The Portland daily press., 1883-07-10
BOLD BURGLARY.
A Portland Physicians House
Robbed.
A sCool and Systematic Under
taking.

One Of the coolest and most systematic bur-
glaries which has taken place In this city occur
red lSunday night at the residence OF DR..
James M. Cummings, No. 1870 Park street DR..
Cummings is one of our Oldest and best known
homeopathic physicians and it would seem as II
the house OF doctor, who is liable to come in
or go out at any hour of the night, is the last
place burglars would select for robbery.
On the night in question the occupants OF
the house were DIR. and Mrs. Cummings, Miss
Cumm ines, and the servant. Before retiring
Mrs. Cummings went into the parlors and
fastened the windows, so as to make every
thing secure. Later Miss Cummings had oc-
casion to go to the window in the back rarloi,
opening into the garden in the rear and after
closing it failed to slip the catch. Probably
this fact would have made no difference to the
burglars-who evidently entered the carriage
drive at the side Of the house, passed through
the garden, and attempted this window-but it
enabled them to enter the house noiselessly
and without force.
Having obtained an entrance the burglars
passed through the back parlor door into the
hall, and from thence gained the doctors study
on the other side. Here they found an old
fashioned board-bottomed candlestick, and
lighting the candle it contained, thsy proceed
ed to the second story, first leaving their rear
well protected by drawing the bolts of the
kitchen door, and opening it, as well as the
hall door leading into the kitchen.
Once upstairs the burglars entered a dress
ing-room off of Mrs. Cummings chamber
where they confscated handsome gold watch
and heavy gold pin. They then proceeded
to the doctors room. They failed to see the
doctors watch hanging above the bed-post,
but they took his trousers from the chair, They
stole nothing from any of the other chambers.
They then went down stairs to the study, took
the money contained in the doctors trousers
pockets. and his keys BY the aid of the latter
they opened the secretary in his room and
captured box containing about twelve dollars
in change. Another box full of valuable
articles they failed to notice.
OFF of the study are two large closets, one of
which the doctor used for wardrobe, and here
he kept quantity of clothes The burglars
coolly pulled these out and evidently tried
them on, finally deciding to leave all but a
very nice new coat which the doctor was par
stSa4.-'J poA sAA W. ohu tuCJ SakAiCd OiA
gether with a pair of new suspsnders which
were attached to the trousers brought down
from the bedroom. They also took am ele-
CANT opera glass out of its case-which was
fitted with strap to pass over the shoulders
and left the case but "froze" to the glass.
By this time the burglars were evidently
hungry and they ransacked the dining room
closet. A large cake box met their eye and.
opening it, the greater portion Of a nice cake
was exposed to view. The rascals did not
leave crumb of it behind but devoured the
whole. 1t is probable that, having finished
their meal, something alarmed them for they
went off by the back kitchen door, leaving be-
hind quantity of old family silver on the
dining room table which the family had failed
to lock up with the rest of the silver after tea.
How long a time the burglars were in the
house can only be left to conjecture. Both DIR.
Cummings and Miss Cummings do not hear
very readily and probably this fact accounts
for their failing to be disturbed. Mrs Cum
mings says she heard not sound and the first
the family knew of the affair was when the
servant went down stairs yesterday morning.
This is the third time the house has been en-
tered by burglars, the last taking place three
years ago, the burglar proving to be dis
charged servant.