Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1873-01-16
Trinity Church Robbed.


Trinity Church of New York was
robbed by daring burglar. The COM
munion service, used during Sunday
service, is valued at over $20, 900, and
many of it's pieces were sent to the
church by crowned heads in Europe.
This is evidently what the thief was
after.
On the south side of the chancel are
two vestry rooms, each having large
window. Each window is protected by
three light sashes. The windows are
about three feet above the ground, and
the snow reached up nearly to the sills.
To open the sashes was easy. The
windows swing on pivots, which enter
small apertITes on each side of thewood
work. They are opened and closed by
means of cords fastened to the upper
part of their edges, and running to
small iron pulleys fastened inside,
short distance above the upper sill, and
thence down nearly to the floor. When
the window is closed the cord is pulled
down and tied to small catch between
the sill and the floor.
The burglar scaled the picket fence in
Rector street, about sixty feet west of
Broadway. He had previously placed a
large stone on the top of the inside
stone wall on which the fence rests,
30 once on the fence he could step down
without getting caught on the sharp
edges of the pickets. He landed near
the tomb of Alexander Hamilton, and
took semi-circuitous route in north
| westerly direction toward the chancel.
The distance was about 250 feet. With
an eight-inch dagger he pried open the
weak sashes, and then went to work ut
the window of the middle vestry room.
Turning his back toward the heavy
wood work, he forced the windows
htly-inward, making smaller aper-
ture. The cords elasticity assisted him.
He then cut the cord and entered.
Drawing a dark lantern from beneath
his coat, he took rapid survey of the
room.
Inside were half a dozen desks
with drawers, all of which were locked.
The walls are nearly covered with mar
BILE tablets, commemorative of the great
men of the country. Under the window
opening into the rear of these rooms
stood box used to hold the loose earth
when vaults are opened for interments,
and by standing on this box it was easy
to force the window open. Once inside
the burglar had his own way. Desks
were turned upside down, their drawers
forced open, and doors broken off, while
their contents; consisting of books and
letters; were scattered over the floor.
The burglar examined almost every
thing, even to the letters from the
English royal family and many of the
nobility. He secured the contents of
the contribution boxes, which DR..
Ogilby says probably contained fifty to
sixty dollars. he then retraced his
steps, going south of the Hamilton
tomb, and escaped into Rector street,
over the fence at the point wherehe had
entered.
The footprints in the snow north OF
the tomb were regular and of large size,
while those south of the tomb were
irregular and had a trail, indicating
that the burglar had been frightened,
and ran toward the street. Among the
stuff scattered on the floor the dagger
was found, as was also a very large
pocket knife, open and ready for instant
use. Sexton August, who generally
sleeps in this room, was absent at the
time. Since the robbery Of st. Paul's
Church, four years ago, the church
plate has been kept in the bank vault.
Among the communion plate were
several pieces from the Prince of Wales
and Prince Arthur. When these royal
youths were in this country they attend
ed divine worship at this church, and
were each presented with elegant gold
bound Bibles. In return, they each |
sent to the church some silver plate. |
Among the papers, which the burglars
scattered over the floor, are letters from
the most distinguished Episcopal
Bishops and ministers in this country |
and in England. They were highly
priced.