Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-26

casiOn.
That Los Angeles is at the present
time infested with bold and expert
enced gang of burglars, was illustrated
once more yesterday morning about 8
O'Clock BY one OF the most daring bur-
glaries that has taken place for long
time. The operators this time chose the
elegant residence of Col. Robert J.
Northam, at the corner of Pearl and
Sixth streets, for the scene of their
work. The residence is large one and
is elegantly furnished, the burglars no
doubt expecting to reap rich harvest.
The pews of the burglary was suppressed
by the police, and it was only at late
hour last night that information was re-
ceived in regard to it by a HERALD re-
porter. who called at the house.
The story of the affair is best told by
Mrs. Northam. She was almost alone
at the time, Mr.. Northam having gone
to San Francisco. She had taken the
precaution to have the coachman, JEFF,
sleep in one of the back rooms of the
second story, instead OF sleeping as
usual in the coach house.
"About 8 80 O'Clock this morning."
said Mrs. Northam. II was aroused by
some noise which seemed out of place,
and became wide awake in an instant.
It seemed to me that someone was COM
ing up the front stairway and got out
of bed. I thought if it was anyone
that the gas light at the head of the
stairs; which had been left burning low,
might be turned up, why, 1 do not know,
but l thought 80. The light seemed to
me to be getting larger, and I went to
the door. 1 saw two men coming up,
one OF them with q lighted candle in,
his hand. Almost frightened to death
1 had sufficient courage left to scream
and run into the room. I struck gong
there several times, and cried out for
JEFF. The men did not stop at all but
came right up to the top of the stairs.
They seemed to pay no attention to
my screams, and I was almost
fainting. jeff came to the hall, how
ever, and finally the burglars seemed to
turn away reluctantly, and went down
stairs again. They escaped the same
way they entered the house, through a
window in Mr.. Northam's Office.
threw up the window and screamed
loudly. The men ran around the house,
and 1 saw them 60 over the fence into
Mr.. W. H. Perry's yard, and out the
back way into Mr.. H. J. Fleishman's
lot. don't think could identity the
men if l saw them again. JEFF thought
he could d'tell one of them again, but l
questioned him closely and he did not
know whether he had light or dark
moustache."
Mr.. Northsm's Office presented scene
of rare confusion. The burglars effected
an entrance by prying up a window with
chisel. A massive safe stands in one
corner of the room and large and
heavy carved table in the center of the
room. Scattered over it., over the
chairs and upon the floor were hundreds
of papers which had been removed from
the desk. Grease spots from the candle
were upon everything. From the money
drawer in the desk some cash was OBJ
tanned. Just how much Mrs. Northam
could not tell, but quite little sum.
~ nsl ~ Il
though the burglars had fair chance
as could be learned nothing in the house
desk drawer. Many articles OF value
are scattered about through the rooms,
but not one of them had been touched.
The burglars could be plainly tracked
over the house by the grease spots
which fell from the candle. Their course
was out of the Office into the billiard
hall, through it into the hall and other
rooms, and they had opened nearly
every door in the back part of the house.
They had evidently been in the house
quite long time. There was evidences
that the safe was carefully examined,
but it proved too much for the thieves.
1t is very large one, and grease spots
are over the door and on the floor in
front of it.
The police were notified and yester-
day morning the detectives were put to
work on the case. The premises were
carefully examined, and it is the opin-
ion of those who were present that the
burglars must have been familiar with
the residence. They certainly knew
that Mr.. Northam was absent, and prob
ably thought they would have no one to
disturb them except Mrs. Northam,
whom they could dispose of very easily.
Their boldness in calmly continuing up
stairs showed they did not expect to
meet many obstacles.
MR.. FLEIsCHMAN's HOUSE VISITED.
Two doors south from Mr.. Northam's
residence is the home of H. J. Fleisch-
man. The same night burglars visited
his house, and succeeded in effecting an
entrance into the kitchen, although
they did not get any further. 1t is sup
posed that they were the same persons
who went through Mr.. Northam's.
AT MR.. REYNOLDs's.