The times., 1897-05-27
ROBBERS STILL At LARGE
No Definite Clew 10 Old Man
England's TorturerS.
TWO STRANGERS SUSPECTED
Rockville People Excited Over a
Brutal Outrage on an Aged Cit;-
zen Supposed To Be Wealthy
Houne, Gagged, L Q t. n, aUd Burned
With Kerosene.

Rockville, Nd, May 26-Thomas II.
England, the old man who was found
gagged aud cruelty tortured 10y robbers
here last night in an effort TO secure
from him the secret OF his hidden wealth.
His face is swollen to twice its usual
size from the flows which he received,
while the skin has entirely peeled off
his feet. arms and neck where the keIo-
sene was poured upon him and ignited
Further than this, there is grave danger
of congestion of the lungs, resulting from
the all-niglt exposure, in which event. the
physicians express the fear that Mr Eng
land would not recover.
Two strangers, Harry Nicholson and
Charles Richards, were arrested today,
charged with the crime. but Mr.. England
upon being called upon to identify them
failed utterly to do so.
Suspicion now centers about two we'll
dressed strangers, who came into Kelch-
ner's Hotel about 8 O'Clock yesterday morn
which could have brought them in at that
hour in the morning, and further sus-
picious circumstance is that. SO far as
could be learned, they had no business
which called them to Rockville. At o
O'Clock they, with two other strangers.
were seen to board the Point of Rocks
train.
They acted throughout very suspiciously,
and it is thought by many that they came
back at a later hour and did the loh
The two men registered at the hotel as
c. F. Waters and C. ID. Jones. of Columbus,
Ohio They are described as of medium
height, thick set and of dark complexion.
The first named had dark moustache, ana
his description tallies point for point with
that given by Mr.. England OF the man
swho engaged him in conversation. The
authorities are endeavoring to trace them.
Mr. England, the victim OF the robbers.
is known as an eccentric character In Rock
vile. Up to a year or two ago he lived
the life OF recluse on his isolated farm
about 200 yards from the station, and
slept in an Clubhouse with his chickens.
When his brother died, however, his two
maiden sisters came to live with him and
be moved TO the farm cottage Though
supposed to be very wealthy he lived
meanly, commonly going about minus both
shirt md collar, with his coat buttoned
ell the way up. He is tall and spare, and
although sixty years old has not single
gray hair. He was formerly a resident OF
Washington, having been appointed a clerk
in the postoffice under President Grant,
and was also engaged in the notebrcking
business there after his resignation from
office. He is a brother of John G Eng
land, one Of the most prominent citizens
of Rockville and formerly its mayor.
His version of the robbery is that last
night about 8 O'Clock, as he was going
TO one OF the outhouses, he was approached
by a seemingly respectable man, who en-
gagged him in conversation. While they
were talking several others who were evil
IDENTIFY lying in wait for him, came up
from behind, and one struck him with
club, While another pulled q cloth over
lis head. He was then bound and gagged
While this was going on he struggled and
shouted, but each time he essayed TO re-
sist he was again dubbed over the head.
The leader then said to him:
"Old fellow, we understand you have
$4,000 in your possession. If you will
tell us where it is We viii only take one
half tS5 ,o00) and leave you the other half
II you don't tell US where it is, We will
turn You alive"
The gag being removed he protested that
he had no money, whereupon the men tore
off the upper part Of his clothing, stneared
his skin with kerosene, which they had
brought with them, and set fire to it.
Finally, seeing that the old man either
could not or would not reveal the hiG.ng
place of his treasure, the robbers first took
So from Engiand's pockets and then tossed
him under q bed in the Clubhouse.
They then dug up the floor of the place
completely, but being unsuccessful III find
fng the supposed treasure, contented them
selves with taking a quantity OF butter and
eggs which they found and decamping.
Mr. England was rendered unconscious
by the terrible treatment he received, but
when he recovered his senses he showed
wonderful pluck All sore, as he was. and
hound and gagged, he crawled from under
the bed managed in some manner to pry
open the dooor, threw himself down four
steps and rolled over 100 feet in high
grass before he became unconscious. Here
he remained semi mi-nude on the damp groand
until early this morning, when he was
found by lis sister
A posse was organized by Deputy Sheriff
Peyton, who are securing the neighbor
ing country, while kilograms have been
sent to the police in all the nearby cities.
Whoever the perpetrators are, they have
covered up their tracks very well
From the fact that they knew of Mr..
England's rumored wealth and were evil
IDENTIFY acquainted with his habits, the
authorities feel certain that one at least
of the robbers is a Rockville man. Mr..
England describes the men as all OF them
white and comparatively well dressed. He
thinks he could recognize them by their
voices.