The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-12
Strange Blindness Of Con-
necticut Villagers.
THE CRIMES OF A DECADE.
.&sthetic Tastes Exercised Upon
Other Peoples Property.

of two pretty little villages in this vcinity-Mystic
Bridge and Noank. They on Long Island SOUND
between the mouth Of the Thames River and ston-
ington. The first named lines both banks OF the
Mystic River with pretty residences and the
latter occupies = rocky promontory lying ut
the mouth of the river. The majority OF
the inhabitants lead seafaring life, and
fishing is important industry, especially IN
Noank. Both places are fairly sprinkled with the
summer residences OF New York merchants and the
homes of who have retired with competence
from life shoat or ashore AS in other similar New
England villages, everything goes on In methodi-
cal. quiet way disturbances are almost unknown.
and the solitary constable would mould had he no
other occupation than his official duties.
PUZZLE.
Yet mystery OF criminal nature has worried
the people. off and on. for nearly ten years
Burgaries have occurred. and wholly
incomprehensible. Suspicious strangers had not
been seen in town and there were townpeople
upon whom suspicious could fairly rest. Later on.
dwellings were burned and there were evidences
that they had first been stripped of their valuabes
All these crimes perpetrated in the night time
and the dwellings entered invariably those that
temporarily unoccupied Families went off
visiting, and, in the usual security Of such hamlets
bolted their DOORS the phrase goes, with boiled
carrot"
1t was noticed that these crimes occurred only at
infrequent intervals, and often far apart that
had passed out of memory before the next re-
ported. Within the past two years, however, the
necessity of detection became more evident. The
rascals were becoming holder and their avarice led
to more frequent midnight raids. In Noank the
houses Of Messrs. Packer, Brooks and Rathbone
robbed and the latters burned. In Mystic
bridge, but mile away, the thieves red the dwell
ings of. Captain Eldrdge Mr.. Bugbee and
MT Mallory 1.-THE latter one of the firm
owning the New York and Galveston line
of steamers); Charles p. Chipman's grocery
and Minors drug store The dwelling Of Mr..
Reynold robbed and afterward fired. The citi-
zeis finally became aroused and several months ago
made sort of feeble inquiry. resulting i'll the
belief that the depredations were committed by
thieves who landed on the shores from boats by
aight and by daylight had put miles between them
md the OF their crimes. Deputy Sheriff Morris,
Of New London aid not agree with this theory but
after some investigation ON his own account-tor
The towns would offer no incentives to detective
,kill-advsed the residents to look around among
their own people for the cuprlts
WHAT A FUNERAL REVEALED
The suggestion was almost pooh poohed at first.
but suspicious that it might be Of some Importance
were curiously aroused as long ago az last Feuru-
airy. One Mrs. lift died in Mystic Bridge and among
the attendants at the funeral was d lady whose
house had been robbed. She observed in Mrs. Tifrs
house wearing apparel and other articles which she
believed had been stolen. But the lifts stood SO
well i'll the community that the lady main tanned
discreet tongue. excepting among her intimates.
Some time after this the Noankers began to look
piciousiy on the movements of young man named
W. Ira Cheseboro. He has always been known in
this section as era" but may be known
by his other in circles where he has fenced
his booty. Chesebcro is of good family about thirty
years of age and has been tor some time married TO
a daughter of Captain Lord who fishing
schooner, and in summer lives at East Marion
Greenport L. L. and in the wiuter season at Staple
ton. $. l. Cheseboro has generally been regarded
steady fellow, although 1t surprise his
neighbors how he supported a family by the little
labor that he performed in town. the little money
earned III occasional sealing OF shing voyages When
suspicion hrst began to point to him. 1t noted
significant fact that he had long been intimate
terms with Daniel l.. Tiff. young man OF the
age, ut whose house the stolen goods were
is Miss Nancy sort OF chap. with slihgt form.
feminine voice and feminine ways He has almost
passion for art. and his house bears traces Of his
refined tastes. Two curious things reported OF him
that he has penchant tor spending his time in
crocheting painting in oil pictures SAID to be
cradle, by the way aud that his passion for artistic
surroundings carried to such extent that he
put lace curtains at the windows Of the garrett
AN ELKaANr INTERIOR.
visitor to Tits house in describing its furni-
ture SILT gem in the way of artistic and
costly embellishments. Costly velvet carpets COW
cred the floors. the hnes and delicate OF laces
hung ut the windows, and costly rugs, hne st,tuary
aud meritorious paintings adorned the walls and
brackets Even the unoccupied attic presented
scene of elegance. There, elsewhere in the house,
the furnishings and appointments were unique
IN elegance and In such adornments ana occupations
as women fancy. He croche:ed, pieced slken bed
quilts, painted dainty little landscapes and flower
pieces, and did certain kinds Of needlework. HIS
feminine instincts LED him TO select the beautiful as
the object OF his depredatons The wonder is, mas
much his house furnished with goods sto zen
from his his mothers visitors that OF them
recognized their property when calling upon this
audacious burglar. On his table and sideboards
stood six eight silver ice-pichcrs which he had
stolen from neighbcring houses. Bronze statuettes
and ornaments gotten in like manner Haunted def-
to suspicion from the tables shelves cabi-
nets whereon they stood"
STRANGE COMPREHENSIVE.
Upon Tilt and Cheseboro the crimes have finally
been fixed. 1t is u strange companionship. Tiff,
weak. feminine and vaciliating; Cheseboro. ener-
Eetic, keen and sclf-reliant. few days ago the
crash came upon them, and both reposing
in the New London Jail. Asimultaneods descent
the homes of both was decided upon. Cheseboro
was found ut his house, and upon searching tho
premises stolen goods. valued mt nearly S2.U0J were
recovered. Tilt was also found ut home AMI stolen
goods were discovered-lace curtains the win
dows. statnary and articles OF vcrtu the mantals
aud on his table. and silverwarc. worth fully 500.
This was In daily use. and the tastes of the
thief were also evident in the luxurious furnishing
OF the apartments with articles which hc had stolen
In the village. Even with these evidences OF guilt