Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-10-25
Large HauI of Burglars,

The city of Springfield, Clark county,
Ohio, has suffered for years by the de-
predatlons of burglars and sneak thieves,
and the citizens, after utter failure by
the police, have taken the matter in
hand, resulting in the capture of the
whole gang, numbering twenty-three,
on Tuesday of last week. The house OF
G. b. Fisher was entered in July last,
and he, after offering rewards to the
local police without success, finally
called in the aid of a detective, who soon
ingratiated himself into the good graces
of the gang, which he Joined. Upon
gaining b entire confidence of the bur-
glars the CITY Council was let into the
secret, and lent their aid to the capture.
The burglars head quarters were in a
pattern room over a machine shop, and
here they laid their plans, and prepared
their tools. The owner of the machine
shop was in the secret, and handled
affairs so that outside, reliable parties
should see the men, the light being so
managed by the detective that it fell full
on their faces for that purpose. Police
man Bruner of the local force MAS put
upon the special duty of aiding in the
matter. After making all these arrange
ments a series of burglaries was COM
menced under the management of the
detective, the first attempt being to rob
i @NALAAl4 > AOhCCa VIII AuAA ~
watch the affair, and he recognized all
the parties. We give the rest of the
story in the words of a dispatch to the
Enquirer:
Some time afterward another house
was entered. This business was so
managed that three of the burglars had
a portion of their bodies inside of the
house. They heard a noise, and then
left, but they were all recognized by
both Bruner and Fisher.
The next house entered was John
Hawsholder's. Three of them were seen
by Bruner to enter the house. The
house of John II. Thomas was next
entered. run was secreted in an
clubhouse, and mad an arrangement by
which he awakened Mr.. Thomas, and
the burglars who had entered the house
were frightened of. Bruner saw the
three men enter and leave the house.
Councilman William Warder was the
next victim. The first time the attempt
was made another party was attempting
B. H. Warder's house, and the men be-
longing to both parties accidentally met
between the two houses five or six times
during the night and day in the woods,
until daylight, and then left in disgust.
On the nextn night a portion of the regu-
lar gang, three persons, actually entered
the house. A door knob was taken off,
so that Bruner, while secreted in an adj
joining room, saw the burglars enter
the room where the silver plate was
standing upon a table and recognized
them. He then fired at them, and they
went of in great haste. Mr.. Fisher was
on his own grounds, directly
opposite, well armed and ready for any
emergency. Substantially the same
programme of burglaries was observed
at COuncilmen Mast's, Pierce's and
Browns.
Other jobs were set up, and burglaries
were committed by other gangs, and the
affair became so much complicated that
it was found Necessary on Monday night,
one day in advance of the proposed time,
to have the several parties arrested, il
been ascertained that a portion
of the gang had got wind of the matter
and were preparing to leave the city.
The detective, Mr.. Fisher and Mr.. Bru-
ner, found that they were very closely
watched by the pipers and the princi-
pals. They had a plan for capturing
William @. Eyre, Cashier of the Com
mercial Bank, at night, gagging and
him, and then taking him down
to the alley by the Republic building,
in the east room of which building the
bank and its big safe are located, and
then by the use of thumb-screws COM
him to open the safe and deliver
its contents to them. This project was
given up for lack of time to complete
the preparations. The whole affair has
been conducted with extraordinary skill
and nerve, and has been crowned with
great success.
The whole gang Of d~esperadoes has
been captured, with all of their confed-
crates, "fences," ETC., and their pros
peel for the penitentiary is exceedingly
good.
There will be no preliminary trial
fore the Grand Jury. Five trunks of
goods were found in the hands of a
receiver, and W. A. Brand, Of the
Urbana Citizen, recognizes among them
taken from his house not long
since.