Year: 1878

what Came OF q surprise Pd1ty


Tho New York Times TINS refers 20 q
recent occurrence at Rhiuebeck on the
Hudson:


How it happened that one day last
week number of native REinebeckians
determined to subject an estimab!e fel-
low townsman to the outrage of sur
prise party. it is hopeless to inquire. It
was one of those sporadic cases Of crime
which battle the theories of students OF
social science. No less than thirteen
persons were concerned in it, aud they
banded themselves together under the
leadership of man who had hitherto
borne a good reputation. The affair
was managed with much secrecy. and
but for the timely awakening of the con-
science of one OF the conspirators, might
have proved disastrously successful .


chis conspirator was youth who.
though easily led astray. was not with
ont noble impulses. The night before
the date fixed upon for the commission
of crime, he was passing near house
in which female voice was singing.
The Sweet by and By" He remember
ed that in his earlier and innocent days
his great au:.t aud his aunt on his step
fathers side was accustomed to sing
that song. The recollection melted his
heart, and sudden horror of his pre-
meditated crime fell upon him. He
FASTENED to the house of tie intended
victim, and with streaming eyes and
broken tones confessed his wicked de.
signs and solemnly pledged himself TO
lead henceforth better life. The es'i-
mnble though stern citizen forgave him,
thanked him for his warning, and told
him to tell no man he had betrayed his
sinful secret. This shows how much
that simple song may do, provided it
awakens in some young man desire
other than that of killing the singer on
the spot.


The unrepentart conspirators prepar-
ed themselves with the usual quantity
of cake and refreshments of nature
certain to grease the victim S furniture.
and at about s O'Clock on the appointed
evening set forth in silent procession
for the scene of their intended outrage.
No one who saw them suspected their
design, and even the local constable
who met them on the street ever dreams
ed that they were about to stain the fair
fame of Rhinebrook with deed adap-
ted to make even strong men turn pale
with horror. Presently they reached
the victims front gate; and they had
just entered the yard and closed the
gate behind them, when from behind a
syringea bush the proposed victim
stepped forth and confronted them.


His appearance but remotely resem>
bled that Of person disposed to quietly
submit to an outrage. He held der'lie-
lharraled gGnJn one hand and chain
in the other, which was attached to the
collars of two large bull dogs. The ham
DIES of revolver and abowie>knife pros
truded from each of his pockets, the
nozz!e>of Lose-pipe lay by his side,
and his general aspect was stern and
relentless. The invaders, suddenly con-
vinced that their hellish purpose had
been thwarted. turned to fly. but the
gate closed with a spring latch, and a
young lady who tried to climb owe:
and stuck on the plckets, so comrlica-
ted matters that it could not be opened
While the miscreants were thus thrown
into wild panic, the owner of the
premises with unexpected hberality,
gave them their choice whether he
should open tie entertainment with the
shotgun or the dogs, or whether they
would prefer to be played upon with
the hose. without any preliminary what
ever. With one accord they chose the
hose, and the estimable citizen thereup-
on drenched them without remarkable
impartiali,y until he fairly washed them
out Of the yard; after which he FASTENED
their flight up the street by firing q
salute wi, h both barrels and stimulating
the dogs to bark at the top of their
lungs.


There is feeling in Rhinebeck tha
The estimable citizen was not surprised
to any great extent, and it is believed
that the carnival of crime which wonid
probably have begun had the surprise
party been successful has been indef-
nitely postponed. A subscription for
the purpose of presenting piece Of
plate to the estiMable citizen will soon
be started in the villages bordering on
the Hudson, and it is to be hoped that
every honest and peaceable citizen will
avail himself of the opportunity to show
his gratitude for the noble defender OF
hu;Aan rights.


A PAYING JoB.-No man who has
a homo of his own need eyor bo