Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-03-31
BOLD, BAD BURGLARS.
Shepherdstown Beset by Robbers-s go Sto-
ien-0reat Excitement.

upon II Dy ROBBERS. LasJ thursday
night thief or thieves broke into no
less than three different stores, robbed
them of what money they could find,
and took their departure without
leaving any clue TO their indemnity.
Mr.. g. L. Hodges store was entered
by breaking the glass in the front
door and then forcing the lock. 1t
didn't pay to do this job, for all the
burglar got was % or 30 cents in pen
MES, a revolver and one cartridge,
and an old lantern that Giles Robin
son had sworn torbreak up anyhow.
Although the house was filed with
people nobody heard the thieves. DR..
GibsOn's drug store was also entered
with neatness and silence. The front
door was pried open in manner that
showed professional skill, and the
movements of the fellows were so
noiseless that none of Mr.. Beltz-
hoover's family, who live in the
building, were awakened. a couple
dollars in chang and a revolver and
some cartridges was all that was got
tel here. In the same way in which
they had gotten into the drug store
the thieves entered Mr.. ID. l..
Rentch's book store, just across the
street. After getting couple of dol
lars worth OF postage stamps from the
postoffice, which adjoins the store
room, the robbers went for the
money-drawer and broke open Mr..
Reutch's safe. There was about
thirty dollars in these receptacles
which was quickly pocketed. Then
the thieves struck their bonanza
when they hauled out shot-bag just
bulging with paper money. They
probably quit work right here, and
fastened down the street to the rail
road crossing, where they examined
their find. They had over two thou
sand dollars in the big roll they had
carried off-every cent of it Confed-
crate money. A feeling of sadness
must have come over them at this
discovery, and they laid the money
in the culvert alongside the pave
ment, where it was found next morn
ing. The robbers left town in safety
to themselves and nobody knows
who they were. A stranger, how
ever, who had been lostiny around
for couple Of days, had visited MIR.
John Keesecker's blacksmith shop
Thursday afternoon on a tritiinS
errand and had looked carefully over
the premises That night the shop
was broken open and the tools taken
with which the other places were
entered. Mr.. Keesecker thinks that
when his visitor is caught one of the
robbers will be captured.
The events of Thursday night were
sufficient topics. Of conversation for
the balance Of the week, but a still
more sensational event was ut hand.
The numerous burglaries had crea ed
q public sentiment against tramps,
of whom there had been quite mum
Der around recently, and Town Ser
geant J. J. w. Johnson. warned 'em
all out of town. About half-past sew
en- o'clock he met IA smooth-faced
young fellow who asked him If he
couldn't give him a nights lodging.
The sergeant said no, he couldn t do
that, but he'd give him five minutes
to get out Of town. The tramp there
upon started down the alley in the
rear OF Main street. Sergeant John =
son after u bit followed him. He
overlook the fellow IN the rear Of Mr..
Potts house, aud again spoke to him
The man said he'd move on, and
walked slowly down the alley. Mr..
Johnson kept on, too. When oppo-
site a hole in Mr.. Potts's fence, Mr..
johnson says, two men jumped out
and struck him in the face and
knocked him down, while the other
stranger came back and rammed a
handkerchief down his throat. The
three robbers then went through the
PROSTATE officer of the law and stole
his pocketbook in which there WAS
$3.50 of the corporations money.
They also took his watch. but one Of
them said Damn the watch.' and
they threw it aside and ran off.
The sergeant called for help, and
Mr.. William Osbourn heard him and
went to his relief. He was taken TO
Mr.. Wintermoyer's store, where a big
crowd quickly gathered. While men
were standing around talking the
thieves got safely out Of town. No
body stopped them-nobody saw
them-nobody has heard from them
up to this time. Someone started n
report that the robbers had been
tracked to the cellar OF an unoccupied
house. A large crowd Of men quick
" went to the place and few went
inside to explore. They found no
thieves. All this time there was great
excitement among the people. About
twenty-five men and youths resolved
to catch the Williams. They hired
horses upon which they mounted and
rode out Of town with prodigious
CHATTER. They took different roads
and went to points along the b. l. o.
Railroad, intending to cut off the es-
cape Of the robbers. a large crowd
went out to the Burnt House" aud
warily crept around the ruins with
drawn revolvers in their hands. The
They skirmished in every direction,
but got no game. There was gen
eral resurrection OF firearms, and
boys armed themselves with horse
pistols and muskets while their faith