The morning call., 1893-12-04
SLEEPER RUDELY AWAKENED
Two Men Beat and Choke Him
Almost to Death.
$4,000 WORTH OF PLUMBER.
Two Police Officers Recover the
Swag From the Roof of an
Adjacent Building.

A most daring burglary was perpetrated
abou o'clock last night on Market street,
when the sidewalks were crowded with
pedestrians.
1t occurred In the Nevada Watch and
Jewelry store. 1874 Market street, be-
tween Polk street and Van Ness avenue.
Julius Straus is proprietor of the store
and his sou w. Fl. Straus sleeps in a bed
in the rear part Of the store. Leading
from the store there is door to a room
facing the yard. which is sometimes used
as a living-room. The yard has covering
# boards, with the exception Of portion
in the center, large enough to allow man
to drop through.
Young Straus had retired TO bed early
last night and be was rudely wakened by
two men, one of whom e. asp ped him by the
throat, while the other jumped on top OF
him and proceeded to batter his face with
his clenched fists. He attempted to get
up. but was beaten and dubbed back till
he thought they surely wanted to murder
him.
For Gods sake" he managed to gasp
out. ''do not murder me and you can have
all there is in the store"
We'll have to kill him." said the one
who had him by the throat, ''or he will be
able to identify u.s."
The other did not feel so murderously
inclined. and finally, after he was WE'LL
nigh unconscious, they decided to spare
his life.
There was trunk in the store into which
the more valuable portion Of the stock was
placed each night and was then securely
locked. They demanded the key of the
trunk from young Straus, but he told
them 1t was in the possession of his father.
While one stood guard over him the
other carried the trunk into the yard and
forced it open with chisel. He then got
a FELLOWSHIP and rapidly filled it with gold
watches, diamond rings and other jewelry.
L. the trunk was also Mrs. Strauss seal
skin coat valued at $500. The burglar
after securely tying the top of the pillow
slip, placed it in the sealskin coat, rolled
piece OF cord.
After this had been quickly and safely
accomplished be returned to the store
where his pal was still standing guard over
young Straus, and with threat that it he
made the slightest noise they would return
and blow his brains out. they rapidly left
the store by the rear door.
No sooner was young Straus freed from
the terror of their presence than he sprang
to his feet, rushed to tie front door, un-
locked it and yelled Police! Murderp'
He soon attracted a crowd, and as he
excitedly told them the store had been
robbed by burglars they coolly laughed at
him and sneeriDgly told him to 60 and find
the burglars.
Police Officers j. E. Maloney and j.
Clifford were informed of the case and
ran to the scene. They made a hasty ex-
animation of the premises and saw at
once how the burglars had effected an
entrance and made their escape.
They had clim bed on top of the wooden
covering over the yard and had TIED piece
of rope around one of the boards, by which
they had reached the ground and had
climbed TO the top again on making their
exit
Maloney followed their example, and
after getting on the boards over the yard
he quickly but cautiously made his way to
the roof of the houses to the east. On the
roof of the third house. which is on Van
Ness auenue. he saw a dark object and
was gratifed to find that It was Mrs.
Straus' sealskin coat with the pillow
rolled In it containing the stolen watches
and jewelry.
The burglars bad evidently become
alarmed at young Straus' cries for help
and had decided to leave the swag on the
roof Of the house. where Maloney found
IL, and take the chance of its not being
discovered before they returned when the
excitement was over.
Maloney carried his przs back to the
store and placed 1t In the trunk. He and
Clifford then rang for the patrol-wagon
and took The trunk to the City Prison.
Young Straus was seen last night and
his battered and bloody appearance
showed the rough usage he had been SUBJ
jected to by the two burglars.
IL did not know anything" he said, ''tin
found one man on top Of me aud the
other grasping me by the throat. cer-
tainly thought all the time they were 90
ing to kill me-"
His father and mother were present and
they were greatly agitated over the narrow
escape OF their son.
Mr.. Straus places the value of the
watches and jewelry stolen at over $4,000.
He was more than pleased that the arti-
cles had been recovered.
The burglars had unlocked the door
leading into the yard and also the door
leading from the living-room into the store
without awakening young Straus from his
sleep. He says he could not identify
either Of them, the only thing he noticed
being that one had blue lining In his hat