The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-10
MIR. P0LLACK'S EXPERIENCE.
AWIKENED ar HiDNf8HT ny 4 VISIT
FRON A POLITE BURGLIR.
why Mr.. Poiiack ma Not Get Up-Thc po,.
tshed Visitors Sur1e-uvr Way or Hand
ling Ecvoivcr-M hat he ntda't Take.

why Mr.. Poiiack ma Not Get Up-Tnc po,.
ished Visitors suggestive Way or Hand
ling Ecvoivcr-M hat he ntdat Take.
One Of the most gcntcmnnty and consd-
crate burglarios ever known in this city 8
politely p"rpotratcl cary yesterday morning
in the household Of Mr.. Bernard Pollock, who
resides Ut / Mitchell place, Fory-nn,h s,rort.
Mr.. r1llack. who is son ~ lhc late famous
John street maker II mccrschaum pipes. tells
the story In such way IN to leave no doubt that
his pockrtbook. his littlc girls necklace. and
his wifc's bracelet bearing tho design Of IA pair
OF caspcd gold hands were purlOincd by per-
sons Of generous instincts and exemplary
breeding.
" 1t was in tho dead of tho night" says Mr..
Pollock, that I was arous ii from heavy sleep
by my wife. who grasprd me sharply by the
shoulder and cried out IN a loud. startled voice.
Who Is thcrcr Ny apartments in Mitchell
place consist OF two parlors ON tho first floor
My children and servant sleep in the next story
Or these two parlors. the back ono is tho sleep
Ing room of myself and my wife. while tho front
one is drawingroom, and opens by means Of
French windows upon balcony. which may be
easily reached from the doorsteps and from the
street. On Monday night | was tired out with
business and the heat; went to bed carly-at
10 O'Clock Ny wife retired n little later. had
left the windows OF the front room open. buthad
closed the shutters the shades had not drawn
down. My wife says that before sho left the
room she drew down the shade TO one Of tho
windows, but that is immatcrial. The gas was
turned of in the front room In the back room
single Jet burned dimly. In half an hour we
were both sound asleep.
"' Who is there was reused. as I told you.
by the sharp. startled cry of my wife. For a
moment was dH7ed and incapable Of ohserv-
ing anything / answered. Nobody, A min
ute later discovered my mistake. There was
somebody. In the dim light saw him. stand
ing close hy the side NJ the bed. He was tall-j
feet 10 inches ut least-but what struck mo par
ticulurly was his air u gentllty His clothes.
his white hands his high forehead his face.
Of q gentleman. lie wore n mask. which came
just 10 his lower lip and concealed his chin. l
can tel you exactly what nd of mask il was.
MY wife thought IL was u beard. but | am not
mistaken. II WAS musk cut in the form Of
bib or n blacSsmith's apron. and hung TO his
chin by string tied about the lower part of his
head The material was black cambric; l saw
it glistcn in the gaslight;
saw it SHINE His long white fingers were
closed .arclessly over its butt. remarked their
delicate shape and tapering ends Ny wife also
saw the pistol. although her nervous terror led
her 10 mistake the cambria mask for u shining
black beard. She, held on TO my arm with
frightened grip ! struggled to rise. What
" The burglar advanced toward the bcd-my
side. noticed that his walk was extremely
graceful. His eyes had a pleasant. almost n
laughing expression. His mouth was curled in
slight smile. His Al WAS half apOlogctic. |
noticed. further that he Wore frock coat Of the
finest texture and cut am not Il coward.
again started 70 rise.
! and gentle. | looked AT the burglar. He was
| close beside me. His pistol hung lightly by his
| side. lie looked at me PLEASANTLY. / doubted
| the seriousness of his admonltion. | wanted to
| break loose from the grasp of my wife and get
out Of bed. put nay two hands ON the mattress
| and tried to sit up straight. As | did SO the
burglar. still retaining bis pleasant look. aimed
| his pistol ut my head. II and my head were not
| more than two feet apart. never carry re-
| war. and have never owned one since Plenty
| oipeuple. know. haoltually rcposc with loaded
| / had had a revolver under my pillow | do not
| know whether | should have attempted 10 draw
| 1t or not. The Intentions Of the burglar were n
| puzzle to me. The extent of his determination
| is still Il mystery. | scarcely think be would
| have fired. and yet he might have fired with the
same politsness that charactrrized all his pro-
| ccedings. | remained as WIS.
| " Meantime, or perhaps previously. an accom-
| plicc had ranSacked our bureau and the apparel
| Of myself and my wife. cannot describe him.
| for NY attention WIS absorbed hy the gentleman
! who, with such suavity held his revolver AT my
| head. shortly. MS 1t appeared. the business was
| hnisned. AMI the man with the revolver backed
| gracefully into the front room | still made no
| Htiempt 10 rise. In u moment there came the
| sound of a pistol shot. seemingly from about
!he front windows. Then there was Il laugh.
After little arose | turned up tho gas
| II was iltle after o'clock There was nobody
| ia IN" street. | examined the premises. Ny
| trousers had been ranSacked Ny pockeibook
was gone. but 1t contained only adollnr; the pre-
yious evening had given my wife ii5 10 pay the
| butcher. This money she mad put in her own
| pockrtbOok. and that IN the pocket of her dress
| which now lay in a chair. covered over with n
| sheet; tho burglars had failed to discover
| II. The bureau drawers We're open. case Of
| l-weiry had been rihci. II had contained two
| gold necklaces. with lockets. in which were set
| cHneos surrounded 10y turquoises. two gold
| bracelets. and several other trinkots. All were
| lying in a corner of tho room with the exception
| Of one bracelet. which was missing. My watch
| still hung Oh n hook in the wall. My wifr's
| watch eth las on the bureau. the only other
| article that was missing was "a bunch OF KEY ,
| from my trousers pocket.
mounted 10 the heNt story. whore found
| my children and the servant sound asleep.
awakened the girl aud questioned her. Ii was
| evident that the burg airs had not been there.
| After little the girl asked II had yet shouted
| for tho police. II was good suggestion.
| went 10 the window aud shouted with all ms
| might. In minute the whole street was
| aroused. People leaned out Of their windows
rs far no could see. In forty-seVen minutes
| the police arrived.
In the morning night Waterman in Fifty
| NTH street brought me my pock etbook, which
| he had found on the pavement. The dollar was
| gone; otherwise it was intact. In the morning
| also came two detectives. to whom | told tho
| story. and who promised to catch me the bur
| glare.
My whole loss was gold bracelet. silver
| dollar. and bunch of keys"