Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-07
KIT OF BURGLAR TOOLS FOUND.
The Discovery . Most Important One and
Likely to Lead to the Arrest Of I'm
poftant Criminals.

Yesterday evening at dusk a most I'M
portant discovery was made, which will
probably lead to the arrest of important
criminals and has thwa-ted deep laid
scheme to commit succession of bold and
disastrous burglaries Mr.. n. Hibarger,
who lives at No. 1925 North Hydraulic ave-
nue., in company with Mr.. Peter Wolf,
had been out through the country con-
tracing for hay. On their way home
just before dark they encountered two
colored men who were out hunting and
kept company with them, as all were then
walking toward the city. When they
were within four miles north of the city
they noticed fire on the border OF CHS
holm creek and walked over to it to rest
themselves for little. Seated by the fire
were two men, one about five feet nine
inches high, evidently an Irishman, and
the other shorter. but stouter, dark COM
plexioned and might have been China
man. Neither of the men would have
been mistaken for missionaries and looked
like tramps, which they professed to be.
Mr.. Hibarger felt an impression from the
first that they were something more than
ordinary tramps and began to question
them closely. They appeared very reticent
at first but soon seeing that the questioner
intended to know all about them they
talked more freely. They said they were
tramping and intended to come to Wich-
tia, and by way of explanation for several
strange appearances, added that they had
discovered the fire and two other we'll
dressed men sitting beside it. That these
two had gone to the city and requested
the tramps to stay there and keep the fire
going until night when they would return.
While this conversation was going on one
of the colored men shot bird and going
to hunt for it came across a set of burg
lars tools carefully wrapt up in water
proof covering and hid in the brush. The
kit contained forty or fifty skeleton keys,
jimmy, dark lantern and other tools used
by safe crackers. Mr. Hibarger asked the
tramps who owned the tools and they
answered that they did not know. He
then claimed them by right of discovery,
to which the tramps demurred. He was
firm, however, and told them he would
keep the tools and inform against them
unless they wanted to come to the city
with him and clear their shirts. They told
him they were going to the city but would
go their own way, so they parted
company. Mr.. Hibarger bringing the tools
with him. AS soon as he arrived home he
at once informed the police of the affair."
who took immediate steps to catch the
parties The tools were left at the house
of one of the colored men, who will turn
them over to the authorities this morning
Mr. Hibarger's theory is not at all unrea-
sonable. and that is, that the two princi-
pals came into the city to reconnoitre. leav-
ing these two assistants in charge of the
tools. When the alleged tramps heard
some one approaching they threw the
tools over in the brush, which were discov-
evered as above narrated. Undoubtedly
the fortunate discovery will scare the bur
glars off, and somebody's vault IS safe tor
the present. Mr.. Hibarger says he could
identify the men again, and one of the col
ored men thinks he has seen one of them
on the rock pile.