Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-03-04
A Most Daring Burglary.

A Most Daring Burglary.
On Tuesday night last about 2 O'Clock
the residence of Maj. Thos. Shumate IN
the Northern part of Lewis street, near
Mr.. John Fallon's was entered ard robbed
under circumstances that make it the
most daring burglary we have had to re-
cord in Staunton. When Maj. S. comes
IN from the Iowa mines he generally brings
with him a good deal of money sent home
by the Virginia colored men there to their
families. A few weeks ago he brought
about $500 in with him and went around
and paid 1t to the different parties entitled
to it in day or two. On his return last
week however, fortunately, he did not
bring more than fourth of this amount,
but being lame from fall could lot get
around to distribute it. This fact was
doubtless known to the thief who OH
Tuesday night went to his residence. He
first cut the blind of a spare room on
the first floor and inserting his hand raised
the window and entered, the idea being
to pass from that apartment across the
hall and enter Maj. SIS chamber, the door
of which was expected to be unlocked.
The door however was locked 50 the burg
lar went out again and cutting the bllnd
If the chamber window raised it and en-
,ered. Mrs. s. WAS aroused by the noise
IF the entrance but did not realiZa the
cause of her awakening, and after getting
up and pouring out dose of mediclneand
taking it laid down again. The burglar
who had lain perfectly still while she was
up, new moved for the window. Mrs. S.
saw the movement and wakened her hus-
band with cry. Maj. Shumate, though
crippled, sprang out of bed after the man,
who quickly Llunged through the open
window breaking one of the panes with
blinds to behind him, fled. Maj. Shu-
mates pants which had contained $115 in
currency and So 65 i'll specie were found
utside the window with the pockets
.uned inside out, and when morning broke,
lis coat and vest were discovered on the
sank of the creek some Two hundred yards
rom the house. The thief had scattered
Ghe papers the coat contained, along his
QUITE. 1t is presumed that the thief Tor
-ather thieves, for one must have staid
outside while the other handed the things
,uD was familiar with the fact that Maj.
,hamate had a large amount Of money
about him. The loss falls heavily on Maj.
5humate who has to make the amounts
good to the parties they were sent to,
hcugh their delivery was only undertaken
sa matter of kindness
fHE SEQUEL TO THE BURGLARY-ANA AR
REST MADE IN WASHINGTON.
Maj. Shumate spent Wednesday in try
ng to track up the thief, aided by the po-
lice. The result was the working up of
be following facts: For some days COL
| bred man from Ohio named j. r. Smith,
who is without any employment, has been
| stopping at Frank PoindeXter's. He has
| several times stopped Maj. S. on business
md was pretty we'll aware of the fact that
Tuesday evening this man went with
| mother named Jones to Maj. is residence,
Jones going in to borrow a dollar from
Maj. s., for whom he had often worked,
and Smith staying outside app arently re.
connoitering the premises. That night
| about O'Clock Smith returned to his
| boarding house at Frank Poindexter's,
walked up Jones, who says he was asleep
IN his room, and appeared to be very flush
# money, treating literally. He said he
Ras going to the Inauguration. At II
clock Wednesday, Smith went to the De-
DOT aud bought ticket for himself and
Poindexter. giving 500 bill. Maj ShuTate
had $40 bill which he had brought from
Iowa and which he had described to sew
raj friends in the morning as one he
would identify if his lost money was ever
raced. He vent to the Valley depot, al d
,pon Mr.. Woodward running over the
Il ket money taken in that morning, i'm
nediately identified the note and Mr..
Woodward identified it as that paid for
he passage of Smith that morning. A
elegram WAS at once sent to Washington
City ard Smith was arrested as he arrived
III the train He will be brought back to
stanton to-day and an opportunity given
INN to explain the suspicious circumstan-,
:es against him.