New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-02
BURGLARS ROB A CHURCH.
A VALUABLE FONT TAKEN FROM A SAFE.
DETERMINED WORK OF THE yANDALs IN THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.


The First Presbyterian Church, that for upward
Of forty years has been familiar sight TO the eyes
of old New-Yorkers, in Ffth-ave., between Elev-
enth and Twelfth sts., is filed with many sacred
memories and fond associations. The church
society is the oldest Presbyterian organization in
the city having been formed in 1865. The church
grew with the city. and became the centre Of
wealth and fashion Of the old Presbyterian fami-
lies. This church occupies q unique place among
the Presbyterian churches in the city, as it has
been the parent of many Of them and is loved by
all. The plot Of ground upon which the building
stands was presented by Robert Lenox. and is the
block between Eleventh and Twelfth sts and runs
west about 200 feet from Fifth-ave.
Last Sunday morning between and o'clock
Charles j. Day, the sexton, who lives at No 90
West Twelfth ST., went 10 the church TO give it
m airing. When he opened the doors he was con-
fused by its unnatural appearance. light was
burning in the vestry-room, that at first sight he
was unable to explain and the floors Of the church
covered with hymn-books and Bibles The
sexton's confusion gave way TO astonishment when
he found that the door of the safe was knocked
out Of shape and that its contents missing.
II then dawned upon him that burglars had been
at work in the church.
HOW THE THIEVES WORKED.
The method by which the thieves entered the
church was plain Near each corner OF the cell
lar stands brick box which is used as a ventila-
tor in the summer and a heater in the winter.
The cold air shafts are on lcycl with the ground
and extend through the foundation. They are
protected at the external opening by thick wire
screen After midnight on Saturday the thieves
entered the church-yard, and began work at the
screen at the southwest corner of the church.
Elevcnth-s by the Sunday-school building. But
while the protection from Eleventh-st sight-seers
was perfect there was an absence Of shrubbery
on the Fifth-ave. side of the grounds, and even
in the dim light that sifted through the trees
there was a chance Of being discovered.
The screen, however was broken and several
bricks were knocked out of the wall Then the
burglars walked around the front Of the church
and began operations upon the shaft in the
northwest corner. The shrubbery is thick on this
side Of the church, and the view from Twelfth
ST. and Fifth-ave. is entirely DISTRACTED. II was
only the work Of moment TO rip off the screen.
1t is supposed that there were three thieves at
least in the gang, one Of whom acted as look
out and kept guard near Fifthave. The screen
being removed IL was easy to get into the Ventl-
lator There their progress was impeded by
heavy brick wall The ventilator pipe on the
lag pipe that ran along the cellar floor, and
the thieves chose TO batter down the
brick wall rather than crawl through this pipe.
Within this brick box there was another smaller
box made also OF brick, and into this latter one
the ventilating shafts opened. The thieves next
battered down the obstruction Then they found
themselves confronted by the outside brick box
which is about SIX feet square They could walk
in this around the heating tubes; and when they
get TO the heavy outer iron door door they SMASHED
Ill tr,r Lot oh with a haaNrV~ hammer
inoO tka cslIar.
BREAKING OPEN THE SAFE.
Once in the church the thieves went TO the
middle aisle and walked to the pulpit and then
TO the vestry room on the southwest corner OF
tie church. On the way they broke open q con-
tribution box which was nailed TO the wall, but
did not touch box which was labelled COM
munications to the pastor They also took
heavy crow-bar, a sledge hammer, several hles.
and screw drivers belonging TO the sexton. In
this room was tie church safe tui.t into tie
stone wall with the door about flush with the
plaster The sa fe door was literally smashed TO
pieces with the crow-bar and sledge hammer
They made plenty of noise, and the neighbors
heard it and also saw the lights hitting IN the
church between l and a. m, Nonday, but
thought it WIS the sc Ilon at work
In this safe was a silver baptismal font ana
a twO-gallon demlohn Of communion wine which
the thieves emptied The font was worth
priceless treasure by the church. 1t was bcauti-
fully chased and bore the following inscription:
" / he gift of David Geston to the First PresDy-
terian Church, 1922 The burglars made
search everywhere for the communion service,
which had been removed for the summer 10 the
pastors home. The silver collection plates which
usually are kept in the safe, the sexton, on trl-
day evening had put under "A cushion IN
ono cf the seats, and these were not taken. The
pulpit was badly soiled with candle grease.
The sexton of the church is an eX-sergeant oi
the police having been for many years in the Six
tcenih Precinct lie did a little detective work
on hi. own account, hut as he could not make any
headway, he reported the robbery to Inspector
Bvrncs. at Police Headquarters, last evening.
Captain Brogan in whose precinct the robbery was
committed heard of the robbery on Monday, and
has been working diligently to find the f9ne.
Hickey and Mangin on the case. The pastor OF
the church. the Rev. Richard d. Harlan, is out
Of the city. WorlImcn have been busy IN the
church since Sunday repairing the damage done