The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-12-25
GANG0F THIEVES
OPERATING IN THIS COUNTRY,
Aboutat the End of Their rcther-Prcpnrn.
tIons to Give Them n Warm Reception
Should They Make Further Calisin tho
Country-EliJnh NInrllng Better.

Elijah Marling, the old farmer who was
visited by masked robbers Monday night,
robbed Of 81 05, cruelty beaten and tor.
tured with red hot pokers, was better last
evening than was TO be expected after the
fiendish treatment to which he was sub.
jected. No doubts OF his recovery are now
entertained. 1le Is still confined 10 his
bed, and suffers almost intolerable pain
from tho many bruises and burns upoh his
body, but his mind Is clear and his general
condition healthy. (,
There arc certain cirCu mstances which
directs suspicion to certain parties In con.
nection with the Marling and Workenour
robberies, but as yet there Is no tangible
evidence to Justify arresting the men sus.
pccted. Tho authorities nre to, n great OK.
tent working in tho dark, though they arc
satisfied TINT the four robbers who NAL.
treated Marling were four OF the six who
robbed Henry Workenour Sunday morn.
ing. The similarity OF tho dis.uises worn
md the general manner Of operating il
nbont the only reason for entertaining this
belief. d
WORSE THAN H%EPORrEp.
Tho treatment OF Marling was worse
than has been heretofore reported. Tho
robbers reached his house shortly after
seven o'clock, and it was nearly twelve
before they left. This five hours WIS dc.
liberately spent by the thieves in tor.
turing the old man and tearing out every
portion oil the walls, ceilings and floor
that would afford room for n hiding place
for money. One Of the men carefully
avoided speaking a word. One of the
Others had n peculiar voice, which Mr.
Marling thinks he could recognize il ht
heard it again. Tho torture by burning
with the hot poker, the tight cords on
his wrists and arms and tho hot LIQUID
poured down his back was so great that
he could not tako much notice Of his per.
secnt0rs. They feiled him to the iiooi
withan nxe.handle when they ~firstcntered
the house, cutting a deep and painful,
gash in tho scalp near tho crown OF his
head. The house being remote from an,
Others, the robbers worked with pcrfec,
security, and no alarm Marling could
have raised would have had any effect e1
cept to increase the robbers cruelty.
.##.a #HH."
ANOTHER HOUSE VISITED.
The nearest residence to Markings j.
Mr.. John Crystals. Mr.. Crystal is vel
known TO carry considerable ready none,
about with him, and to be n man OF large
means. The same party who robbed Mar
ling visited Crystals house shortly ate
dark Monday evening, but fortunately tho
family has n yigilant and faithful watch
dog, which raised Il timely alarm. The
men were c by members of the family
and Mr. Crystal and his son chased then
of with their guns. They would proba
by have had u less successful experience
attliis house had they succeeded in gain
ing an entrance rs the house is well pro
vidcd with fire arms, and the family Is {
large one.
FARMERS READY FOR THEN. g.
The residents OF the section OF countr,
in which tho outrage occurred have loaded
their shot guns, rifles and reyolvers fol
largo game, and some OF them are rathe,
hoping the gang OF thieves will come back
Should they visit any other rcsidenc,
thcreabout they would probably, to us,
the language Of a ncighbor, ".be haulct
away in 4 cart" The farmers are all pro
vided with young arsenals, and for Il da,
or two business will be brisk with tht
gnnsmiths and cutters.
Prosecuting Attorney Jordan, Justice o
the Peace Ankle and Deputy Sheriff McCol
lochvisited Marling'shouse yesterday after
noon to ascertain il he could aid anyintll,
effort to ferret out the criminals and brin,
them 10 justice. He could give little O
no information Of value, however.