Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1890-05-29


corner of the building, where a fine
view is commanded of either Laurel or
Commerce streets. The fact that this
position was taken by at least one of
the burglars, is developed from the
fact that before the employees
OF the factory leave Saturday
night, the floors are very carefully
swept up. Beside a chair Sunday
morning were ashes of cigars on the
floor, together with whittlings from
stick, the cause of the latter will be
shown later. There is little doubt
that ono of the gang kept this position
in the cigar mandatory during the
entire burglary, as d watchman.
In the stock room, hanging on q
door, were G. pair of black pants,
belonging to the foreman, Jos. Lessig.
a part of these pantaloons were found
on Sunday, below among the trays and
drawers.
When the burglars we're ready to
strike they left Mengel's building, and
re-entered the old Ne,cs building, and
going down an outside, back stairway,
gained admission to the first floor.
From the first floor a window was
raised, and the thieves were in the
little court, directly in the rear of both
Sheldon's and Mengel's place of bust
ness.
The first work of the thieves was to
take an exceptionally sharp auger and
bore an inch hole through the shutter,
evidently for the purpose of reaching
the bolt, but the hole was made be-
low, and marks on the shutters show
just where a Jimmy" was used in
forcing them open. The catch over
the window was then forced, and the
sash raised.
| The burglars are now ready for
active work.
None of the cases or drawers about
the store were touched, which goes to
prove that the burglars were only
eager to get in the safe. Some hard,
but rather blunt instrument was used
in battering down the edge of the
dial, and then with an instrument pc
culiarly their own, began the work Of
drilling. The instrument was in some
way clamped upon the knob of the
dial, giving a powerful brace. The
manner in which the hole is drilled, is
very peculiar, and lnachfnists cannot
agree as to the manner In which it
was done. The hole is a half inch
large, and has been drilled an inch
and a quarter. The outside of the hole
showed deep coarse threads. A ma
chinist who made careful examination
this morning thinks smaller hole was
first drilled, and then tapped out
larger. By drilling this hole, the bolts
were freed from the combination and
could to easily worked by turning the
handle.
The safe doors opened the burglars
rapidly pulled out all the trays and
drawers and carried them out into the
court and there assorted all that were
valuable and carried them off. Several
trays of watches, every gold ring, gold
bracelets, and all manner of jewellery
were taken. Plated goods were left
disdainfully behind. About fifty dol
lars in notes and silver were taken
from the same. and thirty dollars in
gold. the property of Mrs. Sheldon,
was taken from small plush box in
which it was kept.
The legs of the pants which were
stolen from Mengel's were used for
some purpose, the waists having been
cut off and left in the yard.
All the trays that were robbed were
open and their contents easily seen,
but in a small aperture a large leather
case, covered with valuable gold
watches was overlooked, and still
remain. About forty-seven watches
that had been left for repairs, were
also taken by the thieves.
The cool Williams, after completing
tnelr rooDery, began covering up tnelr
work, So chat it might not soon be dis
covered. The small wooden plug
whitfield out in Mengel's building, was
inserted in the hole drilled in the COM
bination, and this prevented the lock
from being turned back. A piece of
tin foil was used in covering up the
hole, and making it appear just like
the nickel plated dial. The hole in
the shutter was stuffed up with piece
of brown paper, and small bit of
pasteboard fitted in to make the paper
secure. Had it not been for the little
rat trap uader the safe, there is little
doubt OF the robbery being discovered
until this morning.
After the thieves had packed up the
booty, they again entered the Ne,cs
old building, and went out a back
door. Their footsteps were traced to