The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-09-13
A Clsvor burglary.
FOURTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS STOLEN FROM .
STATEN ISLAND HOMESTEAD.

New York Times, 12th.l
a cieveriy-planned burglary, by wbicl
we perpetrators secured u booty Of nearl
si4,O0O, was executed ut West Brighton
staten Island. on Sunday afternoon last
The victims were Edward and Owen Nc
Soriey, two OF several brothers who arc IN,
principal stockholders in the Staten Islam,
Dyehg and Printing Establishment I'd
ward McSorley was the largest loser. vii
nam McSorlcy, the father OF these yount
men, had been a common laborer. but h,
saved money, became one OF the two larpes
stockholders in the Staten Island Dvein,
Works, and ut the time OF his death. six q,
seven years ago, was possessed OF consider
sDie other property. lie lived In an old
fashioned country house at No. % Column
Dla street, West Brighton. This house
winch Is now called the McSorlcy home
stead, became at Mr.. McSorley's death IN,
( property OF his daughter. Mrs. Lewis Nc.
/ llugh. IL Is occupied now by Mrs. Nc
hugh, her husband, her brothers. Edward
ana owen, an aged relative, Miss Bridget
McSorley, and Miss Green, a young lady
An old freshman named Bryan Norton
employed on the premises, sleeps in one OF
the attlcs OF the house. The building i,
TWO stories and half high, and each floor
Is divided by hallway in the centre. ex.
tending from front TO rear. Mrs. McUugb'.
/ bed-chamber is on the second floor. at Tho
rear OF the house, and on the south side
OF the hallway. In closet in tbi,
room was kept small. old-iaShioncd safe
IN which was stored a lot OF deeds. bank.
books, and other private papers, bonds and
cash. All the cash and nearly all the bonds
in the safe at the time Of the burglary were
the property Of Edward McSorIey. The
deeds and papers were the common pro-
pcrty OF the two brothers and sister. ire
safe has been kept in the house for the last
five years. II formerly contained a much
larger amount OF property, but several
years ago one Of the other brothers said
one day the safe might ut some time be
robbed, and he forthwith removed his
bonds and valuable papers to safe deposit
vault in this city.
Mrs. McIlugh and her brother, Edward
McSOrley, went to Philadelphia toward the
close OF last week, and on Sunday after
noon, Mr.. McIIugh being absent, the only
persons in the house were Miss Green,
Miss McSorlcy, and Owen McSorley. About
2:30 O'Clock Owen proposed to the ladies to
drive over and see the almShOuse mt Mid
dletOwn, which had been on fire the night
before. They fastened up the front of the
house, but left the back door open, and in
Structcd old Bryan, who, when they were
leaving, sat eating an apple in the yard Ut
the rear, TO take care OF the house until
they returned. II was about 6 O'Clock
when they got back. Just before reach
ing home they passed three men walking
leisurcly in the opposite direction. one
OF them carried a red leather satchel and
wore gray suit, with Derby hat TO
match. "Thosc are three sharp-looking
fellows" remarked Owen McSorlcy to the
ladies. "Why, that one with the Saehcl."
exclaimed Miss Green, "is the man who
came to the house last Sunday and inquired
for BRIDGET. and when shown into the
basement where she was sitting, said that
was not the person he was seeking, and
Immediately went away" When the party
arrived home they saw nothing Of Bryan,
but shortly aftcrward he appeared, walking
rapidly from the direction Of the street,
and carving piece Of rope and a wrench
IN his hand. Mr.. McSorey told Bryan he
was nice person TO watch house, and
asked him where he had been. Bryan re
piled that shortly after Mr.. McSoriey left a
:. smart-looLing young chap" walked into
the ward. and addressing him by name,
said that Mr.. McSorley's wagon had
broken down up the road and rope
and wrench were needed To fix il. He
advised Bryan to take these things at once
to Mr.. McSorev. Bryan found wrench
in the barn, but was unable TO find rope,
whereupon the obliging young gentleman
took ont his pOcket-knife and cut piece
from a clothes-line that was stretched across
the ward. He then accompanied Bryan to
the cate and told him lie would find Mr..
NcSorlcv about mile up the road in the
direction Of the cemetery. Bryan started
off at run, but the young man called TO
him that he need not be i'll hurry. old
BRYAN walked on, and on inquiring OF
everybody he met where Mr.. McSorleys
wagon had broken down, and at length,
loot-,orc and disappointed, went back
home 10 find NJ. McSOrlcy there before
him.
During Brvan'S absence some neighbors
sow two men enter the house 10y the back
door and third standing upon the 'front.'
stoon. but their suspicious were not
aroused. because they thought that some
members OF the family were at home.
while the burglars were at work Lawrence
Dempsev. friend OF Owen McSorley, VINO
i in the habit Of leaving his team IN me NC
Sorlev ward when he goes to West Brighton,
drove ND 10 the gate, but The man on
fine front stoop told him there was nobody
AT home. and would not allow INN 10 urlFe
into the ward The safe was dragged from
the closet into the middle OF the room.
Holes were drilled into the top OF the door
near the free edge. A small jimmy was In
eorted into the aperture and the outer piatc
- H. door was bent back at the corner
nv means Of a larger jimmy the plate was
vyrenched half of, so rs TO expose the polt>,
which. being fastened into the lock by
screws. were easily removed. Inc eh'ire
contents OF the safe were carried away
eyrent handful OF old English coll
81 little value. The booty. secured
Nv fine burglars consisted OF SlO,OOO
~ Richmond county bonds, worth
dollar for dollar: three one-thousanG-
doiIar bonds OF the Buffalo, New YORK
and Erie Railway Company; one gciu
stcm-winding watch, valued at Sloo, WIN
The initials "T. r." engraved on the bacA'
AMI sG5O in fity-dollar bills and twenty
dnilor cold coins. The Richmond count!
Ind. were all registered, and duplicates
con lac obtained. 1t is not known whether
,bn railroad bonds were registered OF not
Tho Richmond county bonds, TWO OF tnt
rojIroad bonds, and the money were tne
, ,a,',V 'r of Edward McSOrley. The other
rra;Iroad bond and the watch belonged 70
Ann ucSorley. The deeds were all re-
I'LL and will therefore be OF no Vaiue to
the thieves. "a. ,,oo,.;rg Rrvan's
story, did not at first suSpecl ~, hci 5Sc;D,i
6 Sor oo9 had simply played a practical JOKE
on the old man. AS nolhins o III,