Evening journal., 1897-04-14
BRUTALITY OF ROBBERS
An Old Man Subjected to Tor
ture by a Heartless Gang.
THREATS TO BURN HIM TO DEATH

He Was Bound and Gagged and Forced
to Give Up His Money to Save Ills Life.
The Robbers Expected to Get $4,000,
but Only Secured $3.50.
Waltham, Mass, April 14.-One of the
most sensational robberies ever known
in this vicinity occurred last night at
lonely farmhouse on the outskirts Of
the town. Charles Henry Teele, who
occupied the housel alone, was the vic
tim, and at the n1int of pistol and
with a more terrible death by burning
staring him in the face, he gave up $500
to the robbers, and they made their
escape. leaving him bound hand and
foot to a bed. Mr.. Teele, who is So
years old, is somewhat OF a recluse. liv-
iAg In large house nearly to the Lin
coin line. He is farmer and had been
busy in carting hay. large amount Of
which he had in his barn. About dusk
he came home and after loading the
wagon once more in anticipation of a
trip early in the morning, he started
for the house. No sooner. however.
had he stepped inside the door than
he was met by two men, both well
masked and armed with revolvers, who
demanded his money under pain Of
instant death. Teele with considerable
bravery refused the stern request, not
withstanding the fact that the men
appeared to be terribly in earnest.
Bound and Gagged.
His stand against the robbers some
what Disconnected them for few min
utes, but after a hurried whispered
conversation Teele was seized and
dragged into a bedroom, where he was
thrown in the bed and securely bound
with heavy rope. The men then pre-
pared a gag of cloth. which they satu-
rated with kerosene and stuffed into
the unfortunate mans mouth, while all
over the bedroom floor and furniture
they poured all the kerosene they could
find in the. lamps and cans about the
house. When this was done, the men,
standing directly over the bed, told
Teele that they were well acquainted
with his habits, having watched him
for some time. They were positive that
he had received 81 600 from the city of
Cambridge for land damages in the
taking of part of his estate for a water
reservoir. Furthermore they were
members of a New York gang and
would stand no fooling. and that if he
did not disclose the whereabouts Of the
money they would set the room on fire
and leave him.
The Old Man weakened.
This was too much for the brave old
man, and he nodded an assent TO the
demands Of the robbers He told them
after they had removed the gag that
the $4,000 was all in the bank. but that
he did have 5000 with him and that $50
more was in the hay in the barn. The
men seemed satisfied with this explana-
tion. and one of them went TO the barn
and returned with the $50 The men
then, taking the 5000, left the unfor-
tunate man still bound to his bed. Aft
er hard work he managed TO work him
self free, and after recovering walked
half a mile to a camp of Italians, anc
through them the police were notified
The officers, in searching the house
found everything in confusion, witt
kerosene all over the bedroom, and
clothing scattered about the house.
Mr. Teele describes one Of the men as
being about feet 9 inches in height
Weighing about 160 pounds, and the
other somewhat smaller.