The Portland daily press., 1865-05-26
Friday Morning, May 26, 1866.
Two Burglars Oanght.
A BusHMAN AS A THIEF TAKER.

We lived in terrace at the time in which
my tale Is laid, In what we may term q sub
district OF London, for we were within five
miles OF Charing Gross, and the dark month
Of December was upon us. 6ass4 aio4t1
Robberies had been frequent in our neigh
borhood, and no less than three houses out OF
the ten Ill the terrace had been entered bY bur-
glars and robbed, and yet no discovery Of the
thieves had taken place. So ably, also, had
the work OF entry been accomplished, that in
10 case had the inmates been alarmed; and it.
was not until the servants descended In the
morning that the discovery of robbery was
made. A3E IQ1H
In two out Of the three cases, an entrance
had been effected through pantry window,
small hole In the shutter. This window was
on the ground floor, and could easily be reach.
ed, therefore, from outside. In the third rob
berry, an upper window was entered by means
OF knife which forced back the fastening,
and of course allowed the sash to be raised
So rapidly had these robberies occurred,
that the whole neighborhood was alarmed. .--s
The police shook their heads, and looked
knowing, but did nothing; and what was
much to be lamented, Jailed to find any clue
to the robbers, who, they at the same time as
serted, were evidently not regular cracks
men.
Affairs had reached such a stage that we
used to sleep with q revolver close to our bed.
side, when we happened to have friend who
came to stay with us few days. This friend
was an old jungle hunter, and was Gu .fait at
every artifee by which the animal creation
might be captured. He was delighted at the
idea Of having an adventure with burglars
and scorned the belief that they were more
than match in cunning for even the average
bush hunter. 1t was in vain that we assured
him that it was an axiom that an accomplish
ed robber could effect an entrance into any
house; and that instruments were used OF
such nature as to cut holes III doors without
noise, and, in fact, that through roofs and sky
lights, down chimneys, and up water-spouts,
an accomplished burglar could easily enter
the best defended house in the kingdom.
Our friends argument was, that q burglar
was man on watch, who took advantages Of
the residents being asleep and unsuspecting;
'but,' said he, let my suspicious be raised, and
l will defy any burglar to enter my house
without my having due warning: because, al
though may be asleep, still ! shall hear his
approach, and can then uake my arrange
me- ts to welcome him. ssSsa 49, \ sss.
Although w0 were not desirous of having
our house robbed, yet we wished much that
our friends confidence should be taken out OF
him.
A few days after this conversation, the po-
lice informed US that several suspicious char
acters had been seen about, and recommend
ed us to be on the alert. Here, then, was a
good opportunity to test my friends skill and
wakefulness; So, having informed him of the
policemans warning, | asked him If he felt
competent to undertake the defense of the
house.
Certainly he replied; Il only demand a
dark lantern, and stipulate that you have a
pair of goloshes beside your bed. also must
go to bed last, and no servant is to go down
stairs before me in the morning; nor is any
one to walk about during the night; then !
Thusit was agreed that my friend was to
act the part Of the guardian, and was to com
mence his charge on the ensuing night. iea
Three nights had passed, and no alarms had
occurred, and no robberies taken place; we
began TO think our alarms had been ground
less but our friend said that now was the very
time to be most guarded for no wise burglar
would rob when he was expected; besides, he
said, we have not had windy night yet; it Is
when doors and windows rattle, and the chin
ney rumbles, that robberles are best effected,
not when every strange noise is audible; thus,
he said, he did not give up hopes Of yet hav-
ing something to say to the robbers before
his visit terminated.
l usually sleep very lightly, and therefore
awoke readily upon hearing tap at my bed
room door during the fourth night of our
Watcu. ~ Was LHy iflduu - VOICE tudb answer
ed me, and we were requested to come cut at
once. sg.s.8y5 -
ed. - .f2
Nonsense, man; a light will spoil the whole
thing. Come in the dark slip on dressing
gown and your goloshes, and come at once
l was soon provided as he wished, and
. ready to descend the stairs in the dark.
Now remember said my friend, there are
vauan atape IN fha fret landfuU fwQlvo othnrs
afterwards, and the fourth step creaks abom-
inably, so be carful to descend without n0ise.'
The night was boisterous, and many win
dow and door shook and ratified, SO that the
slight noise we made in descending the stairs
was not sufficient to have alarmed even the
most keen cared listener. We descended to
the ground floor, entered the pantry, and then
standing perfectly still, devoted ourselves to
listening. -
In very few seconds we heard grating
noise on the shutter, then an interval ol
quiet, and again noise; presently the win
dow was raised, and again all was quiet. The
noise of heavy vehicle passing the house
seemed to afford an opportunity for more
decided effort, for while the rattle of the
wheels was loudest, crack sounded from the
shutter, and we could hear that the bolt was
forced, for the shutter was gently moved. Il,
Don't stir till do, and hold your breath II
possible was whispered in my ear.
found the latter difficult request to com
ply with for my heart was beating with ra-
pidity, and humping against my ribs in the
most excited way; still stood quiet and trust
ed to my friend. ...a...
Nothing could be more cautious than the
proceedings of the robbers the shutter was
pushed back in the most slow and steady man
ner ;had there been bell fast'nd to it, doubt
whether it would have been made to ring. Al
intervals there was rest from work, evident
ly for the purpose of listening, and then one
of the robbers placed bis leg across the win
dow-sill, and lightly descended into the pan
try. Dc =
The night even out ofdoors, was very dark
and in the corner where we stood it wa
black as Erebus; our forms therefore, wer'
quite undistinguishable, and che only ehancs
OF discovering us was by touching or hearing
us. eh
The first burglar was soon followed by.
second, whilst we could hear that Is third, WHIT
was outside, was to remain there on watch.
Now let's light up said number two.
Not yet till you push the shutter to- repli
ed the other, or the glim III be seen; then yoI
come and hold the box
The shutter was quietly pushed to, and boil
robbers moved away few PAGES from tht
window by which they had entered. BY the
quiet way in which they walked. it was evi
dent they were either without shoes or had OF
India rubber coverings. OF their size o
weapons, we could see nothing, and I begaI
to doubt whether our position was an agree
able one, as was armed only with sword.
weapon however, | knew how to use; willis
of my friends means OF ofense or defense
knew nothing. Wn ~ DO