Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-02-10
ANOTHER BURGLARY.
An Attempt Made to Blow }. '. GaViu's
Safe

After a day or two spent IN resting
from their labors and diSpoSing OF the
stock Of doodle" on hand, the pro-
ceedS Of former raids, the burglars re-
commenced operations Sunday night at
the store-room OF j. Y. Gavin, dry
goods, notions. etc, at No. PSI E0if
street.
The thieves attacked the building
from the rear. probably aS early as mid
night, and with an inch-and-a-quarter
augur bored holes through the back
door until they were enabled TO remove
piece OF wood. making an opening
through which the door could be unlaS-
tened The stOre-roOm was entered,
and leaving one OF their number on
guard at 4 side door. leading from the
store-roOm into the hall, and thence up
stairs. the others Of the gang began
operations on the safe. which
stands behind the oilice partition,
and can not bc seen from the
street The BURGLAR, Of whom there were
three, drilled hole down through the
top of the safe, through about seven
inches OF metal and iire-prooi filling,
and also drilled hole through the door,
lust over the combination. This hole
was filled with powder, which was run
into the aperture by being poured on a
square piece of paper and blown into
the hole. The burglars had the safe
loaded, with the exception OF putting IN
the fuse, when Mr.. Gavin, who lives up
stairs, awOke FOR some cause or other,
~ tori ion "a A
TO 90 down stairs and look after the
natural gas tire. Something also
prompted him 10 take his revolver with
him. lie went to the stairway which
leads down to lower hall, running
parallel with the store room. and had
taken four or five stems downward.
when a voice rang out:
"Stay where you are. you -- --,
or I'll shoot you
Mr.. Gavin stopped, and seeing the
dim outlines OF a man in the hallway,
near the door opening into the store he
fired at him. The stranger promptly
returned the shot, aud after firing two
additional shots at Mr. Gavin, stepped
into the door leading into the store. but
not before Mr.. Gavin had sent three
more bullets in his direction. After
stepping inside the store door the burg
lar stood his ground and fired seyer2l
shots into the wall opposite, with the
evident object OF keeping Mr. Gavin at
bay. Mr. Gavin ran 10 rear window
and fired shot TO attract attention.
and then descended into the hallway,
and thence into the store. BY this time
the burglars had skipped. taking with
them all their belongings save a red
bandanna handkerchief and the irag-
ment Of paper used in forcing the pow
der into the safe. The people In the
vicinity were soon aroused, and several
persons, including Mr.. Frank Cruise,
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Heller, and Mrs.
| Charles Snyder. saw the burglars, three
/ in number, run north through the alley.
They must have run into the yard sur
rounding the Sweeney foundry, where
the fellow who did the shooting reload
ed his revolver, empty cartridge shells
being afterwards found there.
There was over $500 in the safe, which
would have made fair haul for the
burglars had they been allowed 10 re-
main unmolested FOR short time
| longer.
There were a number Of stories cur
rent Yesterday in the vicinity among
persons who saw the fleeing burglars
none Of which can be- set down a. strictly
accurate. One gentleman said one oi
the men ran awkwardly. rs though ne
had been hit by one Of Mr. Gavin 0ul-
lets. while another said he saw the three
men run away, that they stopped be
hind a wagon. and later came back
down street and went into the store
room along with the crowd who were
taking view Of the promises. This
story is improbable.
A search of the vicinity resulted ~
the finding Of quart bottle about hall
filled with coarse powder in the yard Of
Mr.. Louis Bonenberger's residence, just
acros, the alley from.Mr. Gayln> store.
II had probably been taken there by The
thieves after they had reserved Suih-
cient quantity to blow the sale.