The daily gazette., 1883-04-26
RoLp RoRnERs.
work of Desperately Thieves In Richmond
Virginia.

philadelphia Press.l
RICHMOND. Va, April 25.-Richmond
has been thrown into q ilutter Of excitement
and its police utterly coufounded by a series
of robbcries. the boldness OF which has been
unparalleled In each instance the house
has been entered ~ false keys and the bed
chambers by turning the keys In the locks
from the outside with nppers. The thieves
then entered the rooms of the sleeping
parties and noldly took articles thereirom'
The series of depredations has continued for
five weeks.
Among Others the chamber of Miss Mary
Hampton, daughter of Senator Wade
Hampton, of South Carolina, and who was
known to have splendid diamonds, was ram
sacked. A gold watch aud her two brace
lets were taken The diamonds she had
oarelessly thrown in an old cigar box and
they were overlooked, although her jewelry
case was rumaged and some money taken
Mrs. ex-P President Tyler is another victim.
Her bed chamber was entered and fine
gold cross, the gift of her husband, was
among the articles OF jewelry taken. The
boldness of the depredations and the inabil-
ity to obtain any clue to the robbers RESULT d
in the placing OF q double force Of police IN
Captain -PaFatef's district, where the crimes
have mainly occurred. 7-H
Yesterday the captain himeelf was made
the victim of the boldest Of the burglaries.
While he was at breakfast, at 7.SO O'Clock,
his chamber was entered and raneacked,
money and jewelry being stolen. AT O'Clock
in the afternoon, as his daughter, aged 10
was going to her room, sbe was confronted
by two men with blackened faces One OF
them choked her while the other, presenting
a pistol at her head, said, "if you say q
| word Pll blow your id head off," and
| ,stk ha iark I'D Unln chain
from her neck and gold ring from heI
finger. She, nevertheless, screamed and the
man ran off.
Last night at O'Clock Captain Parater'l
house was stoned from the rear and the
windows broken. This evening at 5 5o'clock
the most dastard,y and boldest of the out.
RACES was oInmitted. The same youJP
lady was in the fourth story of the house IN
her room, when she was suddenly seized
| from behind, her hands tied with towel
and her mouth gagged. The scoundrel then
drew a razor which he had taken from the
| room below, occupied by Colonel w. 3.
Gilman, of the clerical force of The United
States Sen ate, and proceeded to cut off the
dress of the helpless girl, and slash over the
corset which protected her.
He then threw her on the mattress, which
he pulled out into tie middle of the floor
and saying D-n you, I'm going u
smother you," attempted to close it owe
her. She became hysterical and in he
struggles the gags were unloosed and hei
screams brought two gentlemen from dowI
stairs. In the same mysterious way as here
tofore the scoundrel disappeared.
Captain Psrater has been particularly
active In attempting to arrest the burglars
and it is supposed that these deeds are
| prompted by spirit of revenge. The ex.
element is Unprecedented. Many women
and children dare not eman IN their HON /
alone and upon sick women the fright has
been disastrous, and it is feared in several
instances fatal The police are arresting all
men found on the streets a ter IL O'Clock
and are making them prove identity. The
gun stores have sold out their stock Of fire
arms entirely, aud also bolts aud paten
locks. Several have telegraphed North TO
night for supplies of pistols to be sent by
return express.