Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-06-29
How We trapped the Burglars.

Row we Trapped the Burglars.
We lived in a terrace at the time in
which my ta'e IL laid, in whai VT may
term e snb5istrict Of London, for we
were within Eve miles of Charing Cross,
and the dark month Of December was
upon ns Robberies had been frequent
in our neighborhood, and no less
than three houses out Of ten in the ter
rare had been entered by burglars ard
robbed, and yet no discovery Of the
thieves had taken place So ably, also,
had the work Of entry been aecompis
ed, that 10. no case bad the inmates been
alarmed; and It was not until the ser
wants .dscendad in the morning that the
discovery Of robbery was made.
Ia t=o ont Of three cases. an entrance
had been effected through @ pantry win
dow. by removing pane Of glass, AID
cutting @ small hole in the shutter The
winiow was on the ground floor, and
could easily be reached, therefore, from
outside. In the third robbery an upper
window was entered by means of a
knife which forced back the fastening,
and Of course allowed the sash 10 be
raised. ntM
80 rapidly had these robberies oe-a
Cured, that the whole neighborhood was
alarmed. The police shock their heads,
and looked knowing, boa did nothing !;
and what was much 10 be lamented fail.
ed 10 End any elue to the robbers, who
they at the same time asserted, were
evidently not regular cFacksmen.
Affairs had reached such stage, that
we used 10 sleep with revolver close TO
our bedside, when we happened 10 have
q friend who came to stay with us few
days This friend was an old jungle
hunter, and was az fat at every artiGce
by which the animal creation might be
captured He was delighted with the
idea Of having an adventure with bur
glars, aud sccrned the belief that they
we're more than match in cunning for
eyen the average bush hunter. IL vas IN
vain that we assured him il was an ak
il m that an accomplished robbsr could
effect an entrance into any house and
that instruments were used of such a
nature aa TO cut holes in doors without
noise, and In fact, that through roofs
and sky-Iiehts down chimneys, and up
waterspouis. an accomplished burglar
could easily enter the best defended
house 10 the kingdom.
Ou. friends argument was, that a
bnrg'a ar was man on watch, who took
advantage of the residents being as'eeo
and unsnspeeting; but said he, let my
suspicious be raised, and will defy aoy
burglar to enter my house without my
having due warning; because, although
| may be asleep, still / shall hear bis
apprea b, and can then make my ar
rRnRemenis 10 welcome him.
Although wa were not desireua OF hav-
ing our house robbed, yet We wishsd
much that our friends confidence should
be taken out Of him.
A few days after this conversation,
the police informed rs thet several sus
picious characters bad been seen about,
and recommended US to be on the alert.
Here, then, was q good opportunity to
test M frlends skill and wakefdlness;
30 having informed him Of the police
mans warning | asked him il he felt
confident to undertake the defense Of the
honse.
Certainly, he replied only de.
mand dark lantern, and stipulate that
you have pair OF goloshes beside your
bed. / also must 60 10 bed last, and no
servant Is 10 20 down stairs before me
In the morning; nor 10 any one to walk
abont during tha night; then wall defy
the burglars.
Thus il was agreed that my friend was
10 act the part of guardian, and was to
commence his charge on the ensuing
night.
Three nights had passed, and no
alarms had occurred, and no robberies
taken place, we began TO think our
alarm bad been groundless, but our
friend said that now was the time to be
most guarded, for that no wise burglar
would rob when be was expected; be-
sides, he said, we have not had q windy
night yet, il 10 when doors and windows
rattle, and the chimney rumbles, that
robberies are hest effected, not when
every strange noise 10 audible; thus, he
said, he did not give mp hopes of Jet
having something to say to the robbers
before his visit terminated.
usually sleep very lightly, and there.
fore awoke readily upon bearing q tap
at my bedroom door during the forth
night of our watch. Ii was my friend a
voice that answered me, and we were
requested TO come out at once.
As soon as / can light lucifer-
match" replied. & ~fR@
Nonsense, man, light will spoil
the whole thing. Come in the dark; slip
on your dressing gown and your 60
loshes, aud come ct once. ss
/ was soon provided Rs he wished and
ready to descend the stairs In the dark
"Now, remember" said my friend
"thers are seven steps to the first land
ing, twelve others afterwards, and the
fourth step creaks abominable, be care
full TO descend without noise"
The night was boistereus, aud many a
windo@ and door shook and ratified, 60
that the slight noise we made in descend
ing the atairs was not sufficient TO have
alarmed even the most keen cared lis.
tener. We descended to the grouad
Aoor, entered the pantry, aud then
standing perfectly still, devoted our
selves 10 listening.
10 q very few seconds we heard 9
grating noise on the shutter, then au
1lterval of quiet, aud again noise; pres
sntly the window was gently raised, and
again all was quiet The noise of q
heavy vehicle passing the house seemed
W wa N A~~sNNN
EFFORT, for while the rattle of the wheels
was loudest crack sounded from Tbs
shutter, and we could hear that the boil
was forced, for the shutter was gently
moved.
"Don't stir till / do, and bold you
breath if possible, whispered my frisnC
in nv ear.
found the latter difficult reques
10 ccrp'y With, FOR my heart was beat
Ing with rapidity, and humping agains
nv ribs in the most excited way; still
stood quiet and trusted to my friend
Nothing could be more cautious thai
the proceedings of the robbers the shu,
Ter was pnahsd back in the most sla1
and steady manner; had there beer
even q bell fastened 10 it, ! donh
whether il would have been made
rinv. Al intervals there was a res