Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-08
A HORRIBLE CRIME.
A Dentist Chloroformed and His Premi-
ses Fired.

AUSTIN, TEXAS, May 7.-At an early
hour this morning the premises OF DR.. G.
b. Stoddard, on Congress avenue, were
entered by some unknown person, and an
outrage which very nearly ended in the
death of a well-known dentist was perpe-
trated. The motive underlying the crime
was private revenge, as there is no evil
dence whatever that robbery was the
object. The facts in the case, however,
are as follows: Shortly after ? o'clock
this morning some party -e parties en-
tered the dental part of DIR. Stoddard's
by cutting hole through the door
large enough to admit PERSONS
hand, and in this way the bolt
was unbarred. Once inside, the would
be murderer, with a fiendishness equal to
his desperate purpose, chlOrofOrmed the
doctor, and then deliberately piled up
nne heaps of paper in as many parts OF
the room, each heap being thoroughly
saturated with coal oil. Chairs and
lounges were also covered with the same
infammable material, and, all things
being thus prepared. he lighted a match
and set fire to the establishment. With
fearful rapidity the fire shot upward in
the main portion, filing the adjoining bed
room of DIR. Stoddard, where its hapless
owner laid helpless from the effects OF the
drugs administered, with dense volumes
of smoke.
DISCOVERED.
Fortunately officer William Howe dis
covered the flames in very few moments
after they had started, and at once gave
the alarm. Meanwhile, however, the
rooms had become a. mass of fire and
smoke, and several parties who arrived
early on the scene made ri1eir way to the
rescue of the sleeping and intended vic
tim of the outrage. They carried him to
place of safety, and, although every
thing known to medical skill had been
employed in his behalf, he remained in a
state Inconsistencies up to a late hour
this afternoon. The fire department re-
sponded with alacrity, and soon what
might have turned out to be most Sc
rious confiagTatiOn was subdued.
RICH PARLoRs.
The dental parlors of DR.. Stoddard were
as handsome as any that can be found in
this country, and were furnished with the
most costly and beautiful trappings of
artistic merit. Some Of them We're pur-
chased regardless of expense in London
and Paris. and the entire outfit of three
rooms, including the paintings that deco
rated the walls, were worth at least
$4,000. The damage done amounted only
to about $2,500, but that, at least, one
life has net been sacrificed and fine
business block totally Destroyed, is due
more TO the intervention OF Providence
than to any lack of diabOlicsl intent on
the part of the heartless maletactOrs who
cOncOcted the horrible scheme.
DETECTIVES AT WORK.
The outrage has been the theme of uni
versal comment here all day, and many
are the theories advanced regarding the
devilish deed. Detectives are now at
work on the case, and as suspicion points
to certain parties. who have long cher
ished ill-will towards the doctor, it is
likely arrests Will be made tomorrow.
The premises were Insured for 80 500 in
the Niagara Company; 81 500 in the
Springfield Mass. company, ard $4,000 in
the Home Fire Insurance Company of
New York.
RETURNED TO CONSCIOUSNESS.
Tonight DIR. StOddard has partially re-
covered consciousness, and great sympr-
thy is felt for him by the public. If the
crime can be fastened on the parties sus-
pected Austin will be made uncomforta-
bly, hot for them in the future. By
strange coincidence this was the day set
for hearing nine cases for criminal libel
preferred by DR.. StOddard against w. Y.
Leader of the EUentnq Dispatch. They
were DOstDOned. however,