Sunday, January 9, 2011

Attempted Burglary

The Marietta Times, April 10, 1890

R. J. Stephenson, of the Newport Pike, was called to Kansas on the 20th ult., by the serious illness of Mrs. Athey, his sister.  In his absence, Mrs. Cogswell, another sister, took charge of his residence.  Last Sunday morning about 2 o'clock, the occupants of the house were aroused from their slumber by the noise of breaking glass.  Miss Bertha Weaver, the domestic of the family, arose and went down stairs, and found the doors and windows open.  She then called to Mrs. Cogswell and Wm. Baun, an old gentleman, in the house.  As soon as the occupants came down stairs the burglars withdrew to the yard and commenced throwing stones and shooting through the windows, the bullets striking near the occupants; then the women became frightened, went up stairs and bolted the door of the bed-room, and secured their revolvers. 

Miss Weaver raised the window and asked the scoundrels what they wanted.  They replied "money."  Whereupon Miss Weaver told them there was no money in the house and ordered them off the premises.  This they did not heed, but continued to shoot and stone the building.  Miss Weaver then shot six times in return, but unfortunately, without effect. 

Then the burglars re-entered the house and commenced helping themselves to the edibles, eating cake and honey, and ransacking everything at their leisure; remaining in the house an hour and a half.  All this time the women were kept in their [room], supposing the burglars would try to enter at any moment; the women were armed and ready for the battle.  About 3 o'clock the burglars left without securing anything of value.  They left no trace but a Fultonburg election ticket, with some very dim writing on the back of it, but not plain enough to be deciphered.  The wretches, if caught, should be severely dealt with.

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