New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-21
A THIEF IN THE HEN-HOUSE.
Mr.. LEAvITTs CHOICE FOWLS SAVED.
ELABORATE BURGLAR ALARMS THAT WORKED WELL
TIE wOr NpED ROBBER ESCAPES.

THE WOUNDED ROBBER ESCAPES.
The beautiful village of Baysde, l.. l.. which
clusters around the shores of Little Neck Bay, is made
all the attractive by the handsome countryhouse
OF Rowland Leavitt. Mr. Leavitt is young man and
takes lively satisfaction in the rearing and general i'm
prOvement Of horses and chickens. His stables contain
only the best breeds, and he never allows hiasef to
be passed on the road Next to his horses,
his fowls his chief delight. They
housed In handsome little cottage short distance
from Mr. Leavitts own home aud he has fitted up their
quarters with all the uxuries that tho most exactng
rooster the fastidous hen could reasonably de-
mand Mr.. Leavtts fowls famous. They repre-
sent large OF money and great deal Of care. The
elderly ones have all taken first premiums at chicken
shows and the young their immediate descend
ants. Visitors from all parts OF the country have
to view this remarkable collection which contains every
variety of superior fowl and constitutes marvellous
menagerie of brilliant feathers keen spurs and ruby
combs.
Honest visitors are always welcome, and Mr.. Leavitt
tires in showing them the beauties OF his
chcken-coop. But during the past winter he has had
midnight guests at irregular intervals who have not
thought worth while to disturb his sumbers have ELI
tered his chickenhouse in defiance OF bolts and bars and
have been well pleased with mis- fowls that they have
taken away OF his finest specimens. After few
visits OF this kind Mr. Leavtt provided his chicken
house with burglar alarm. II contrved that
door or window could be disturbed without ringing
Whlcl bedrooms II.
and his manservant.
one morning a few weeks ago Mr. Lcavitt was hastily
summoned by servant to go down to the chicken
house there he found his with two pieces or board
each about foot and half long, which had been cut by
scroll saw out ] 81 the So, side o the house ae n 9US aSa s
dozen OF the most valuable fowls wero gone. Mr..
Leavttt would not have sold them for S25 apiece lie
hired detectives and offered rewards to catch the thel
bnt all his efforts were unavaiing Thereupon ne had
alarm experts and the result of their ingenuity
was system OF wire netting and electricity which was
warranted 10 ring an alarm at the very approach OF
man whose design was sinister. .
The chicken thieves enterprisng all about Bay
last month to find himself relieved af dozen or two OF
hts besr.fows. These stories. as they came daily to
reposed the most lmpli.t confidence In his burglar
alarm. and his last before retiring was to Set It's
mechanism In proper shape 10 disclose the appearance
Of any suspicious character In Its vicinity on sunday
morning about 2:3o O'clock the alarm over his head
jingled loudly. Mr.. Leayitt sprang up and hurredy
clothing himself. ran out into the yard armed with
seven chamberod revolver There he met his WORKING
man. who had also been aroused by the ALARM aud To-
gether they made their way noiseessy and with much
as ou civ fastened They pressed the windows but
they equally we'll secured They walked all around
nsht mara1er Mr. IeSytt concluded that one Of his
fowls must have escaped from It's apartment
and touched the netting Which viii ,c,,oD acts ON the s
mind. aud wondering how he might en-
dow the alarm with power to discriminate between e, ts
when ca,ter OF falling boards was neard; d 3 l1i
Hurry up with your revolver. Mr. Leavitt; there
goes the thieil'
The thief lost time in getting over the ground He
tore nerccy down the roadway. hotly pursued py MI
Leayitts man. who had possessed himself OF the re-
yolver The fred. and called upon the thlei 70
ston and nrrd again renewing the demand that he
should pause In HI. mad career but receiving no reply
he fired tho third time. Tho thlef had now
s,lf and drove away tho top Of his horses speed
hon.c lie found that a hole had been made in the
boards bet weon two about eighteen inches wide
near the ground. Inside tho house was found baY
cont lining 1--WE of his finely bred hens. all honored
vii premiums and stately rooster, whose dignity n'
suffered evident Injury by his confinement IN meat
nag MIR Ieavit and his employe drove immediately 70
Pushing and aroused Police Captain Hance, VINO win
two ron.tnblrs started out on several routes
n nterrent the thief II possible They were not success
mi and continued their seaS>h yesterday Drops Ol
blood pon the roadway from house To the gate seep
tn sdlcate that bullet at least took effect Ihe oi
believe that the thief came from East NeW Vrk
snJ .yn.ct 10 cn ch him There Is talk OF raising
fund aaong the far,ncrs around Flushing nud Bayside
for the purpose OF hunting down these cncke tsscS
whose plncr this winter amounted to several hun
dred dOllarz