The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-01-25
A Gang Of Desperadoes Take Posses.
son OF Astoria, New York.

10 LoIrlDle eXclteu over TWO very DARN
and successful robberies committed b
five or six professional burglars. Thes
men marched through the streets in
thickly settled neighborhood, and wer
in no way interrupted or interfere,
with in their operations. The first visi
was paid to the Sanswick House, wher
Mr.. Green the proprietor, was asleep
When he woke up he saw four men, will
the lower portion of their face masket
with handkerchieis, standing near tn
bed. They were armed with revolvers
and ordered Green to surrender instantly
or they would blow his brains out. No
caring to risk struggle with such form
liable assailants, Mr.. Green told the
men 10 proceed with their plunderinp
operation, but to spare the lives of his
family and the other inmates of the house
The ruffians told him they knew he had
a revolver, because they had found cart
ridges in the bar-room below, and de.
manded its surrender. The revolver,
which Green had under his pillow, was
handed to them, and then, after static n
ing a man over the frightened house
holder and his wife, with a cooked pistol
and instructions to shoot them If they
moved, the others proceeded TO ransack
the apartment. They took everything
within their reach, including one or two
coats, pantaloons and small sum of
money. They also carried of a valuable
black Overcoat belonging to Mr.. Green's
brother, leaving tattered and worn-out
brown one of their own in its place.
They left to enter the adjoining room oc-
cupied by Nr. Green's sister-in-law, who
was ill. Mr.. Green begged them not to
frighten the poor women, and with their
consent entered the room first and ap-
prised her of tho state of affairs. The
robbers took very little from this room,
and were about to enter another, when
Green told them that his brother George
lived there; that he had been robbed of
$500 six weeks before, and that he was
probably prepared for another attempt,
and might make it unpleasant for them.
The gang consulted and then tramped
down stairs with their plunder, includ-
ing satchel they took from q small
closet in one of the hall bedrooms. In
the bar-room they stopped for some
liquor, filed their pockets with cigars
and carried of a bottle Of claret TO regale
themselves with in intervals between
their labors. Before leaving they again
threatened Green, telling him they un
derstOod there was $500 in gold in the
house and that he must surrender it If he
wanted his life. Green protested that
he had nothing of the kind in his pos
session, and the robbers finally left, max
ing the proprietor close the doors after
them and lock up the house as if they had
been customers leaving at late hour.
The whole value of the swag obtained
here was about 5000.
The gang then proceeded to the resi-
dence of Mr.. Hitler, on Vernon Street,
and went through the same performance.
The whole family were piled into
room and placed under guard, while the
remainder of the crowd ransacked the
house. Meantime, Miss Anna Hitler,
the eldest daughter, aged nineteen, had
become annoyed by the noise, and open
the hall, looked out, and asked what was
thematter. One of the rhffians answered
"Put your head in that door, young
lady, or I'll knock it off for YOU"
Alarmed at this reply, she shut the door.
1t was Immediately opened by two men
carrying revolvers, and wearing hand
kerchiefs over the lower portion of their
faces. They ordered her to be quiet, if
she didn't want to be shot, and then
commenced ransacking her bureau and
closets, helping themselves to such of
the contents as suited them. Miss
Hitler, who is vivacious young lady,
could not calmly see her wardrobe thus
unceremoniously tumbled over and trod-
den under foot, aud upbraided the ruff.
fans in no gentle terms for their heart
less conduct, As they turned TO 60 one
of them noticed a fine pair of ladies'
skates hanging on the wall. The fellow
hesitated moment, but Miss Hitler
said bitterly: "Take them, by all means.
gentlemen, it is fine night for skating"
Enraged by her coolness, the scoundrel,
with an oath, raised his pistol and
threatened to shoot her If she did not
keep quiet. So confounded were the
burglars by her spirited denunciations
that they neglected to take mahy things
that they might otherwise have carried
of. Miss Hitler tried several times to
get to the window and throw it up, in
order to give the alarm, but was pre-
vented. Before leaving, one of the rob-
bers noticed the glitter of ring on her
forefnger, and seizing her hand,
wrenched it violently from her.
The burglars made clean sweep of
tho other rooms on the upper floor,
carrying off coats, overcoats, clothing,
three gold watches, jewelry, silverware,
ETC., to the value of two thousand dol
lars. They then took Mr.. Killers boots
which had been polished and placed
outside his door for the morning. In
rummaging the nursery, one of the
burglars, apparently green hand, came
upon gilded toy savings-bank, and mis-
taking it for gold, said to his comrade,
I" This is solid gold, jack" at the came
time throwing the plaything into pile
of goods near by. The gang seemed to.
be under the direction of one man, whom
they termed "boss," who stood on the
stairs calling out his orders to the others.
Several efforts were made by the fright
eDed family to give the alarm, but they
were always encountered by thewatchful
guards, revolvers in hand, threatening
to kill them If they made the slightest
outcry. The burglars broke mirrors,
smashed furniture, and gutted most of
the upper rooms of all their valuables,
but did not meddle with anything in the
parlor or ground floor. Finally, after
stay of an hour and half, they de-
camped with their plunder, after warn.
ing the family that on the first attempt
at alarm they would return and murder
them. Mr.. Hitler, who had almost all
of his clothing stolen, had some diff
Guilty in getting himself in respectable
condition, but finally sailed forth to
the police station, where the vigilant
Dogbsrries of the local force were found
congratulating themselves on the escape
of the thieves. 1T is unnecessary to add
that none of the gang were arrested.
Courted Him Back Again.