Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-08-29
ROBBERS IN TUSCARORA
VALLEY.


Tuscarora Valley was terrorized by
a gang of thieves last week robblng
spring and dwelling houses They be-
gan work so early as Saturday, August
Is, when they made Lick School House
about three miles from East Water
ford their head quarters for plunder
and provisions from spring houses in
the Valley. BY Mondav they had rob-
bed SO many spring houses that citizens
we're on the lookout all around. On
that day three strange, heavy set men,
made an indecent proposal to woman
in her own yard not far from the school
house. She seized a double bitted Ak
aud if they had not fed there would be
a tragedy to chronicle. She did not
wish to lose sight of rhe men and with
neighbor woman followed the thieves
till male citizens of the valley were
aroused and turned out in the hunt for
the bad men. The Williams, however,
made their escape, and the people fell
back into their o!d feeling of security.
On Tuesday night, August 81, Mr..
Charles Ramsey who lives within sight
of Waterford, was aroused from his
sleep by IL an sitting on him in bed,
while second man turned the light of
bulls eye lantern into his face.
Ramsey was surprised but did not lose
his courage, and instantly laid hold of
the rascal who was sitting on him with
the intention of throwing him eff and
getting his gun. When be turned the
thief, the second thief struck him a
furious blow on his shoulder that al
most paralyzed that arm, and then
struck hin across the head with a short
club or billy. That settled the fight.
He was not unconscious; but be was
so weakened that he could make no
further resistance. A revolver was
then pointed at him and he was asked
to hand over the money in the house.
While this was going on Mrs. Ramsey
was discovered in her bed in an ad-
joining room. and money demanded of
her by a third member of the gang.
She was told to keep quiet and make
no noise, She asked permission to 90
and lie by her husbands side in his
bed which was permitted. One OF
them said: 81 used to know you be.
fore you were married; your name was
Miss Effie kunkle. l went to school to
you, but you don't know me uow.''
He told her he had looked in the win.
dow that day while she was at work in
the kitchen. That they got into the
house through the screen in the win
dow. They Ii en- renewed the demand
for money and we're given all tho mon
eS in the house, not qpite three dollars.
They we're not satisfied, and one oi
them proposed to torture Ramsey, il
be further refused to tell where be had
the six hundred dollars that he drew
out of bank. Ramsey said, sit is no:
true, | did not have six hundred dol
lars in bank to draw OUT Then an.
other of the gang poke: 81 CUES IS there
is some mistake about this place;
this isn't the place, it is at MacEat.
on's" Ramsey asked them 70 allo.
him to get up to urinate. "No, We'll
not do that said the two standing by
the bed. "Have YOU chamber in the
house." said one. eyes," said Ram.
sey. Then the thief called to a third
party, telling him to bring the cham
Der which he did, and the robber with
the light reached around the door Jam
and got 1t from the thief in the other
room. 1t is believed there was a par
ty on gua.d on the outside for the ras-
cal who took the chamber to the win.
dow said, ''look out down there for
am going to throw water out of the
window" They ransacked the house,
emptied chest, boxes and bureau draw
ers. Ramsey's gun they threw out of
window into the yard, and closed the
robbery there by preparing and eating
meal down stairs. One of the gang
stood guard at the bedside of Mr. and
Mrs Ramsey while the others ate.
With the money above mentioned they
took Ramsey's watch and a suit Of
clothes. The alarm was given as soon
as daylight came, and soon armed men
were travelling about the valley hunt
ing the thieves At one time there
" ere Is armed men at Lick School
House, but the thieves were not there
The night of that day, Wednesday,
August 22-thev put in an appearance
about ten miles down the valley at the
home of John GiDgrich, who lives about
q half miie from the nearest neighbor.
They evidently lurked near the house
before dark for two of them got q
drink there before nightfall Their
presence caused suspicion, but with all
that, the family consisting of Mr.. Cir
grich and wife and daughter and two
grand children went to bed and slept
till the door was butted in by heavy
piece of timber, and they we're all con-
fronted by three men and lights and
pistols thrust at them. Money was de-
manded Of Glngricb. He said b, had
only about 81, and Mrs. Gingrich was
told that if she did not give them mon
ey they would roast her feet. They
got about $24 All the inmates in tt .
house were placed IN one room and
guarded by one of the thieves while
the others went through the house and
searched drawers, chests and bureaus.
They then asked the pames of neigh
bors and left about two o'clock in the
morning after having been there from
IL midnight. That same night horse
and buggy belonging to John Hertxler,
at old Port Royal was taken and dr,v-
en- to Hawn's Mills, q mile from this
town aud there abandoned.