The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1867-04-16
C,,urch RobDeries.

The following extraordinary news we
take from the Burlington Free Press Of
Monday, April oth
An extraordinary raid was made by
burglars last night on the various chur-
ches il our city, IN the course Of which
every church III Burlington bat one was
entered.
Tie Unitarian church was entered by
pryiug open window III the basement,
the S. 5. Library vas broken open and
Tie books tumbled on The floor, all the
various drawers aud closets broken
open, and all the communion service
stolen, including a baptismal bowl Of
solid silver.
Tie First Cong. church was entered
by the door OF the coal vault in the rear
which was split open; nothing was sto-
len here, though al the doors and clos
cts were broken open, the coverings
stripped from the pulpit and everything
thoroughly searched for articles Of value
The Third Cong church was appar-
emily entered by breaking a pane in one
OF the rear basement windows; the bur
glars did not go up stars at all, butra
sacked the lower rooms, breaking open
al the drawers splitting the contents on
tie floor, and carrying of a quantity Of
the private property Of the pastor, Rev
q. l.. Stafford, who having at present no
house Of his own had stored ii III his
study in the church. The property tai
ken comprised gold watch and guam
tity Of family silver, including NUM-
Der Of wedding presents to Mrs. Stafford
amounting to some $500 in value.
The Baptist church was entered also
by q rear basement window, which it
would seem must have been left open
enough to admit the burglars bar, as
the spring Of the window was not dam
aged. Nothing was found IN the church
though everything was ransacked mp
stairs and down. A quantity Of pewter
spoons used at Sabbath School picnics
we're bent and twisted to test the metal I;
a door leading into the organ was taken
oIt and no place untouched which
might have bad valuable contents.
The Episcopal church was still more
easily entered, rs the front door was
left unfastened, the church beingin the
hands Of workmen for repair and en-
largement. The contents Of the Sab
bath School contribution boxes, two on
three dollars only. was All the plumber
the robbers got here. the communion
service which was il use during the eve
ming having been removed 10 private
house
The door Of the Roman Catholic
church. ST Marys) was forced Open
after an Intellectual attempt had been
made to unlock it, the contribution box
Is robbed and some silver goblets and
church ornaments stolen The robbers
drew down and ht the large lamp in The
yestibule 10 aid them in their searches,
aud also lit and carried round some Of
th&wax candles from the altar
They left III the lock an iron key trey
had tried 10 use, and inside an mon
diaw-bar much bent, which was idcnti-
hcd by the sexton Of the Unitarian
church as the enc used by him for a POI
kcr The closets IN the Unitarian
church were apparently forced open by
help Of this poker, as well as the door
81 the Catholic church The marks ii
the other churches show q smaller iron
TO have been used On table IN the
College Street church lay the tool cm-
IDENTITY u6ed there, - crooked iron with
a wooden handle, very much like d lift
q Of a kitchen stove These ellcum-
stances indicate that the burglars were
not professional.
Tie Methodist church was rot broken
open, although IL may haze been visit
ed Il has ne cellar windows ard tic
shutters ou the man windows are tight
Ii iasieued
Instances have occurred before u
single churches. but never before were
AZ! the churches "a the ciiy robbed in
one night Ne ciue has vet been OBJ
talued 10 the burglars 50 fAr As wo
learn. Taken il connection with the
receut iacendlagy Gre. II is evident that
sone desperate characters are opera
tang among as. and our citizens viii do
Nell 70 oe generally on tl.eir guard