Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-12-28
IN DEFENSE OF HOME.
Young Crosby Killed Officer Nye
in Vain Hope of Saving His
MOrther'S Fortune.

Chicago, ILL.,, Dec 23.-"I shot that
man with the star because he wanted to
put mother and poor grandma, 80 years
old, and me and Bog, my dog, and my
other good dogs out of the house. | felt
that had right to aim the gun at him
and fire. He and two others Were smash
ing down the boards nailed UP against
the window and [ pointed the pistol
through the crack right at him. I know
what murder is all right, but this wasn't
murder. / wanted to save the house for
us ALL" That was the statement made
by Thomas G. Crosby, the 13-yearold
boy who yesterday shot Deputy Sheriff
Nye while he was trying to enter his
mothers house to serve a writ.
The tragedy was the result of the fore
closure Of mortgage on the Crosby
homestead. Mrs. Crosby is the widow of
Thomas G.. Crosby, who died in 1892 and
was a well-known insurance man. When
Mr.. Crosby died he left large interests,
which she had endeavored to hoard and
augment, and her efforts to this end had
engendered in her mind a desire to be-
come Hetty Green, both in wealth and
RIGHTEOUSNESS. The collapse of the strug-
gle came when her fOster-son fired the
shot at Nye.
The deputy sheriff, with a force of five
men, went to the house between and
10 O'Clock a. m. to serve Il writ of as
sistance-the final act of a foreclosure
in which the court commands the holder
to give possession. 1t is as ineXOra bic as
death, for it is the finish. He found the
gates nailed. A big paddock reinforced
the warning that all corners should re-
main without. Breaking his way through
OF ba,
went to door and knocked. At first
nobody came. Then he went to another
door and again raped. This time Mrs.
Crosby came and stood inside Of the plate
glass. He showed her the writ and tried
to read it to her. She resolutely refused
to give him admittance.
lie returned to the west side of the
house, and told his men to get a crow
bar. They then returned TO Il window
opening on the porch and began to pry
away few pine boards, which had TAX
on the place of glass. AS the second
board began to move under the crowbar
the Crosby boy appeared inside, showed a
small revolver through the opening and
called cut:
stop, or | Will shoot
Nye and his men paid no attention to
the boy, as they had no idea he meant
what he said. The crowbar continued to
enlarge the entrance, when the boy again
shrieked
Go away, or l will shoot"
Nye put his hand to his hip pocket. at
the same time calling to his men:
Get in. Get in
Slain as Charge is Made.
AS he gave his command for the charge
through the window the boy fired
I've got it, Nye exclaimed as he
threw up his arm, and staggered back
ward.
William McCOmb. the custodian. seized
him and dragged him out of range of the
window for fear the boy would continue
shooting. The other members of the par
ty ran for medical assistance, while Nc
Comb pilowed the head of the dying man
on his overcOat at the corner of the porch
and tried to keep the rapidly falling snow
from covering him. The victim was past
help and did not regain consciousness
The boy ran to the Lake View pumping
works. two blocks away, and called the
police by telephone. He then returned to
the house and hid in the cellar When
the police arrived Mrs. Crosby at first
refused to admit them. As soon as she
opened the door she was arrested, and the
boy was found after Il long search.
Firing Under Orders.
Custodian Behrend declares he saw
Thomas Crosby aiming the pistol. but in
SiSts that the woman uttered the last
threat and stood close to the child to give
the signal to fire should the attack be
repeated.
Mrs. Crosby's attorneys deny that they
advised resistance to the serving of the
writ.