The Portland daily press., 1897-07-23
AGED MAN MURDERED.
Bloodtbirsty Act Of Burglars in Con.
resticut Town.
MARCUS NICHOLS AND SISTER
SHUT DOWN IN COLD BLOOD.

Old Man Died Immediately and Won an
Condition is Precarious-M urderers Sc
cured About 5000 in Cash-Stock and
Bond Certificates strewn Over House.
Bridgeport, Conn, July 22.-Marcus G..
Nichols, an aged and wealthy farmer re-
siding in Daniels farm in the town of
Trumbull, was foully murdered by two
masked burglars at his residence early
this morning. His sister, Mary, who
lived with him, was seriously, perhaps
fatally shot, and the murderers and
thieves abandoned the scene after ram
sacking the house and securing money
thought to be about $500 in amount.
The scene of the double crime. is a tiny
settlement situated in the town of Trum-
bull, on the Monroe turnpike, and about
nine miles north of this city. In lonely
house dwelt Marcus G. Nichols who was
GA years of age and his maiden sister,
Mary Nichols aged IS years. The old
man had always borne the reputation of
being wealthy and was reputed to have
concealed about the premises considerable
AlOu6y UtSItl6 StOCho ctlleL DOAOos 1lO WAS
thought to be worth 100000.
The brother and sister slept in roous
on the second floor of their house. Their
nearest neighbors live 500 feet distant. At
about O'Clock this morning Mr.. Nichols
was awakened by suspicious noise Miss
Nichols was also started and the two rose
and lighting lamps proceeded to the lower
floor and waited. All of sudden the
side door was burst open and two masked
men entered the room. AS soon as they
discovered the presence of Mr.. Nichols
and his sister they whipped out re-
volyers and one of the men fired at
Nichols, the other at his sister. The aged
man fell forward with bullet in his
breast, just over the heart His sister
sank to the floor with ball in her side.
One of the burglars stepped forward ac-
cording to Miss Nichols Who had not lost
consciousness and lifting the unconscious
body of her brother to chair placed in
his mouth some liquor in which he placed
some sort OF powder. few seconds later
the old man slipped off his chair. fell to
his knees, dropped forward and died.
The burglars then removed Miss Nichols
to the kitchen and began to search the
to the best plan of action. Wounded
though she was she decided to undertake
to reach the neighbors and had started for
the door, when one of the men heard her
He summoned his companion and cover
ing the woman with their revolvers the
spokesman announced their intention of
killing her If she attempted to leave the
house. They also demanded that she dis
close the wereabouts of her money and
that of her brother She fold them of the
hiding place of her funds and also dis
closed the spot where some of her
brothers money would be found. The
burglars continued the search and sue
ceeded in finding about 5000 in cash.
They left strewn all over the house GER
tifcates of stock, bonds, and other papers
valued at about SIS, 900.
Some time after they left Miss Nichols
gave the alarm. DIR. Hill of Trumbull
was called and found the woman to be
seriously wounded, The injury however,
will not necessarily prove fatal. There is
absolutely no clue to the burglars further
than an inadequate description such as
Miss Nichols can furnish.