Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1872 — The Titusville Robbery. [ARTICLE]

The Titusville Robbery.

A TiTUBviLLB (Pa.) paper gives the following particulars ot the recent audacipug robbery in that place : Titusville is in a great excitement today over a daring robbery which was perpetrated here last night. While the family of John Watson, residing on the hill opposite the old Hmkly refinery, were at supper, a party of men, numbering five, entered the house, and approaching Mr. Watson with pistols in hand and masks on their faces, demanded his money. They cautioned tho family not to make the least noise, telling them that it was their money they wanted, and that alimußtrobmTtrtobfrbottndaßd gagged, and that if they made the least resistance they would call In the balance of the gang, who were guarding the entrance outside. They proceeded to handcuff the family, applying leg-irons to the men— John Watscn and Archibald Stewart—the latter the son-in-law of the former, at the same time gagging them, and then tying the entire family together. They next ordered Watson to open his safe. The latter replied, “My money is all in Warren, deposited with my brother.” They replied, “We know whom you refer to, but your money is in the house, and we must have it. thereupon, with the muzzle of a huge revolver placed against his ear, opened the safe and something like $2,000, were abstracted. After ihe safe had been robbed the family were tied in a long row and compelled to follow the thieves down into the cellar, then up through every room in the house, and at the peril of their lives information as to where valuables were kept was demanded and given. After a thorough search tho family were conducted back to the diningroom. Mrs. Watson, Susan Stewart and Archibald Stewart were placed on a lounge, blindfolded, ironed and gagged and tied to the stove in such a manner that if they moved the stove would tip over upon them. The fiends then left the house, having remained about an hour and a half, while the balance—nine in all—were standing watch on the outside. In the hurry to depart the lighted lamp was upset and tho house set on fire. The robbers then returned, and, taking clothes from the wardrobes, threw them on the burning portion of the dwelling,and with the utmost difficulty succeeded in extinguishing the flames. Mr. Watson was severely burned, but the robbers made no endeavor to pull him from the flames. Jaqxes Stewart, a member of the lamiiy, arrived home after midnight and found the family in a sorry plight. The irons on Watson cut him to the bone, and he was bleeding profusely. Those orrateother members of the family were painful, and w ere taken off only by severing them with a file. The thieves had handcufls for every member of the house and their pockets filled with handkerchiefs. They had also a plentiful supply of leg irons. The police were notified, and at three o’clock this morning all the hotels in the place were searched and the town scoured, but no arrests have so far been made. The villians have so effectually done their work as to give no clue to their whereabouts. The greatest excitement exists in the oil regions over this devilish outrage. It is very evident that the party were aware that Watson had money in his house, as he had neglected to deposit a sum, the exact amount of which he does not know. None of the family were severely injured except Mr. Watson, whose feet and hands were dreadfully burned by the upsetting of a lamp. ,