The age-herald., 1898-12-20
"HOME PROTECTOR"
 DID ITS WORK Two Burglars Killed by One Shot
 gun. LAST DIED YESTERDAY Nelson Wright, a Negro HhO Claimed
 to Have Been a Soldier. PENNY'S DEADLY C0NTRIvANCE Placed Weapon Where It Would be Discharged When Front Door Was Opened-Has Already Ragged Two Burglars. 
PENNY's DEADLY CONVENIENCE

"A mans home is his castle" and his right to protect 1t against intrusion at any odds is a recognized principle of law and Of society. The success with which William Peuny, an honest, hard-working man of Dolcmite has put the principle into prac- tice has been clearly demonstrated.
 The last victim of Pennys nome protec- tor'' died yesterday morning at the coun- ty jail from the effects of load of buck shot as the result of his unlawful inclina- tion.
 Penny and his brother work at the mines, some distance from their home, where bachelor quarters are kept. Their work necessitates their being away from home in the day time, and consequently the house is left alone. About twelve months ago the house was robbed several times during their absence, entailing considera- ble loss of property, which fell rather heavily upon them, and set them to work to find some means to foil burglars.
 It was decided to fix a trap gun on the inside of the house, and a very ingenious though rudely constructed, arrangement was the result A doubled-barreled shot gun constituted the principal part of the "protector." It was fastened to frame built for the purpose and pointed toward the door at the height of about two feet from the floor, so as to strike person in the fieshy part of the leg just above the knee.
 To Wound and Not Kill
 This was done with the intention of mere ly wounding an intruder without producing death. The gun was then loaded with heavy charge of buckshot, cooked and prmed and was ready for action. stout twine string was then tied to the trigger and through a series of pulleys was carried to the front door and tied to the knob. It was so arranged that when the door was opened the string would be pulled firing the deadly load into the opening where the bur glar would necessarily be standing.
 A short time after the gun had been placed in position a burglar attempted to enter the house and the gun was dis charged, the load taking effect in the door facing the aim having been bad. On re- turning home the young men learned what had happened and shifted the position of the barrel to true center.
 It was not long until another burglar happened along and he, too, attempted an entrance. The thieving negro cautiously crept up on the porch and forced the lock. When he pushed the door open there was a loud explosion and the negro fell mortally wounded. His groans attracted the atten- tion of passers by and he was removed to the county jail in this city where he died a few days later.
 The fate of the negro served as a warning to the burglar fraternity and for some time the Penny home was given wide berth"
 The Second Victim
 On Sunday morning last at about g O clock while the Penny boys were absent from home, Nelson Wright negro who evident ly was stranger in those parts and had not been warned of the danger lurking be- hind the door of the humble cottage, chanced along and finding the place de- serted, attempted an entrance. He suc- ceeded in breaking the lock to the door and was in the act of stepping into the room when the gun was fired and he, too, fell to the floor mortally wounded.
 The loud report of the weapon attracted farmer near by, who, finding the negro in a precarious condition, brought him to the city in his wagon, whence he was taken to the county jail.
 It was some hours before a physician could be gotten, but finally Dr. Hawkins, assistant county physician, was found and together with Dr. Talley examined the wounds. The negro was ordered taken to the Sisters of Charity hospital, and the Warner-Smley company's ambulance was summoned When the ambulance arrived at the hospital it was found that no ac- commodation for colored patients had yet been made, and the wounded negro was taken back to the jail, where he died at o'clock yesterday morning.
 Wounded by Q Spaniard
 Before he died the negro gave his name as Nelson Wright, but refused to make any statement about himself except that he was a member of Company G, and was wounded by a Spaniard in the late war, exhibiting a scar on his forehead in SUD- port of his statement He did not know the number of his alleged regiment The body was removed to the undertaking rooms of the Warner-Smiley company and will probably be inferred in the Potter's field.
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