he man then rushed up stairs. A
| few Steps from the top the nurse
mt him andstruck him such low III the meek
! with a cane that he staggered Tor a moment,
and the Tell broken 1T his feet HE nurse tth
ran into the nursery and locked the door. But the
nan was not easily hailed: ro lie az once t6e
door until they fell IN splnters, aud then ne forced
his way into the room. Mrs. Crosby had by TINS
time secured a gun, which, however, was "ot Loaded,
You take care Of the children, Maria" said she,
4" and I'll look after him."
In instant she raised the gun and struck at the
man SO that tie stock was broken but he closed
with her and threw her down. lh"n the little 0oV
| "Wilr,' about seven years oid, came 10 ms
mother aSsista uce and mautuly kicked and fought
! the man until his mother got mp again Inc
| intruder then seized Mrs. Crosby, with one mana
partly IN her mouth her right ear and ON her meek,
|
down af,cr her and, being the first to rise, she
| caught him up bodily. and pushe and throw nina
down stairs. When he reached the bottom
and had picked himself up he fled lncontl
neatly at the sight of Mrs. Crosby coming dowl
stairs with pistol ii her hand. More shouting and
Lcli-ringing finally brought the ga.deneI
and the cOachman to- the house. but
| 100 laie 10 reader any assistance. When
she had recovered from her fright Mrs. Crosby DIS
covered tilat her neck bore cGuel finger m1rks, the
nail had been torn from one of her little hugers
and that she was otherwise very much bruised ,
On Saturday morning constable was Called
Mrs Crosby described her aSSIsilan rs tall young
man with black hair a mnstacEe, ana side wAlSE,
ers as well rs she could remember. man naneu
Pat" BuIns was suspected, but when brought
before Mrs. Crosby she said ho certainly was not
! tie man. Later. Leon was discovered pay ing
witha soldiers CAP and the suspicion followed
that SIrs lrOsby's assa liant was sOldler. General
jackson, commanding at Fort Schuyler, was seen
and he made inquiries which scented to lnpllcate
one of his soldiers. Two men were taken to MIS-
Crosby yesterday and she instantly pointed out one
OF them as her assailaut. He had mark IN ms
neck that might nave been inflicted by the nurse
| cane his eye blacked and b'
hand cut and scratched, as if iron
tLe class of n broken window. lie VIII be arrested
on n warrant to-day. Mrs. Crosby said 10 TRIBUNE
reporter last night: 1T was good thing Tor th'
follow that my pistol was not loaded, Tor sh0ult
surely have sHot him had it been. Nothing wa
| stolen from the house"