The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-08-04
COOK & BEERrrs STORE PLrSpsREp.
YOUTHFUL ~srRsLARs 60 II IL TIRE
MOST srrLx OK srsp.y. N
sReap pAYtiaHr-plspyEEEp 81
J. HARzx FRrrz.

For some time Ne-rs. Cook Il. Beeriis. the
grocers . tii~ phase, have been missing arti-
cies Of value irnrn their ~tors. and have been
unable 10 form any notion ~ to who are the
desIailers. On SUNDAY morning Mr.. J. Har-
" Fritz wa sitting IN hi np0an and sfis a
boy whose name i Charlie making motions
70 some one. as he supposed This enniin-
ue-i for ~orle time when Mr. Fritz went To
his window, and looking down saw three lit
tie boys whose names are Tom, PETE and
Dick, close IN the eli Of the building. This
alone would have attracted no suspicion,
had II not been for the fact thar two of the
boys. Tom and Pete, were in the cellar.
and the additional circumstance that on the
ground near Dick. were the following
goods: Half bunch of bananas, a box of
French candy. two boxes of cigars, several
pounds of chewing tobacco, a half dozen har-
monieas, from the five-ent counter anda
cigar box. which it was afterwards learned
contained ,~hirty-two dollars in nickles and
cents, and various other small coin of the
realm.
Mr.. Fritz called 10 the boys with his char
ac~teristie herceness Drop that. you little
rascals You've stolen all those gods e.
Thu boys were alarmed, but Mr.. Flisz again
called Don't one of you attempt to leave
now if you do, III have you arrested p
Hurrying down the stairs he met Mr.. Beerits
just returning from church, to whom he told
the story. and together they went to stop the
youthful burglars in their work of despoila-
ion. Tom said ii was Dick, Pete said
it was Tom, and Dick said it was Harry
that had laid the plan, and while the two
gentlemen were +" taking an inventory of the
stolen goods, the boys slipped away, and
Charlie was no more to be seen.
Next morning Mr.. Beerits saw Tom, and
called 10 him Tom was in a great hurry
was going to see his uncle but AT Mr..
Beerits urgent request he consented to be-
stow a portion OF his valuable time On that
gentleman. Mr.. Beerits told him that if he
would explain how the burglary was COM
mittei, and if they would all agree never TO
enter his store again, nothing wouIibe done:
otherwise he would prosecute all of them.
The boys agreed
The window was fastened only with heavy
oak Stats, and when these were pried away
cntrance was gained to the cellar from the
cellar access to the ware-room was easy and
natural, by means of the stairs. AT the
ware-ruon door they had only 10 unscrew a
hasp which held the bolt Of the lock TO gain
entry into the main store-room, which Is
separated from the room containing the five
cent counter, formerly Fishers book store.
10y a door, fastened On the main store side by
"a hook. Hence il Will be readily seen that
the boys had only 10 gather up their plun-
der. pass into the ware-room, screw on the
hasp mentioned, and 90 through the cellar.
with only the least possible chance of detec-
tion, and in this ease the chance was against
them. The boys were dismissed. az the con
tract was.
The most valuable plumber was the box OF
pennies. which il usually placed in he safe.
hut on the present occasion had been left on
the desk. This burglary was airoitly man
aged According 10 the value Of the plum
der, old hands could not have worked harder
or with more cunning. None of the boys
are over thirteen years of age. Charlie de-
nies all connection with the affair; says he
made no motions, or if he did he did not
know 1t. for he was reeiting his sunday
school lesson. which he had prepared for the
afternoon. Mr.. Beerits believes him.
There j. a a of young thieves about this
town, that viii come To grief Mr.. We!hey.
the bookseller. has been robbed on several
occasions. but the old man is getting his
back up, and the youngsters should stand
from under. OCCASIONAL.