Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-07-20
NUMEROUS BURGLARIES
or rHs essTLsmAslY SORT.
The Residences OF Smith ~ Osfsrho1t
aad John ~ Phelps Visited
Minor Futiis Attempts.

ropolItA1. The papers 0f az tie leading
cities have bsel recording the doings or the
latsst alodern zondsr--ths gentien4nlg
bargiar. Mil@aukee has seen him Detroit
i soulexhat familiar with aim, and Grand
Raplsis tas a Last been Visited ~ him One
Of tlese individuals entered the residence Of
John ". Phelps, the lambernan ~ho re-
sldes al the coruer Of South Terrace and
Lawn eourts Ia the southeastern part Of the
atty, yesterday morning. he made his
visit about ten O'Clock and entered
through cellar sIndoS. he
climbed the cellar stairs and, finding
ths door bolted. DC loOsensd portion Of the
door panel with an aagur, boring number
Of holes throagh the wood he then easily
pushed back tins bolt within aud found him
self Ia easy possession OF the residence. The
the exception Of some silver napkin rings,
the plate and other articles OF value were
unmOlssted dawn staifs. The napkin rings
we're placed together IN convenient lOca-
ton IN the dining room, while the burglar
vent up stairs IN quest OF more valuable
plumber. once upstairs be nrst entered the
apartment occupied by a Mrs. Hosmer and
daughter. who reside IA OHIO and are max
ing Mr. Phslps's family short
visit. Here the intruder, IN most
self assured and quiet manner, aroused
the iaaiies assuring them he was real. live
burglar but meant them no harm. Upon
awakening, 10 behold a masked man, bear
ing Ia one hand dark lantern and IN the
other an ugly looking revolver, IN their
room, the ladies showed many signs OF fear.
Il vii not harm you, ladies, said the ma
L.
valuables and your money" He COZ ' need
them they must % calm and make no sI.rl.s,
upon penalty OF their lives, and proceeded
% draw down the window curtains and ex-
tinguish the light. which WAS burning dimly
ia the room. he then requested the ladies
10 deliver 10 his care and keeping all
the money they possessed, and such
other personal valuables as might
be of service TO him. They
informed the unbidden guest they had no
money Ia Possession he requested them TO
turn over their pillows, which they did, and
not finding any valuables there concealed,
no proceeded 10 ransack the drawers OF the
dressing case, and the room ia general After
making the rounds Of the room he aga;n ap-
preached the bed and said NOW, miss,
get up and awaken your boss Tell him
man wishes TO SEQ him." Miss Hosmer
again hesitated, but being assured no harm
would be done her and that the weapon 80
unpleasantly near her bore leaden bullets,
she complied with the request and aroused
Mr. Phelps with calls, asking him to come
into her room. Mr.. Phelps hastened, his
first impulse being that one of his guests
was sick. Upon approaching the door and
seeing the masked man Just inside the room
be was about To enter, he took IN the situa-
ton in an instant. He slammed the door in the
burglars face, bolted il and stepped hurried
| ~ to the bureau for his revolver. While h o
was doing this the unbidden guest threw his
/ weight against the door several times, hop
/ ing 10 burst IL open. Mr.. Phelps secured his
weapon and was returning TO confront the
/ intruder when he beat a hasty retreat down
stairs and made good his escape through the
/ kitchen. The aroused lumberman lost no
time in following his victim, bat in the dark
/ Ness could not distinguish his form or make
an effective shot. The house was then thor
/ Oughly aroused and a search was instituted,
/ but with the exception OF a small amount OF
| ieweiry and money, and the napkin rings,
/ nothing valuable was missing.
| Early yesterday morning burglars gained
access 10 the residence of Smith W. Oster-
hOut, 1873 Madison Avenue, through the eel
lar. They had IN their kit of tools an inch
| anger with which they bored several holes,
In tho form of circle, through the outside
cellar door, and, removing the loosened
piece, they succeeded in pushing back the
/ bolt. In the cellar they regaled themselves
had purchased for the Sunday dinner table,
| but left other things untouched. Finding
| the door at the top of the cellar stairs barred
! they brought the anger again into use and
| secured access 10 the kitchen They did
not care To bother with articles in this por-
ton of the house and sought for richer fields
in the parlors and sleeping apartments.
They found the double-doors leading into
the parlOr locked, and again resorted to the
| implement. which had proved 40 handy IN
DONG away with former obstacles, TO make
| further progress. Their boring operations
disturbed the inmates of the residence and
/ Mr. OsterhOut hastened down stairs to in
yestigate. Upon a. approach the burglars
/ fled through the kitchen and out through
| the back yard. not however before Mr.. Os-
! terhOut had seen them fastening away. He
/ II certain there we're two In the party and
thinks there was third partner watching
| operations and acting as a spy upon the out
/ side. They secured nothing of value.
Mr.. OusterhOut says that when awakened
by the noise Of the burglars at work he wa
/ as conscious Of what they were attempting
| to do "a though he was doing the job him
self. tie crept cautiously down the stairs
and when once upon the first hOor the noise
made By the burglars was "a great as that
| made by a barn carpenter with his anger
Not having q revolver IN the house and nc
weapon being handy Mr.. OsterhOut seized a
pair OF CRATE tongues and shouted to the
intruders What are you doing here ?
They then fed With a good revolver in his
possession there can be little doubt but that
both burglars would have received cold
lead reception from Mr.. OsterhOut, ss the
/ opportunity to treat them 10 such was mos
/ rare.
Between N and l. O'Clock Saturday even
ing a patrolman found that a door to the
general offices Of the Chicago q West Mich
gan railroad. upon the I0nia street side. haC
been forced open The lock was broken and
vas found upon the fOOr inside. Assistant
/ Passenger Agent 9svstt was notified and Ell
smined the premises, but found nothing in
( side had been disturbed.
The house Of Mrs. Eliza King on Summit
street wa broken into Saturday night and
I clothes 20 the value Of Sl5 we're taken. Mrs.
/ King takas in Hashinr and the rinthes stolen