The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-10-02
BURGLARS ON THE RAMPAGE.
They Visit Here There and Ev-
erywhere-are Foiled in Every
Instance but one-are Shot
at and Try Their Hand
Elsewhere-but Come OF
with Very Little Booty.

On Monday night the usual quiet Of our
CT ty was encroaehed upon in various parts of
the town, by pair of burglars; evidentally
about as enthusiastic in their criminal calling
as unsuccessful in carrying out their iIladvised
plans. A beautiful moonlight night may not
appear the most desirable for the conducting
of such depredations, but out thep were, and
lively at their business, as will be seen from
the following. at various times in the Eve
hours" they visited the residence of Mr.. Pur-
yes, on State street, near Oak street; the res
idence of Mr.. a. J. Hale, depot master, on
Garrison street; Mr.. J. P. Moore's carriage
shop; entered the back yard of S. H. Russell,
and affected an entrance to the house of S.
w. jackson, northwest end of town. Mr..
Purves, whose wife has been unWeIl. and who
had bed removed into the parIor, retired
about 1870. A light was left burning in the
room, and at o'clock he was suddenly awoke
by screams from his wife. He Immediately
jumped up, to be informed that q short thick
set man had just left the room. He rushed
for his clothes, but found his watch, which
was on a chair, and bis vest and pants all gone.
He proceeded to make an investigation, but
no one was about, and he discovered that an
entrance to the honse had been effected
through the summer kitchen window. Mrs,
P.'s screams awoke the neighbors, and police
officer Eddy, living near by, information was
at once sent to him, but he was, of course on
duty. Mrs. Purves AYERS she saw the back Of
the man just as he was leaving the room, and
distinctly described his build, though she did
not see his face. Il is much to be regretted
that in the stolen clothing there was the key
to Mr.. Purves store, his post-office key, some
IS or Sc in cash, and about $500 in bills in a
pocket book.
Subsequently they visited the back yard of
Squire Russell, on State street, and were ex-
changing low private whistles, and other sig
mails, when the Squire surprised them with
three or four shots from a revolver, which had
the desired effect of causing them in police
phraseology to ''move on"
At Mr.. A. J. Hale's, on Garrison street, they
were heard creeping on the porch, and Mr..
Hale met them just as they opened the door,
but having no weapon at hand they escaped.
He states there were two of them, and this is
proven by boy who saw them early in the
evening taking stock of Mr.. Purvis's house.
The boy says one was short, thick set, and the
other tall. Nor did they succeed in a subse-
quent attack on Mr.. Jackson's house, for he
was awake, and again they had to fee with
out spoil.
At Mr.. J. P. Moore's carriage shop they
tried their hands TO make a haul, but some Of
the boys being at work, preparing something
for the fair, their prospects were once more
bighted.
We sincerely hope, should they again try
their hand in our community, some one will
be fully prepared to give them warm re-
ception. Some people ask, where were the
police Well, we believe they were plodding
over their almost endless beats. During the
patrol of any one, ample opportunity is af-
forded for such series of depredations before
the officers can get over half the distance.
There is no mistake, our city is not sufficient
ly protected at night by two officers-one of
whom has certain trains to mest-and the
other is plodding the while over acres and
acres of land, The boys themselves confess
they cannot effectually perform their duty,
and therefore some steps should be taken in
the matter to provide an additional watch.