Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-03-09
A BoI,p BURGLARY.
One of the Thieves Escapes TO
the Church Roof and Jumps
or n..s . . a.. f.~.nu.h

the Church HOof ana Jumps
35 Feet 10 the Ground.
One Of the boldest burglaries that was
ever perpetrated in this city occurred
last Sunday evening at the residence Of
| the Fathers of the Church OF Our Lady
of Angels, which is situated on the
Plaza, adjoining the place of worship.
The robbery was committed at about
half-past six. whilst the clergy were par
taking Of their evening repast. The
robbers gained an entrance by break
ing open French window ON the
ground floor in front of the house, lead
ing into Father Gaudon's apartments.
The first intimation the priests had OF
thieves being in their midst was owing
TO the servant girls abrupt departure
| in answer to door bell which she
| thought had rung. On returning to the
| dining room she asked Father Gaudon
whether he had left man in his room
as there was one there with lamp in
his hand aud smoking cigarette.
Father Gaudon Immediately hastened
to his apartments, which he had locked
prior to going to supper, and whilst ua-
| locking the door of his room, he saw a
man blow out the light and disappear
| through door which leads from his
rooms to the vestry. Upon en-
tering his apartments to follow
the thief, he found the latter had locked
| the door from the inside, aud supposed
he would make his escape through the
front entrance of the vestry. The Father
Immediately turned his attention to the
condition OF his apartment, the manner
In which the thief entered and the arti-
cles stolen. He found his wardrobe
broken open and all his personal effects
gone, including a fine overcoat and some
OF his church robes. The implement
used was the iron Of penholder rack
which stood on table. The room was
also cleared of all trinkets of value. A
telephone message was sent to police
headquarters and on the arrival OF the
officers an investigation was made and
an inventory taken Of the things stolen.
Just as the police left the girl come run
ming to the fathers, stating that there
was light in Mr.. Sprouse's room, and
wondering how it could come there, as the
latter had left town some days ago. They
Immediately sent after the police again,
and on going up stairs they saw through
the door man with his coat off wrap
ping up some boxes of cigars. As soon
as the burglar found he was discovered
he jumped through the window on
to the roof Of the church. A police
officer who had arrived on the
scene followed him through a trap
door leading from the bakery to the roof
Of an adjacent building. By this time
the grounds surrounding the church
were filled with spectators, who watched
the chase Of officer and thief with great
eagerness. The latter was making for
the roof upon which the officer had
reached, and discovering that he was
followed he turned his steps to the bel
fry, but finding his pursuer was too
close to his heels he made bold leap
from the highest point of the church to
the ground, distance of about thirty
five feet. In his descent he struck a
small tree that stands at the back of the
church walls, falling en- his hands and
feet without sustaining any injury more
than a lew scratches upon the forehead.
The officer in the meantime had sprang
through the trap OF the belfry aud
reached the ground almost as soon, Sc
curing his prisoner without any diff
Guilty. In the meantime search had
been instituted for the stolen articles
and the captive's accomplice. The
clothes were found piled up in heap in
the Plaza, but the latter had made good
his flight upon the first alarm. Upon
the prisoners arrival at the station house
he gave the nameof Ed. X ent, but said he
knew nothing regarding the name or
the whereabouts Of his chum. The
Gagged bird is hard-looking character
md claims to hail from Dallas, Texas,
having been but two weeks in this city.
In response to the query as to whether
he was an old-timer he claimed this to
be his first criminal offense; that he was
broke and could not get work, hence
the theft. He stated to the HERALD
reporter that he first met his unknown
companion in front of the plaza yester
day afternoon. Both became confden-
tial as to financial condition aud his
unknown chum proposed to him the
raise which has for him resulted in a
fall. He claims TO have been drunk at
the time and does not recollect any com
pact entered into with his more fortu-
nate companion. He said he was fully
prepared to plead guilty.
This is the second burglary that has
occurred at the Fathers residence dur
ing the past three weeks. The first af
fair was hushed up owing to the leni
ency of Father Peter, who plead for the
prisoners dismissal.