Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1857-01-08
Cave of the Forty Thieves

| On Thursday evening. between eight and nine
as officers Johnston. of the Fifth Ward and W. ID
Wray, of the Fourth Ward, were passing the United
States Hotel on Penn ST., they heard peculia
noise in the vicinity of the wing of that building
which has been uneccupied for some years, adjoin
ingthe lager beer saloon of A. Feldman. Suspectins
They entered the building, and passing through te
the rear, discovered smoke issuing from stove pipe
| and some boys emerging from what appeared to bt
an underground passage. Officer Johnston came to
an opening in the floor, and jumped it to what
he supposed in the dark. to be wall Z; but he wis
mistaken slightly and fell distance Of ten feet. on
"the broad of his buck, into u cell basement
fortunately without injury. other than being stun
ned from the force OF the fall After recovering he
cambered out of the recess, and approaching the
place from whence he had seen the lads coming out,
stepped upon trap door, and on attentively exam
lining it, found his surmiSes to be correct.
| He placed his foot upon the door, thinking that
he had discovered den of thieves but hearing no
sound he raised the trap door, to which was attached
| a rope, by which the boys had lowered themselves
into the cave. The entrance quite small,
about twelve by eighteen inches, scarcely large enough
| to admit mans body, Johnston having torn u
large rent into his pantaloons while entering the
cavern, which he found quite a comfortable hiding
place 1t was about ten feet deep, with an arciet
roof of pankS covered with earth, and brick wall
| around it, having the appearance of an old well
partly filled up twelve foot ladder WAS found
standing near the hole which had been used fof
cendng and the rope attached to the door answered
the purpose of descending, altogether very nicely
planned The arrangements inside were quite snug
benches placed at the side table in the center
on which were found two candles and u pack Of
| cards a stove, box and a hatchet, the whole APP
pearancs Of the place indicating that it had not
been resort for honest boys and perhaps a recep-
ia lie for stolen goods
| While officer Johnston exploring the cave,
| Wray ran around the square for th> purpose oi
heading the boys, enc of whom he captured, and
three others rushed past him plunged into the ca
nal to the rear of Barkers saloon, and the other
towards Fow!ers tavern, Penn street, all of them
Masking good their escape The night being rather
cold, We doubt not they enjoyed their bath hugely
| Alter the excitement incident upon the occasion
had subsidized, the boy arrested by Wray was taken
te Alderman Wilson'S ufhSe, but after questioning
him about the mysteries Of the he let off
there being nothing to warrent his detention. I'll,
stated to tina of6eers that about two weeks sincs
there was rs,w in the 'School, and that on tn.
night in question they We're " organizing lie ais,
said that some of the 'schOllrS' to be eN,
PEELED and the nosSe which attracted the attention
Of the o:SSerS WAS uceaSonrd by an animated dis,
cuSsivN on the subject
oa Friday the police removed the furniture and de-
Molshel the secret recess, How long this school
has been in session is not Known, hut that it has
been resort for had and vicious boys, is beyond
doubt and the oteers deserve credit for the promp,
manner in which they have suspended their ope,