The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1889-01-18
BURGLARS AGAIN.
They Enter G. H. Gays Shop, e. F
Hawley's Store and the Depot.

ClOStIy uOCS bsIC HOlh uohC ny pAAS S"h6
which operated here, Friday night, cor
respond with the crimes committed some
years ago, both here and elsewhere. that
it seems as if done by the same persons.
Not enough was secured, however, to
warrant another descent in the future,
for money and goods combined were val
ued at less than 300.
All day Friday, strangers had been
seen about Sandy Hook, gazing at Mr.
w. b. Sniffen's jewelry store, loafing
around the New England and Housaton-
ic depots and in the Street. No notice
was taken of them and it is impossible to
describe them.
Mr. Robert III. Beers sleeps over Mr.
Edgar Il. Hawley's store and, for more
than a week, his room has been shared
by Mr. Daniel G. Keane, another clerk.
Friday night, however, the room
was not ready to occupy and both clerks
spent the night at the Grand Central ho-
tel. During the evening, strangers had
been in the store and had also been walk
ing up and down, outside; but no one
was in sight when the store was closed,
about II 10.
Shortly after O'Clock, Saturday
morning, Mr. L. B. Booth was awakened
by Earring noise, which was also heard
by Mr. Peter Keller, the shoemaker, who
likened it to the distant discharge of a
gun and Mrs John G. Gay, who thought
| it resembled the conclusion made by
closing heavy door with bang. Moth
ing further was heard by any one.
Subsequent events prove that the
thieves first broke into Mr. Charles III.
Gays carriage shop near the depot by
forcing open door which had been Sc
curely closed since the shop was entered,
some time ago, prying open the desk, in
which nothing was found and tampering
with the safe. This had been left unlock
ed, but it was locked when Mr. Gay ar
rived, the next morning. No valuables
were in it, however, for Mr. Gay has had
too many visits of this kind to keep mon
ey there. Chisels, bits, iron drills and
braces were taken for future use and the
Office door pried open, to furnish egress.
| From here, they proceeded Mr. Il. F..
Hawleys store, pried the doc apart
with Mr. Gays tools and entered the
store. After thoroughly ransacking the
money draws and goods in the store,
they attacked the safe. 1t was made by
six years and was claimed to be fireproof,
though not burglar proof. Evidently
understanding the interior construction,
small holes were drilled through the top
of the safe, giving it trend to the front
to avoid small iron compartment door.
This done, fine gunpowder was placed
around the edges of the door and drawn
inward by strong suction pump, placed
in the drilled hole. When sufficient
charge had thus been blown in, fuse
was inserted, held in place by wax and
fired. The muffied explosion which fol-
lowed was heard by few and understood
by none and the burglars proceeded I'M
disturbed with their nefarious vrk.
The safe door had been and
the casing broken, so that il Z an easy
/ matter to open it, although the lock was
not injured. But $40 was in the safe
$22 so in gold and the remainder in sill
. yer. This was taken, with half a dozer
silk handkerchiefs from the counters
jewelry, revolvers, oranges and small ar
ticles, amounting to nearly as mucf
more. The safe contained many valu
Z able private papers, which were thor
oughly ransacked. None, however, arr
, missing, save few certificates of stock
t belonging to Mrs Hawley and these cal
do the thieves no good.
= Leaving everything in confusion, tn
, guilty quartet (for there is no doubt tina
e four men were concerned in the crimes
f proceeded to the Housatonic station
:. where they broke pane of glass fror
n the upper sash of the window near tn
/ southwest door, entered the station an
made themselves quite at home. Th
:, ticket window was smashed and the offic
e searched, but only few pennies RI
'e warded their diligence.
Il Here they remained, eating the fru
=, y obtained from the store and scatterin
e the remains around the floor, until the
M freight, Nathan Curtis conducto
n arrived. A car was to be left upon Il
= siding and, while this was being don
If the burglars left the station, secrets
lie themselves on the train and escaped.
rs When Agent G. b. Taylor entered Il
=, station, Saturday morning, he found
o. whisk broom and the remains of orang
IN from the store, but no other trace of t.
NJ miscreants.
;S The next to discover the burglary W
tv Mr. Charles #. Beardsley, who opened
re- Hawley's store about O'Clock. He W
OF surprised to observe that the door W
- open, the goods in confusion and the :
.a3 full of gunpowder smoke. Assuring hi
on self .that.Mr Beers was not in his roo
IN, he fastened to inform Mr. Hawley. Th
~ at once returned and a thorough
J. fruitless search was made for clu
lev Nothing had been left but few damag
tools belonging to Mr. Gay.
of Mr. Gay recovered part of his tools
rd, damaged condition, but his loss will
of S. or Sc, the usual loss in each of
MANY instances in which his shop
sas been forcibly entered.
um Officers were at once put on the tr
A. Deputy Sheriff Glover going to Bird
ny, port and Constable John I'll. Blackmal
ON Danbury. No clue could be obtain
,es- save this: Officer John Quinhvan
of Bridgeport. who is conversant with
ov- ways of the crooks, saw a young n
~ =, who has an unsavory record running
Va catch train, Friday night. AS the
mes low jumped on the Housatonic freie
o. leaving the city at 8 sop m, the off
oe. remarked, ssYoull hear of a burglar.