The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-05-07
DAY OF DESPERATE DEEDS
Crime In lis Most lIelnous Form Runs
Rampant.
A FlENplSH ACT At AUSTIN.
A Sleeping Dentist Chloroformed aud
Ills Apartments Fired.
A WOMAN DRIVEN TO SUICIDE.
An Insuited wife and AN Enraged
A WOMAN DRIVEN TO SUICIDE,
An Insulted wife and AN Enraged
Husband - More Details From
the Battle with Delaware
Bend Cattle Thieves.
THE DAYS RECORD OF CRIMES,
An AMfal AlIAlr nj AnstIn.

AUSTIN, March 4.-.Spocial. At an
early hour this morning the promises Of
DIR. C. b. Stoddard, on Congress avenue,
were entered by some unknown das-
tard. An outrage, which very nearly
ended In tho death OF the well known
dentist, was perpatrated. The motive
underlying the crime was private re-
venge, as there Is no evidence whatever
that robbery was tho object
THE FACTS ~ THE CASE.
Shortly after o'clock his morning,
some party or parties entered tho dental
parlors of Or. Stoddard, by cutting u
hole through the door large enough to
admit persou's hand, and In this way
the barring bolt WAS drawn. Once in
side, the would-b0 murderer, with n
ii fiendishness eQuHl 20 his desperate pur-
pose, chloroforlued the doctor, and thon
deliberately piled up nine heaps
Of paper IN as many parls Of the room,
each heap bong thoroughly saturated
with coal oil. Chairs and lounges were
also saturated with tns same iuhambe
material, and'all things being thus pre-
pared lighted a match and sot fire to the
establishment. With q fearful rapidity
the fro shet upward in the main parlor,
filing the adjoining room of DR.. St)d-
dard, where its hapless
OWNER LAY HELPLESS
from the effects Cf tho drugs admins
tered, with dense volumes of smoke.
Fortunately officer VIM. howe discov-
cred the flames in very tow moments
after they had been started and at once
gave the alarm, Meanwhile, however,
the rooms had become mass Of fire and
smoke and several parties who arrived
early on the scene made their way to
the rescue of the sleeping aud intended
victim of the outrage. They carried
him to place of safety, and although
everything known to medical skill had
been employed in his behalf, he re-
manned in state of unconsciousuess up
to late hour this afternoon. The fire
department responded with alacrity
and soon, what might have turned out
to be serious conaagratiou, was sub
dued. The dental parlors of DR.. Stod-
dard were as handsome as any that can
be found in the county and we're furn-
ished with the most costly and beauti-
ful trappings Of artistic merit. Some of
them were purchased regardless OF ev-
pense in London and Paris, and the en-
tire outfit of the three rooms, including
the paintings that decorated the walls,
was worth ut least $4,000. The damage
done amounted only to about $500.
That at least one life has not been sacri-
ItGAa dlt u bilb DNlslflbSs DlOGn bObdlly
destroyed Is due more TO the interven-
ton of
ACCIDENTAL GOOD FORTUNE
than any lack Of diabolical intent on the
part of the heartless malefactor who
concocted the horrible scheme. The
outrage has beon the theme of universal
comment here all day, and many are the
theories advanced regarding the devil
ish deed. Detectives are now at work
on the case, and rs suspicion points to
certain parties, who have long cher
ished = 'ill-will towards the doc
tor, it is likely arrests will
be made tomorrow. The premises were
insured for $500 in the Niagara COM
pany, $500 in the Springfield, Massa-
chusetts, company, and 5000 in the
Home Fire Insurance company, Of New
York.
Tonight DIR. Stoddard has partially
recovered consciousness, and great
sympathy is felt for him by the public.
II the crime can be fastened on the par
ties suspected, Austin will be made un
comfortably hot for them in the future.
BY A STRANGE COINCIDENCE
this was the day set Tor hearing nine
cases for criminal libel preferred by
DR.. Stoddard against w. Y. Leader, of
the Evening Dispatch. They were
temporarily postponed, however.