Coventry Buglary - 1882

Desperate Encounter with Burglar

E.S. Barstow Shot Three Times

October 1882

 

Our neighboring town of Coventry [Chenango Co., NY]  was wrought up to a state of intense excitement the fore part of last week, and with sufficient cause.  On Tuesday night one of its citizens barely escaped being murdered by a burglar who had entered his house.

 

The particulars are as follows as near as can be learned:  About one o'clock Evander S. Barstow, who resides a mile and a half south of Coventryville [Chenango Co., NY] was awakened by some disturbance, and thinking his dog wanted to be let out doors, arose from his bed and taking a lamp, which was kept burning on account of a sick baby, stepped into an adjoining room.  As he did so he was confronted by a man with a revolver, who said "All I want" or "All we want--" the rest of the sentence was lost by the discharge of the weapon.  The ball struck Mr. Barstow on the back of the hand holding the lamp, making a slight wound and causing him to drop the lamp, or extinguishing it.  He then struck at the burglar and thinks he knocked him down, at any rate they had a tussle in which Mr. Barstow was evidently getting the advantage when he received another shot, the ball entering his side between the lower ribs.  This caused a separation of the parties, and as Mr. Barstow retreated the burglar fired a third time, the ball entering his shoulder making a flesh wound.

 

Mr. Barstow, followed by his wife with the baby, is their night clothes, ran to the nearest neighbor, Albert Stoddard's, and gave the alarm.  On reaching there Mr. Barstow was terrible excited, as any many would have been under like circumstances, was nearly exhausted and vomited.  He was put to bed there, where he remained up to this writing.  Physicians were summoned as soon as possible, and the wounded man received all care and attention.  Wednesday it was reported that he could not recover; but he improved, and said himself that he had no intention of dying just now, and we are glad to learn that he will not.

 

Mr. Barstow is a young man.  Under the excitement through which he went he has not been able to give a very clear account of the affair.  He thinks his would-be murderer was a young man, and as he passed out of the house also thinks that he saw another man standing outside the woodshed door. The burglar left his hat in the house, which is hoped will yet afford some clue that will lead to his capture.  Mr. Barstow had sold a couple of horses a few days previous, and had $222 in the house, which fact many suppose was known to the burglar or burglars.

 

The hat left behind by the burglar was a soft one, of small size and nearly new, the lining being scarcely soiled.  It contained the seller's cost mark, and Deputy Sheriff June, of this village, who visited Coventry the next morning after the attempted burglary and murder, and has spent several days on the case, has been trying to find the store from which the hat was purchased, in hopes of identifying the wearer.  Binghamton and several adjoining towns have been canvassed thus far without success and this slight clue may have to be abandoned.

 

Follow up - Oct. 21, 1882

 

Evander Barstow, of Coventry, who was shot by a burglar who entered his house several weeks ago, does not improve as readily as was hoped for, and last week it was reported that there was no chance for his recovery, there being symptoms of blood poisoning.  Saturday we heard from him direct and he was pronounced somewhat better.  Only one of the three bullets has been extracted from his body, that in the shoulder, reports to the contrary notwithstanding.  There is considerable mystery about the affair, and those best acquainted with all the circumstances do not believe that a tramping burglar did the job, but that it was done by some one who knew that Mr. Barstow had a sum of money in the house that night. 



Follow up - Oct. 24, 1882

 

Evander Barstow, who was shot by a burglar on the 17th last, is at this writing (Oct. 21) improving and is likely to recover. The ball lodged in shoulder was extracted, and was found to be of small size or 22 caliber.  The one in the side and which is supposed to be lodged in the abdomen has not been interfered with.

 

Follow up - Oct. 31, 1882

 

E.S. Barstow was removed from A. Stoddard's to his home last week, he having been there from the time he was shot by the burglar.  All of the bullets have been extracted, the last one and the one that was at first thought to have made a fatal wound, lay between the ribs, and had not entered the body as far as supposed.  There is no apprehension but what Mr. Barstow will soon be up and around.

 

The thieves are still at work. Report comes from West Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] that Henry Nichols had a grist of flour stolen from his barn one night last week, also that S. Gilmour lost a coon skin robe and wagon cushions, and Edward Loomis a harness. 

 

Burglary in Preston [Chenango Co., NY]:  The house of the venerable Benjamin Franklin, in Preston, was burglariously entered Saturday night, Oct. 28th, and $260 in bills, which was in the pocket of Mrs. Franklin's dress lying upon the bed, taken.  The Telegraph says the thieves ransacked drawers for valuables, and finally went to the dress pocket.  In their departure from the window they made noise enough to awaken the sleepers, who saw the robbers running away.  Mr. F. is quite aged, being about eighty, and has twice before been victimized by robbers.  Once about 12 years ago when he had his pocket picked by a stranger, who was residing with him, and second time about five years ago, when his house was entered and $75 taken.

 

The Binghamton Republican tells this:  Owing to the recent and numerous burglaries in Chenango county, residents in that section are particularly wary of lurking robbers at night.  One evening recently, Mr. M--- started to drive from Oxford to Norwich [Chenango Co., NY] a distance of eight miles.  He feared highwaymen and put a revolver in his pocket. As he neared the Halfway House, where the road is narrow and fringed with trees on either side, he heard a blood-curdling yell a short distance ahead of him, which made him draw his pistol like a flash and pull the hammer to a full cock.  Blocking the road in front of him, he discovered by the brightly shining moon, three men in hostile attitude, one of whom rushed toward his horse.  Mr. M--- did not hesitate, but discharged his revolver at the highwayman, who fell, but providentially, not by the bullet, for he was no highwayman, but was gloriously drunk.