Connecticut western news., 1878-08-08
The Strange Detective.
A REPORTERS STORY.


 In the winter of 1876 there were many burglaries in the Hudson rlyer towns, generally on the eastern shore of the river. Not so much in the towns, exactly, as short distance out of them, where wealthy people had built hand some residences, and for one reason or another, staid in them through the win- ter. The news of one burglary was hardly in print in the city before in came tidings of another equally bold, and, perhaps, more successful. But in nearly every case the thieves met with all the success they could desire. No body in those quiet places was prepared for midnight visit by burglars, and iewelry and plate were disappearing rap idly from the banks of the Hudson. So fast did telegrams telling of fresh out rages come in, that the reporters were kept constantly riding up and down the Hudson river railroad. 4sg# Have you heard of the burglary up to Thompsonses ?'' asked native of 8 couple of reporters who were after an item. ae We told him we had not. # # "It's big thing l" said he, half out of breath. It was last night. Stole lots of cash. Chloroformed 'em." = We did not wait for any further par tieulars, but hurriedly inquired where Thompsonses lived. 1t was up the river road, he told us, about five miles, on the left hand side of the road. A story and a half frame house. We couldn't miss it.
 Five miles over straight road always stretch themselves into fifteen, especially at night, and if you are in hurry. These five miles were no exception. It was an exceedingly dark night, and, al- though we had straight road before us, our driver managed to turn US out of il twice. On each occasion we had con. siderable distance to retrace, and with these delays, slow driving, and the time we had consumed in starting, it was well on toward eleven when we first saw the hill upon the top of which stood the still invisible Thompson house.
 They're queer people, these Thomp- sonses," said our young man; "bui they've lots of rocks
 We suggested that anybody who owned as much as Q city lot in that neighbor hood must be blessed with rocks.
 "Cash, I mean, |" said he; "but they're ofish k1nd of people.
 We asked how the Thompsons were queer, and what he meant by "offish ; but the only answer we could get was
 Oh, strangish like"
 When we reached the gate we left thu driver and our young man behind, ant entered the yard. #
 < Look out for the dog" said tn, driver, :" there's big one here"
 No dog appeared to oppose our pas sage, and we went up to the front door It was surrounded, and almost hidden by small veranda, around which tn, dead leaves rattled in the chilly wind.
 No bell being found, after carefu earch on both door-posts, we rapped a the door. There was no answer. w rapped again, louder. Still, no answer Several times more we knocked, loude md louder, but no one opened tn door and we could hear no sound within
 !" Knock at the window" the drive suggested.
 There were two front windows, one O each side of the door, but some distanc away, for the house was long one though only one story high. On on slde of the front walk the tall dead weed showed us that that side was not fire quently traversed but half-worn pat through the dead grass on the other sid led LIS to believe that to be the inhabite side of the house.