The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-01-05
Sunday Night in Wheeling.
High Times Among the Burglars.
Half a Dozen Operations.
Much Work and Little Reward
A Warning to the Wise.

Sunday night in this city was devoted
chiefly to burglary. Several operations
in that line have occurred lately, the
chief of which, the robbery of j. 5.
Rhodes & Co., proved so successful as
to embolden the operators and inclte
them to more extended work. The
entry of Lewis store, in Centre Wheel
ing, on Friday night, and the capture
of young thief in the establishment
Of III. Reilly, seem to indicate that the
gang now operating here is by no means
limited in numbers or green in the bust
ness.
The store Of Mr.. A. Pollock was the
scene of the first attempt on Sunday
night. The thief lad doubtless hidden
in the water-closet in the rear Of the
building, some time during the evening,
from which he had easy access to the
store when some of the girls employed
about the establishment passed out,
leaving the door open. One of them
noticed that dog upon the premises
kept up an unusual noise, but she gave
no alarm. About half-past one, Mr..
Pollack, who sleeps upon the upper
floor, heard a noise, as of some one
walking about, but presumed that 1t
was one OF his employees, and did not
get up until the door of his own room
was tried. He then observed man who
wore a fiat cap, in stopping posture,
pulling at his door, which was sllghtly
ajar, and sprang up. He called out to
the intruder, was answered in a threat
ening tone, and the visitor fled.
The house of Mr.. J. Landfried, Mon
roe street, between Fifth and Sixth,
was entered about 3 o'clock yesterday
morning. The key which was left In
the lock of the front door was turned
by an Outsider" Il burglars tool with
which key can readily be turned; the
door was opened and the house was
entered. The thief or thieves entered
Mr.. Landfried's room, failed to observe
his watch, which lay upon the table,
but carried off his pantaloons and vest,
which were "gone through" and left
upon the stairs. This operation Melted
$25. In passing cut the burglars slam
med the front door, which awakened
MIR. Landfried, but toe late to intercept
them.
The house of Mr.. John Mathews, cor
ner of Monroe and Fifth streets, was
entered, it is supposed, soon after Mr..
Landfried's. Entrance to the premises
was effected through the yard gate,
from which a large stone had been
rolled. A rear door was opened with a
"iimny," and the parties passing in
opened the front door, it is supposed
to facilitate escape. Ascending the
stairs, one of them who had a dark Ian
tern, entered room occupied by
young lady, whom he awakened by
placing his hands upon her bed. Start
ing up, she observed the man in the
room, gave the alarm, and he ran. 20
ing to the front window, she saw two
persons on the sidewalk below, who
speedily made off up Fifth street. A
good haul was missed here, as Mr..
Mathews had large sum of mOaey in
his room.
About the same time, the houses of Mr. |
J. l.. Rice and Mr.. Charles Wheeler, in
the same neighbOrhoOd, were tried, but |
the attempt failed. The key i'll Mr..
Rice's door was turned, but the knob
being ont of order failed to move the
latch after the lock-bolt had been
slipped, and the burglars were foiled.
Mr.. Wheeler's door was. secured by a
bolt, and bears the marks of Jimmy"
with which Intellectual attempts were
made to open it.
-. Garforths establishment, next
Az to the REGISTER office, Market
strJet, was opened about half-past four
o'clock yesterday morning. The key,
which had been left in the front door,
was turned by an outsider" and an
entrance easily affected. All the draw
ers in the store-room below were rum
mayed, but nothing taken except some
change from the mouey-drawer. The
thief (there seems to have been but one
here) assembled the stairs and was heard
by Mrs. Garforth, but she supposed the
noise to be made by her servant until
repeated efforts were made to strike
light. Then a hand, which was black
eued. was thrust inside of her own door,
and she spraug up and called out. The
burglar ran, muttering threats as he
retreatcd.
SO far the burglars seem to have prof
tied but little from their operations.
There is little doubt, however, that
there is an organized gang of the gen.
try and that their work is not yet con-
cluded. All our citizens will do we'll to
look TO JDelE DOllS anu bdlo' w hOAS
these marauders come frem it is difficult
to tell. At the same time, it cannot
have escaped public notice that there
are at this time on our streets dozens of
persons, many of them strangers, whose
appearance indicates idleness and worth |
lessness. They are the recognized loaf
ers of the city, and clearly occupy po-
sition from which men easily pass 20
lawlessness and crime. Would 1t not
be we'll for our authorities to make in
qury into the habits of these Migrants
That they have no honest means OF sup
port is clear that they may be engaged
in a regular bssiness of plumber is by
no means improbable.
I'll Boys Calf Boots of q superior artl-