The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-04-17
The Egis & Intelligencer
Bel Air, Md, April IL. 1891.
Horrible Murder in Cecil County.
ALADY SHOT BY BURGLARS
HER HUSBAND SEVERELY WOUNDED
A DESPERATE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK
WITH THE ASSASSINS.
The County Aroused-Oficers and Citizens
in Pursuit-George Bramm Arrested
Near Rowlandsville.

A horrible murder was committed at the hom
OF j. Granville Richards. customs Inspector at Bal
timore, near Porter's Bridge, Cecil county, short
~ after Sunday midnight Mrs richards wa
awakened from sound sleep by a noise III he
bedroom, and arousing her husband, who wa
sleeping beside her, told him there was some
one in the room Mr.. Richards rose up in bed an(
taking u revolver from under his pillow, cried
WHO is that? Speak or will shoot! The mex
moment pistol was fired the ball striking Mrs
Richards in the head. behind the left ear. She
fell over on the bed. Her husband returned the
fire and Sprang out of bed, while the burglars re-
treated from the hall Mr. Richards followed and
hearing some one moving feared IL might DC ms son
and questioned him. No answer was returned but
left groin the bail coming out in the lower part of
the back Mr. Richards returned the fire and the
next moment the burglar grappled with him and
a hand-to-hand struggle took place, in which the
burglar struck him on his lett Wrist WIN heavy
piece of iron, which proved to be chsel; MIR;
the severe blow on his wrist tumbled headlong
down the stairway. Before doing this he fired Il
third time at the burglar but none of his shots
seemed to strike the villain. The burglar follow
ed Mr.. Richards down the steps and struck him
Ea1 tT Win me Reee q RcSards in the
At the foot of the stairs the burglar lett him and
escaped
Besides Mr.. Richards and his wife the other
cupants of their residence were Mrs. Randolph
Langdon. of Oxford Pa, wife or Mrs. RlchardS'S
brother and who occupied chamber across the
hallway from the room of her relatives. Then
there were their four children, Wllilam, aged
seventeen, Harry. aged fifteen, Joseph, aged
d
corner of the house, and Hampton, the baby OF the
family, aged six years, who was sleeping in the bed
MIN his parents eoi0re th Se rsf oor floreice
During all the commOtion occasloned py the CON
hict with the midnight murderer none 2l eese PEG
pie We're awakened until after the NOISE nad SUD
sided. The first person to come 70 KnoWedge Oh
the situation in the house was william, the eldest
son. He became conscious OF something unusual
going ON lust about the time his father and the as
sassin reached the bottom OF the stairway; and
came out of his room. He found ms father lying
on his side and learned from him what had hap
pened. The son assisted his father to room, anu
then went out to find assistance.
Mr.. Stephen Murphy. who lives across tne hed;
about 500 wards away, Mr.. John I. Reynolds and
Mr.. Milford Richards. close nelghbors, were
awakened and went for medical assistance: DIR.
Charles Turner of Rising Sun and Dr. *: X.
Crothers, of Colora, arrived at the house about
3O'cock.
The doctors found Mrs. Richards in an uncon-
scions condition. and she died at 6oclock, without
having spoken word.
MIR. Richards wounds, IL IS thoughl, VIII not
The scoundrels secured two pocket books. taken
ont of Mr. Richards's clothing in the bedroom,
and which contained $50 gold hunting case watch
owned by one of the boys was also secured. but
dropped in the hall when te 9nfg the PS
mia Railroad of almost 81 200 value were also taken
away. r
the lawn in front OF the house make almost Ger
tain that men were concerned in theaffair. The
burglars entered the house by forcing open the Gel
lar door from whence they obtained access to the
diningroom They opened all the doors ontne lower
1oor in order TO give them means OF quick exit a
ladder was placed against the parlor window, as If
they intended to enter that way number OF
flower pots on the inside of the sill probably led
them to abandon that route. 80 -
States Attorney William >. Evans ana SneflH |
Boyd, of Cecil county, have been interchangeable III |
their efforts to secure clue to the murderers and
Mr.. Evans has made arrangements by Wnlcn re-
ward of 200 will be offered Tor their apprenen-
sion.
Mrs Richards was As years old and was daugh-
ter of the late Franklin Langdon. In 1886 Mr.. |
Richards was assaulted near his home, robbed of
5000 and left insensible on the road. Before he
he was married he was shot at, one night, Oh his
way home.
Mr. Richards was member of the House of
Delegates In 1885.
George Bramm, aged % years, was arrested on
Monday night, at his fathers house, near Rowland
vile, by detective Bramm came to the door III
his night clothes and when told by the onlcer mat
he wanted him, he answered You don't want me
tonight" The officer seized him and told him he
must go. Bramm surrendered. The officers took
HIM to his sleeping apartment. where MS vile
was, and waited while he dressed. He was then
taken to Rising sun and thence to Elkton by
special train.
the larceny of $50 from one William Riley. Whlle
Bramm dressing it is stated that he dropped "A
pistol which was in a case. The detective quickly
secured it. When examined it was found that three
of the cartridges were fired and the weapon smell
ed strongly of powder as if recently discharged.
Some cartridges of 81 calibre, the size OF the Dull
lets fired by the burglar, were also found on tue
premises where Bramm was arrested Bramm arrlV
ed in Rolandsyille Monday afternoon ON the train
which leaves Baltimore at four O'Clock. The clues
connecting Bramm with the murder are slight.
Mr.. Richards on Tuesday, after thinking calmly |
about the murder. has concluded that only one ,
was engaged in it.
States Attorney Evans on Tuesday night, re-
ceived Information that two suspected men were
arrested in York.
A coroners investigation was held on Wednes-
day but no additional material facts were elected:
Mrs. Richards was buried on Thursday, at west
M infr1hp shytar iris ri