Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-12
VERY SHARP BURGLARS
Fire a Big Store and Escape With "A Lot
of Diamonds.


of Diamonds.
NEW YORK, June lit was learned
to-day that the big dry goods and mis-
eellaneOuS establishment of Hilton,
Hughes & Co. was robbed Friday night.
1t Is considered remarkable that the
enormous building, built chiefly of iron,
with the lower floor encaSed in shutters
OF steel, was found easy of entrance by
Skllfui burglars, who were able TO make
large haul and escape without leaving
a clew.
There is Waterman at each of the
four corners OF the building at all hours
OF the night, but they were outwitted
by burglars who got in with their tools
and out with their booty without so
much as exciting suspicion. The store
was robbed in the clevereSt style that
has distinguished burglary in New
York for many years and so far not an
inkling has been obtained by the DO
lice as TO the identity OF the robbers.
The plumber secured is said 10 have
been all the diamonds i'm the iewelry
department of the firm, the value of
which is given at $40, 600. but this
seems 10 be a very small stock for so
large a hrm, aud the value of the goods
taken was probably much larger.
The thieves plan for their opera
lions was exceedingly clever. It's sup
posed that they concealed themselves
IN the place some time during Friday
and were locked in the building. enab-
ling them TO work al their pleasure.
Ihey easily forced the safe and secured
the booty, but then all their ingenuity
had 10 be put 10 work 10 get out. As
the lower floor was encaSed in shutters
oil steel. and as there were four watch
men on the outside, place so that each
could see every inch of his side of the
building, this was no easy matter. but
the burglars SUrmOunted this difficulty
Oy simple plan. They started fire
IN that part OF the basement which eX-
tends under the sidewalk and then hid
near the door and awaited DEVELOPMENTS.
Inc hre was started so close 10 the
udhSOmS which open from the base
meht 70 the sidewalk that the heat
quickly broke the glaSe, allowing the
smoke TO escape into the street. The
smoke, of course. attracted the otten-
ZION OF the watchmen, who. after send
Iug In an alarm, opened u little door in
the steel shutter covering the Fourth
avenue entrance, and then rushed into
One store and into the basement win
Sue heroic idea of extinguishing the
u@uleS. IhlS all happened as the rob
oois nau ioreSeen, and they ouickIu
awaited themselves Of this means -
exit and escaped with their bootv NJ VI
,t The fire was quickly ex.
o o'nS u'Sneu oy the fremen upon their
arrival and the building again loci, eai
up NOBODY SuSpecting that bnroiars
started the fire. '""' burglars
When the store was ona,od
Jay morning it was found that Da'uir
Sue safes, IN which the diamo,Sr "a
ni Eg', n anl oeen forced open during the
U.s. 9u anu anu It's contents stolen. There
was great CONSERVATION in The Stora
s .i after a quiet but rapid invaStigs'
' o. SUPERINTENDENT Clancy rushed dow
" ponce headquarters and renortaJ JV t%n =
loooery 70 Inspector Byrnes wbo ~
case PT M several Of his best men on the
e n,oi meanwhile the firm Instructed its
Cjs sp'oyeS' under penalty of instant
'.l,, ,'l''SSe'' 10 preserve absolute silence
tnihS the rObbery-to avoid sneal,-
-, ~ iV even at home, and not 70 COS
pt ~ @oOut 10 with each Other Tnsnactor
- ne "eS mas worked on the case win All
but The 81 energy and ability.
ieyeS are now enjoying, in
what appears to be absolute security,
the fruits OF their daring robbery.