The Portland daily press., 1891-09-02
BOSTON CROOKS WHO SMOKED OPIUM
Awoke From Sweet Dreams 10 Find
Themselves In Limbo.
Peculiar Capture of Some BAD
Citizens Of the Hub.
Mask and Revolver Make a Burg
lar in Roxbury Dramatic.

BosToN, Mass, September 1.-Police cir
cles here have been stirred today by daring
robbery, after committing which the armed
burglar escaped, and by the fortunate cap
ture of five we'll known crooks who were dis
covered shifting the pipe" In an opium joint.
The robbery was committed early this morn
Ing at the house Of MIR. James A. Houston, of
the firm of r. III. White &c Co., at the corner
OF Maple and Schuyler streets, Roxbury.
William Houston, one of Mr.. Houston's sons
was awakened about 1.30 o'clock by the bark
Ing OF bis dog and saw standing In his room.
masked burglar with dark lantern and a
revolver in his hands. Ordering Mr.. Hous.
ton to keep quiet the burglar proceeded to
search this room and also that of Ernest
Houston adjoining, securing couple of va,-
liable gold watches and about $50 in money.
He then attempted to enter Mr.. and Mrs.
Houston's room but found the door locked.
As soon as he was heard going down stairs
the young men closed their bedroom doors
and raised an alarm from the windows, but
he.burgar succeeded In escaping in spite of
the prompt police response to the call. En-
dow by breaking pane Of glass, and hasty
exit by the back door which had probably
been unfastened for the purpose. Before
going to The sleeping apartments the burglar
ransacked the lower part Of the house and
secured quite quantity OF solid silver from
the dining room.
The details of the second matter OF inter-
est to the police are as follows:
:. About 11.30 O'Clock this morning, two po-
lice officers in citizens dress, Inspector Co
gan and Patrolman Morrissy Of Division 2,
were standing on School street. when their
attention was drawn to a shabbily dressed
young man, who had handsome light col
ored macintosh coat on his arm. Further
inspection showed that there was a tag on
the coat. and the officers knew that it must
have been stolen. They followed the fellow
at respectful distance, and he turned into
Washington street and walked rapidly tc-
ward the South End. He turned into Essex
street, and then into Oliver place, where he
entered a certain house which the officers
knew had formerly served as refuge for
thieves. The officers waited few moments
and then entered the house themselves.
A woman ushered them up to an attic
room after hearing their demands. The
room Is rented by one Charles Rogers, a
well known fence for thieves, who claims to
keep a chair seating establishment on Attain
tic avenue. but who, 1t Is charged, really
runs an opium den aud receives stolen prop
erty at his room on Oliver place. There was
no response to the officers knocking, and
they, pushed open the door. Lying about on
the floor were five men, all hitting the
pipe" and in half unconscious state The
entire party was placed under arrest, one or
two being recognized as old thieves.
When the patrol wagon arrived, the five
men. who made but faint resistance, were
bundled inside and taken to Station 4. Sub
sequently they were carried to police head
quarters In the police van, with the stolen
property recovered. They are booked as
Richard Sullivan. % years Of age recognized
as an old pickpocket and thief, who has been
under arrest several times before; Charles
Burton, alias Burt Ray. % years Of age,
well known pickpocket and all-round thief !;
Frank Adams, 25 years of age; Maurice Cor
coran. IS years of age, who is on probation
for breaking and entering, and Thomas B.
Fielding, Is years.
The man whom the officers saw with the
coat and followed was young Ray.