The Portland daily press., 1893-11-06
1t Has Been a Rich Field for Them
This Year.
FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OF
PLUMBER TAKEN.

About Forty Breaks Made-In One
Case the Gang We're Pursued, but Re-
PEELED their Pursuers with Revolvers.
Maine has afforded rich field for the
gleanings of burglars the last season.
In the six warm months, beginning
with April and ending with October,
this State has been persistently and sys-
tematically raided by one OIL. two gangs
of burglars that have made about forty
breaks and secured plumber of total
value of about forty thousand dollars
1t is probable that some of the minor
burglaries counted in this total have been
made by local adventurers, but such at
tempts have in the main been of little
Importance. The operators have been
professionals, as the large lot of cracked
safes left behind shows. The most inn
portant robberies have been those of
Wilbur g. Co., at Phillips, where the safe
was cracked and about S25, 900 worth of
cash and securities were taken; of the
Staples Brothers at Limerick, where
from $4,000 to $4,000 in cash were taken;
of j. IS. Kicker, Esq, of Deering, whose
house was stripped of about $500 worth of
silver one night; and of the Deering
postotfice, where from $1,000 to $4,000
worth of stamps, money and registered
mail was. taken.
There has been but one serious attempt
to catch any of the gang. After the rob-
berry of Temples store and the postoffice
at Richmond. Corner in August, officers
and a posse of citizens got on the trail of
the burglars, and after long chase
came up with gang of three. One of
these three constituted. himself rear
guard, and while his companions es-
capped held the posse at bay with
drawn revolver. This daring desperate
was described as thick-set man, weigh
ing about 10 pounds, with dark COM
plexion and dark moustache. After his
companions had escaped he also took
himself off.
Following are some of the exploits of
the burglars Of this or other gangs
They have generally preferred the coun-
try regions, where police supervision is
not systematic or does not exist at all:
On April Sth entered Mrs. Ellen M.
Libby's house on Cumberland street in
broad daylight and took $40 worth of
plumber, gold watch, etc.
On May End the safe of the Woodfords
postofice was blown and from 81, 200 to
$4,000 were taken, in stamps, registered
letters, etc. The burglars were thought
10 I, s,,o I,.4
them was found which would enable
them to be followed.
On May 18th clothing store at San
ford was relieved of $500 worth of cloth
ing.
June 18th T. B. Richards's store at Fall
mouth was entered and IS in stamps was
taken. The night before the post Office
at East Deering had been entered and
$40 in stamps had been secured.
June 22nd the safe was blown in the
store of Chas. A. Kelsen at Cumberland
Mills, and $50 in cash was taken.
June 23d the safe was blown in the
store of Lane & Libby at Vinalhaven
and $500 was taken. It was thought
that the burglars, went on to the island
in private boat.
At Old Orchard on June 18th, the Law
renee House safe was moved out of the
About $500 in money was taken. A bout
the same time at East Corinth house
was entered and SIP were taken from
wallet. This, however, was the work of
some local thief. probably.
On July 81 SIS in money and jewelry
leigh at Vassalboro. The thief in this
case was caught.
On July % at Westbrook the safe in the
store of John Wheeler & Son was blown,
but only 81. 40 was taken.
Three days later the residence of Us.
Kicker ESQ.,, of Dearing was raided in
the most daring manner. and about $500
of silver ware was taken.
July 29th the safe of A. C. Hinckley, at
Blue Hill, was blown and 81 200 was
taken.
August 18th $3.50 was taken from the
house of John H Squire in Bangor.
August 18th the North Berwick post
office safe was blown and $500 in cash
and stamps was taken. The same night
French's hardware store at Turner was
entered, the safe blown and 5000 taken.
This would indicate that there were
two gangs.
On the 10Th two gangs again operated.
Quite likely. they were the same two or
two divisions Of one gang. They broke
the safe of the Chicago Beef Company
at Waterville and took $40. AT the
same time an unsuccessful. attempt was
made on the safe in j. G. Bailey's store
in Richmond.
August Goth B. r. Temples store and
the postoffice at Richmond Corner were
entered, and it was in this case that the
posse overlook the gang and were driven
back by the rearsguard burglar.
August 22nd J.C. Hamlin's cottage at
Grand Beach, Old Orchard, was entered
and $500 of booty was taken.
August 9stn two places were entered
at Cumberland Centre, Hamilton &
Blanchard's and J.L. Dnn's. Not much