Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-09-10
A Strange Chat With Burglars.

THE New York correspondent of the
Baltimore sunday NeCs narrates the fol-
lowing:
had an adventure with burglar my
self not long ago. IL happened thus: [
was living in private boarding-house,
the family consisting of an elderly widow,
son about fifteen years old, two young
gentlemen who occupied bathrooms, like
myself. ~
II happened that one evening was en-
tirely alone in the house-servants, land
lady, everybody being out was sitting
in the diningroom reading, with the door
leading into the entry open. Through
out the house the gas was turned down,
except the jet in the dining room which
lighted up the hallway; l heard noise
as if pane of glass had been broken
somewhere.
thought cats had been jumping against
the window, but, being deeply engrossed
in my book, paid no further attention to
it. A moment after looked up and there
i'm the doorway stood repulsivelOOking
enormous black fellow / was not alarmed
because | was not aware then of the late
ness of the hour, and thought it was some
one who had business in the house. On
my asking who he wanted, he muttered
something which did not catch.
"lf you have come" l said, for the
young gentlemen's wash, they are neither
of them al home. Nobody's at home but
myself Their rooms are front on the
third floor; go right upstairs and get the
clothes. NOdOubt they've left them ready
for you Go right up,' insisted, seeing
that he hesitated and kept mumbling
something to himself; at last he went,
looking mt me in IA strange way. Ten
minutes or more must have passed when
he stood in the light of the doorway again
He had no bundle, nOthing-and l now
noticed that he had only check shirt
and pants, no hat, and that the four winds
of heaven were free tA whistle through his
rags. You didn't get the clothes" ]
said surprised. Well, Pm sorry, but
come again in the morning and you will
be more likely to find them at home
You can make your way out yourself, |
suppose-just unlock the front basement
door; goodnight"
He still fingered, still looked at mi. Ia
doubtful, undecided way, muttering the
while, but didn't hear what he said, so
in minute or two he unlocked the base
ment door and went out / turned and
looked at the clock. 1t was nearly mid
night Strange hour to come for the
wash" | thought. Shortly after the
whole household came trOoping in; and
when l told about the man they declared
that it was u burglar; that the police had
been ON the lookout for exactly such a
negro as described, that several robberies
had taken place in the neighborhood-int
which had just moved-and that had
not been murdered was IA marvel. A gen
eral panic took place One of the young
gentlemen rushed upstairs for his re
yolver, the other seized a heavy par OF
ornamental tongs, the son the shovel, the
landlady broom, the girl pOXers and
holding timorouslY 10 each others skirts
in single file they searched the house.
They found that the drawers I'm the upper
rooms had been ransacked but nothing
stolen. The thief evidently wanted money.
| The most dreadful discovery was that the
back basement door had been opened by
the burglars breaking the pane, twisting
the wire shield, then putting in his hand
and turning the kcy. This lcll 10 dvubl
as 10 his mode OF livelihood. Affaoiiity
and frank invitation TO search the house
may not answer with all burglars, but II
did with him.