The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-05
And Sand-bagged While Defending
His Employers Property.
ROBERT CROSSLEYS HOUSE.
The burglars Cut the Telephone wires
and Had Things All Their Own Way
They Took No vaIuab!es and Secured
But About 800 in Money-Entrance
Was Effected Through Kitchen
WinaOw-Despe,ate Thieves.
ESPECIAL TO sHE NEws.l

PAWTUCkET, Dec. o-The citizens OF
Pawtucket were somewhat startled this
morning, to say the least, to learn that
the large and elegant residence of Robert
Crossley, situated on Pawtucket avenue,
short distance beyond the horse car
barn, had been broken into last evening
bya couple of burglars ana plundered.
and Crossley's coachman sandbagged and
stabbed. Mr.. Crossley is a very promi-
nent citizen OF the Fifth Ward, and was
the Republican candidate for alderman
at the last Pawtucket election: and this
fact together with the boldness of the Job
aud the circumstances connected with the
manner OF its execution, caused the news
TO spread rapidly.
The affair occurred at about 10 o'clock
In the evening while the family, with the
exception OF Miss Crossley, a daughter 10
years or age. were away from the house.
No one else was about the promises with
the exception or the coachman, George
Clayton by name. Miss Crossley was en-.
tertaining herself at the piano, and
heard no noise In the house at that time.
The perpetrators, whoever they were,
were no novices in their line of business,
and furthermore were well acquainted
with the premises. They first cut the
telephone wires at the point where they
entered the house at the basement,
tuuS CubIiut Oh All COu unlcAtlOn TO
the centre OF the city. They then en-
tered the house, il is presumed, by open
ing kitchel window, as the window
was afterwards found open. Going
straight TO the dressing room of Mrs.
Crossley, which adjoins her chamber.
they opened the top drawer In her dress.
ing case where she keeps her money,
diamonds, jewelry and otner valuables
The several cases Of diamonds they
lifted out and placed on the top of the
dressing case, but did not take any of
them or disturb them in the ieast, prob
ably realizing by experience that such
articles In their possession might lead TO
their apprehension. IL was money they
were after. Mrs. Crossley is in the habit
ot Keeping money in several pocketbooks
and these the thieves emptied the amount
secured being between 500 and S10O
As far AS known nothing else in the
whole house was taken. There was silver
ware in abundance, to say nothing of
diamonds, but they were not disturbed
Even the other drawers in the dressing
case were, 80 far as could be discovered.
not even opened. This would seem 10
indicate that the burglars not only knew
the premises, but the habits of the mem
bers of the family aud their doings, to a |
considerable extent.
he toichman. George Clayton, tells the |
following story:
The first iutimatIon he had that anyone
was auOuO but DItI1lStS WuO ulNi not be- |
long there, was when he, while in the |
performance OF his work about the |
grounds, came upon man prowling
around the yard. Mr.. Clayton asked him |
his business, and the other claimed to be
looking for some house, aud asked who !
lived at this place. He then apparently /
went off, but "A little later the coachman
saw him again. Mr.. Clayton then went
to the house for milk cans or something
of the sort, and remarked to Miss Cross
ley, who was then playing upon the
piano. that he had seen a strange man in
the yard.
Upon going into the kitchen he found
the window open. and thereupon it was
that someone was in the house.
After fastening the window the two be-
gan search.
Nothing was found on the first floor to
Indicate the presence of any intruder, so
the second floor was visited aud gone
over In the same manner. Mr. CLAYTON
went through Mrs. Crossiey's chamber.
but did not see anything out of the way.
lie decided TO make the search thorouyh.
however, and after lighting the hallway
Oh the thlrd story by means Of an electric
button operated from the entrauce To the |
stairway at the second story, he left Miss
Crossey on guard at the foot of the stairs
md a C nded.
At the top he met a man with his face
severed by a mask but before ne couId
|
and he received blow in the face which |
oosened two teeth and sent him head
ong down the stairs. Miss Crossley
hen FASTENED with all speed to the resi-
ience OF Frederick Halliday near by for
assistance, and Mr.. Clayton ran out To
he barn for "a weapon of some kind. Re- |
Jrning almost Immediately he met the
nan at the top OF tho stars on the second |
loor with an uplifted dagger in his hand.
The two grappled aud the man made n |
unge with the knife at Mr.. Clayton's
ide, at tue same time giving a sbrill
whistle.
Mr.. Clayton wore a watch and that
act probably saved his life. for the blow
rom the dagger struck the watch, shiv-
ring the glass, and glancing struck Mr.
layton In the side, making "A wound
bout an inch in length. The next min
lie Mr.. Clayton received blow from
ehind which stretched bin unconscious
"a the floor.
IL was hardly six minutes afterwards
hat Mr.. Halliday arrived on the scene
|