The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-11-11
Robbery OF tho Patent ONCE.

AS the late robbery of the Patent Office will excite
much interest throughout the country, we have taken
pains to ascertain the particulars, so far they be
known.
The Patent Office seems to have been entered at the
door opening the porch in 'front.' by applying pair OF
nppers the key within the door, and turning it. The
robbers for probably there were more than one then
proceeded up to the gallery, which opened by
OF skeleton key. The door then locked and the
knob further fastened inside by piece of wne They
next doubtless prepared the of egress by boring
into the side of the window and letting down rope
beneath the porch, near the corner. The tools for
breaking into the obtained from the small
room at the end of the great hail. which was opened by
of the skeleton key which had been used for
the gallery door So far be judged, they TO
have locked themselves in this small room to make their
door, and board found placed against the window
evidently designed to shade the lantern The method Of
obtaining the articles of which they were in quest was
ingeniousy planned These Were contained within a
double case the being of very thick glass; and
at the distance OF inches from the other Of course
was necessary break both of these through and this
must be done without allowing anyof the glass to drop
the floor and in way prevent the noise of the crack be
ing heard To effect this they took paper and pasted
the outer glass; that when broken hung together and
not the smallest piece fell to the floor The glass was
taken out most carefully and laid chair, and then
the same process repeated with the inner case The
instrument for breaking the glass probably the end
file, or something similar No diamond seems to have
been used the glass appears to have been broken
cut They had brought with them bottle of gum but as
they found the paste pot and brush FUSED for FASTING labels
&c ready their hands, they appear to have adopted
as the most convenient. The being broken open
they inserted their hands and secured the articles far
as within their reach The gold box string of pearls,
and scabbard which had been formerly stolen, were fast
ened each to bell and, probably alarmed by the noise
of this they the string of pearls, and two of them
dropped off, which found the next morning in the
room Having secured whatever they could in hurried
manner they decamped, making their exit through the
window letting themselves down upon the front porch BY
means of the knoed rope, and leaving besides the key
already mentioned and the implements used bludgeon
about one foot long, loaded both ends and covered
with leather.
1t is impossible to say at what time of night the rob-
berry took place but from the fact that gentleman
passing BY about o'clock observed light through the
windows under the porch, it is presumed this the
time The two watchmen probably in the base
ment at the time the entry was made; and as it a
bright moonlight night the robbers considerable risk
of discovery, especially in case the bottle of altar of
roses had been broken, next TO impossible that i,
should not have betrayed them The thieves must have
carefully examined the previously and laid their
plan with great ingenuity, it must be confessed they
certainly executed it with unusual skill.