Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-24
Burglary upon the Once Of District
Attorney Harrington.

A caring ieat OF burglary was psrpstratad
last night st the ONCE o; the District Attorney,
on Louisiana avenue, near AZ ttreet. By which
the large safe in the rear room OF that orics,
containing the papers belonging to the gentle
men connected with the Office were kept, was
blown open and robbed of everything of value.
that II was the work Of professionals who
carried their tools with then. 1t appears
that on Wednesday morning Mr.. Harring-
ton, assistant District Attorney receive
safe IN his Office was to be robbed. The let
ter purported to come from a party who had
tion given was to battle the plot Of robbery, for
revenge. Mr. Harrington paid no attention 70
the letter, but thought best TO watch his Office,
q consultation with Major Richards aud Chief
Clsrvoe in relation to the letter, 1t was decided
to keep watch of the premises last night, which
was done by the officers; About dl3o o'clock,
opposite side OF the street, they Oh
served two men come around the cor
nsn Of ~ street and Walk up the steps
and entered, closing Ii behind them In
few moments one of them threw M the win
dow in the front ofiice, and after looking sroand
closed the window and fastened the insiIe shut
t-rs. On approaching, the officers could hear
them at work inside, and after consultation it
vas deemed beet not to arrest them while in the
act, but TO "pipe them off" to scertsin who
were concerned in the business. After waiting
an hour a heavy explosion was heard, which
proved to be the blowing up of the safe. Suisse
queDtly, after ali had become quiet the two
reappeartd at the door, one with large
SICK yalise, and after walking off q few
yarSs together separated, one going in east
eIly direction and the larger one of the two,
who carried the valise, starting in the direction
OF 9Th street. This one was pursued By the
major and chief. who soon hsd him c)rnered
and while MT. Clsrvoe caught him By the
throat Maj. Richards relieved him OF the valise
He at first assumed a style OF injured dignity
bur finding who had him he IN AIDE no resistance
and was led back to police 'sdquarters, the
chief first relieving him of large sized revolt
yer, each chamber loaded. The valise rec0v-
eied contains all the papers, as far as ascer-
tanned, with the exception of $1,000 bond,
which is missing.
The burglar caught is very reticent, and
refuses TO say anything. bat he is evidently an
OLD hand at the business. He Is young and
athletic. Of powerful frame, aud has a foreign
look. The officers and MIR. Harrington are az a
loss to understand why this attempt was made
as there was usually no money kept there and
use. II is thought likely the job was put
up TO procure some important papers likely to
come before the grand jury at the next session.
Most of the tools used by the burglars were
left In the office, and have since been taken
sway by Chief Clarv0e. They are a very d ne
kit Among them are seven or eight fine steel
jimmeys, with large number of steel wed ges
OF various sizes for safe work, three cans OF
Dupont's best rife powder, and a coil of fuse
with percussion ends, ball of putty, pap,r of
tacks: heavy sledge hammer, tongs, wrenches,
The door of the safe was completely shat
tered by the explosion of the powder, which
appears to have been poured in through the
hole of the knob, which had been knocked Off
An inside door of iron probably prevented the
papers from being burned, as they were all in
perfect order. The folding doors between the
front and back Offices were blown Off the hinges
and shiyered. The glass in both front and rear
windows was shivered, and the room in the
greatest disorder imaginable.
One precsutiOn taken by them TO elude obser-
walton, was to cut large square out of Inc
Brussels carpet, about IL BY l6 feet. and tackit
over the large double window looking into the
yard; this was found hanging up as they left it,
and the building was filed with the smoke of
gunpowder.
Judge Fisher is absent In Delaware. having
been called there on the occasion of the death
OF his father-in-law.
Some of the tools used in this Job have been
recognized by the stOnemssons in the employ
ment of MIR. NJ. q. Emery, whose stable aud
tool-5 ouse were broken into and robbed The
sledge BANNER, pair of tongs, and several cold
ehisels were found to have the names of the
owners upon them.
The prisoner gives his name as William Ben
ton, and saws he belongs in New York.
This Is the fourth time within the last few
years that burglars have broken into Mr.. Ems-
rvs shop to get the heavy portion of the tools
to work with.