The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-12-03

and two other men were called in to as
sist with the desperate crime-Charles
Brown and Charles Miller the latter still
being at large
Washington Hunter, an aged and re-
spected citizen of the village of Cam
bridge, suburb of Riverside, lived in
quiet contentment on farm of fifty acres
with his wife and Joseph Rubech, who
had worked for him for many years, as
his sole companions.
On the night of January % last Hunter
had been complaining of severe pains in
his back and told his wife to go to bed as
he would lie down for while in the
kitchen on a couch. Hunter had fallen
asleep, from which he was awakened by
the sound of someone at the door. Think
ing by the apparent scratching that it was
one of his dogs, Hunter arose and opened
the door, AS he drew back the bolt two
men sprang forward and tried to throttle
him, but the old man, as If possessed
with superhuman strength, threw off his
assailants, and grabbing one OF the men
by the shoulders, shook him as cat
would a rat, The other man grabbed
Hunter by the throat while the second
man held him by the arms. Startled by
the attack the defenceless farmer retreat
ed, but quickly recovering his self pos
session he forced one of his assaiants to
release his hold on his throat, and at the
same time pushed the other burglar back
with a blow on the jaw.
Despite the aged farmers courage and
strength the struggle was an unequal one.
The ruffians were thoroughly aroused
and determined to overcome all obstacles
at whatever cost. One Of the men was
armed with long chisel which he used
on the old man to break his death like
grip cutting many severe gashes on his
arms and wrists Weakened as he was
from the loss of blood Hunters clutch
lessened, and selling a nearby coal shovel
Brown struck him terrific blow on the
head His assailants then fled to the yard
Awakened by the noise and cries of the
wounded man, Mrs. Hunter flew to the
rescue, only to meet her husband in
semi conscious condition, covered with
blood from head to foot, his hands hang
ing helpless by his side
''Merciful heavensl" she exclaimed.
"What has happened ?"
'"They've murdered me, " he replied.
"Get into your room, quickP
Supporting each other they returned to
the wife's bed room, closing the door af-
ter them and locking it. Hunter fell on
the floor completely exhausted, and his
wife was almost Frustrated by the terrible
shock
Determined to get sum of money sup
posed to be secreted in the house the rob-
bers returned again, but they knew not
what had been taking place in that quiet
bed chamber, and this time they were met
by a different surprise. Mrs. Hunter
leaned against her husband and support
ed him as he sat on the floor with the
blood gushing from his wounds, and
placing revolver in his hand held up his
useless arm.
Cant you use it ?" he asked his wife.
"I'm all cut up. l can't hold it. :"
"You must, ;" she cried, 81 never shot
one off in my life"
"In try" came the reply, eff you'll
help me-"
Realizing that she must make the effort
of her life Mrs. Hunter summoned all her
strength to aid her husband and when the
door was finally broken by the ruffians,
one of whom had butcher knife in his
hand, Hunter fired two shots, one ball of
which was found later in the wood work
of an adjoining room, the other taking
effect in the body of Charles Brown.
Joseph Rubech, the hired man, who
was sleeping up stairs at the time, hear
ing the noise hurried down stairs, and
| finding the dining-roOm covered with
blood, FASTENED off for aid Stopping at
several of the neighbors he told them that
''old man Hunter has been murdered; go
over atonce." He continued his journey
into Riverside, at which place he aroused
Constable John Hans and told him OF the
murder Together they awakened DR..
Alexander II. Small, aud all three went
to the Hunter homestead. Hunter had
by this time fallen into Inconsistencies.
He was finally aroused by DIR. Small, who
dressed his wounds and listened to his
statement during which he said: Il must
have pinched them very hard. If they
had not been small men | could not have
done as well as | did. One of them was
a mere boy and both were white"
Hunter fingered along, lowering be
tween life and death, finally dying OF
January 81.
No clue was left behind to lead to the
arrest of the men with the single excep
ton of No. black derby hat with the
initials sc. A. S." on the sweat band.
Prosecutor Atkinson at once arranged
to locate the men Detective Ellis IL
Parker was put to work Immediately up
on the case to assist in running down thu
murderers, and in this work Thomas b
Denness took part. Several days late
two tramps were seen il Riverside. They
had happened to be there the day previous
to the murder and were arrested as sus
poets. The names were John keogl
and Frank McClay. The men had no diff
Guilty, however, in proving an alibi an'
were discharged.
Following this came the startling arres
in Philadel phia of Robert L. Jenkins
previously employed by the Misses Hun
ter, nieces of the murdered man. Jen
kins had applied for admission to tn
Pennsylvania Hospital with bulle
wound in his leg two days after the as
sault Jenkins left Riverside the day at
ter the crime He. knew Hunter to b
wealthy, having seen him cash larg