The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-07-08
WHOLESALE ROBBERY.
A RESIDENCE ON SAN PEDRO
AVENUE TOUCHED"
Large Amount ofSllver Plate. jew
elry ana Valuables Missing
one Man Suspected

since Yesterday morning the IiGHr
reporter has been cognizant Of large
robbery duplicating former employee
well-known business firms. For the
reason that the stolen property was not
yet recovered. the LIGnT refrained from
publishing the fact yesterday. but to-
day our readers may learn OF the case.
Night before last Or. q. J.. Hunter, who
lives at No. 22O San Pedro avenue, and
who owns extensive plantations In South
Carolina and n stock ranch west OF San
Antonio, returned home, after an alb
sence of two months. and discovered his
loss. lie and his family, consisting of
his wife and daughter, closed up the
house and left the city about two months
ago. the ladies to spend the summer at
their Carolina home, and the Doctor to
look after his stock Interests In the
West. Messrs. stevens a Russ, Or.
Hunters agents for his property In this
city. recommended him to place their
book-kcepcr, Mr.. Jas. Byrne, In charge
of their residence during their absence.
Mpssrs. stevens & Russ did this at the
request of Or. Hunter, who desired to
have some one In the house during his
absence. to look after the poultry and
prevent the house from being burglar
lied. About month ago General Truss
had oocesiOn to take n trip North. and
during his absence the bOOk-keeper,
Byrne went on protracted spree, and
General Russ, on his return, discharged
him. The General says up to this time,
during the months he was employed by
them, he was perfectly honest and thor
oughly capable rs n bOok-keeper. Byrne
continued AT DR.. Hunters place after
this until DR. Hunter, hearing OF his In
ebriate habits, returned to the city for
few daya. but found everything appa-
renily as he had left them and again de-
parted Returning Monday night, how
ever. lie found the house Invested Of
everything Of value, and trunks, cup
boards and drawers thoroughly
ransAcked Byrne was lying on
the floor of one Of the rooms with
large two-gallon demijohn for whisky
sitting by him nearly empty of its con-
tents. Two trunks belonging TO Mrs.
gfd Mics Hunter, which had been left In
the front room. and which contained la
dies jewelry. clothing and silver plate
belonging to the table, were found
broken open and ri1led OF their valuable
contents. Vases, parlor ornaments,
table linen, line bed linen, counterpanes,
ETC., were also missing, and large
quantity Of wine In bottles was gone. A
large barrel OF wine ut the residence
kept for family use had not been touched
rs II had not apparently been discov-
cred
Byrne was given the keys of the front
room which was NOT locked, and also
given the keys of the dwelling although
he only occupied one room.
Hyrnp, when found, was in such n
condition that DR.. Hunter left him UNI
Ill the next morning, and then took him
TO police station in hack and turned
him over to Officers Hughes and Martin
and told his story. Byrne was in
condition bordering on delerium ire
mems. and was unable to even speak.
The City Physician was summoned and
administered remedies, and he was
placed on Il cot and passed the night in
a cell in the second story ofthe bat cave.
This morning he has greatly improved
and is able to talk, but declined to say
much to either the physician, the officers
or DR.. Hunter.
great deal of the property that was
missing, to the amount of about
800, has been recovered by DR..
Hunter and the officers, from parties
who claimed they purchased 1t very
oheaply, but the largest portion OF the
goods amounting to several hundred
dollars more, are yet missing, although
the officers are tracing 1t.
Meanwhile no proof of Byrnes' guilt,
except what may be termed as ciroum-
stantlal proof, has been discovered, al
though he viii be held until the robbery
is cleared up, and will probably be trans
ferred to the county jail tomorrow.
Byrne is the party to whom the City
Physician and mounted policeman was
summoned recently by the neighbors,
they believing HIM to be either dead or
crazy, he having been seen for several
days lying out on the front gallery in a
motionless position. lie was then found
to be simply dead drunk. lie was for
merly editor of a newspaper published
in Eagle Pass, Texas, and Is man OF
fine education. His only fault Is his ter
rible one of drink.