The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1894-05-03
The Fetherolf Burglary Case.


trial of the case of the State, VS., Elmer
Hedges, Fate Hedges and Willis
Stump, for burglary and larceny.
The case came up from Perry town.
ship, and the crime of which they were
charged was the burglary of the resi-
dence of William Fetherolf, and the
larceny of 5000 in silver and bank
notes and silver watch valued at $40
ON the night of December 18th 1898.
MIR. Fetherolf is we'll to do farmer
living one half mile west of South
Perry, and at the date of the crime was
in his eighty6rst year.
An entrance was effected by forcing
the front door of the dwelling by using
a peice of fence rail, one end of which
was placed against the door and another
piece against that with its end in the
ground and then pushing against the
door in this way until the hasp Of lock
was forced from its fastenings and the
door opened so quietly as not to awak-
en- or even. disturb the inmates.
The building is a long two story
house and has three rooms ON the first
floor and the same number above.
The west room is used as kitchen
and dining room and has two outside
doors one opening to a porch on the
north side and the other opening to a
porch on the west side. Another door
with the middle room
of the house.
The middle room has also two out
'ide doors, one on the north and one
IN the front OF. south side.
The east room had no outside
loors and was entered only by door
'pening from the middle room.
The door forced open as above de-
cribed opened into the middle room of
he house, in which Mr.. Fetherolf was
leeping,
The old man was awakened by the
attling of some bottles which stood on
stand at or near the head of the bed,
nd when attempting to raise up in
ed was violently seized by the throat
nd forced back on the bed being at
ame time admonished that if he made a
n out-cry he would be shot. A "
ruggle ensued, in which the assailant n
as pushed against the stand, thus up a
'ttlng it and throwing it and its CON II
nts to the floor with loud crash. e]
MIR. Fetherolf says that he then saw
lother man appear in the door of the g,
lst room and at about three feet be- fo
nd him third man who had light =
ordinary glass lantern in his hand
the light of which he was enabled
see that the parties wore masks over
cir faces.
The second party seen by the old -
an at once came to the assistance of " "
tlrst and Mr.. Fetherolf was forced ola
to the bed and tightly wrapped over 5t
head with the covers and bedding in
d so held until nearly smothered. =,
'er which the robbers left the prem W
There were in the house at the time on
hn and Rachel Murlett, daughter co,
d son In law who were in bed in the dr.,
I'm Immediately over the ore occupi- r.
by Mr.. Fetherolf and they being oe
akened by the noise and scuffie 'tst
lrlett got up and began ringing the po
m bell which was fastened Oh the ly
f Of the house, and the rope of which
sed down through their room to the
er story.
The ringing of the bell fastened the ha,
'arture Of the robbers and gathered cla
neishpors, and search of the "O
mlses that night disclosed, that Ser
st which contained the money and tral
liable papers of Mr.. Fetherolf' had can
n forced open, the money and ula
ch stolen and the means of forcing
n the door. NJ
search made by the neighbors and
rlett, on the next morning discover ~,
ne. footprints of the three persons Com y"
ing toward and from the premises O.,
north westerly direction across the strue
Is and terminating a; the house III The
pied by the defendants. %. low
he three accused parties lived Th
themselves in a house situated or al
1t Il miles from the residence
hlch the crime was committed. -,