Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-18
THE HOUSE RANsAcKEO.
Mr.. EdeTs Dwelling Thrown Into a'e'
Confusion, But Very Little stolen.

The residents in the neighborhoou U
Monroe Park were thrown into state
Of considerable excitement last night
about O'Clock by a mysterious attenp.
OF thieves TO rob the house OF Mr.. jacob
Edel. No. Jl4 west franklin street. ana
the Third-District police are greatly puz-
zled over the case.
Mr. Edel Is now absent from the cry,
and late yesterday afternoon Mrs. buei
and her daughter went OUT 20 take tea
with a friend. They left the house In
charge Of servant girl. who claims 10
have retired shortly after their departure.
About 8 o'clock several neighbOrs VINO
are familiar with the habits of the tsuei
family, noticed in passing that the irohI
door was open. and that. contrary 10
the usual custom, the gas was out IN
the han They went in, and upon invesu-
cation found that the entire place from
the first 20 the third floor had been ran
sacked. and that every drawer not fas-
tened with lock had been opened.
Articles Of every description were scat
tered heIter-skelter. and confusion was
COMPOUNDED. To add TO the chaotic con-
ditlon % things. the servant girl was
found lying on the floor with her arms
pinioned.
Upon being freed from her uncomforta-
bic position she said that two white men
had entered the house, and. coming TO her
room. had seized and tied her. she
stated that one Of the robbers looked
very much like a tramp who had called
ut fhe house some days ago, and that
the burglars had threatened To kill her II
she cried out. Notwithstanding this
threat. however she gave scream, ana
a colored man in a rear alley heard II
and attempted to get into the house.
Finding II impossible 10 DO TINS the
woud-be rescuer shot of pistol in the
air 20 attract the police.
Meanwhile neighbors had entered the
place nom the front door. but a careful
search revealed no traces OF the thieves
EXCEPT a small miners lamp. which was
found on the floor.
This lamp. by the way may be clue
TO the whole affair as the servants nus
band is a miner.
or course. when the police heard this
they naturally inferred that the woman
must have had a hand in the affair
but there H. no question OF the fac'
that she screamed loudly. as II trying to
attract attention. The negro man who
fired the pistol. and who is servant
In the neighborhood. testihcs to this
lie says he broke the latch Of the back
gate in order TO reach the yard leading
90 the house.
Tho most mysterious part about thf
whole affair IS that nothing I'm the house
appears TO be missing. except a small
purse containing s. or s..
No one knows how the thieves entered
or lett the house one Of the win
dows on the third floor was found open
and possibly the burglars may have
effected their entrance through thu
opening. as the window is near n wins
Of the house.
The servant has only been with the
family about three months. ana few
DAYS ago she stated that II was her In
tention 10 leave. az her husband mad.
sufficient money TO support her. and in
tended 10 come to Richmond after her
The woman further said that her spOus'
worked I'm the Midlothian coal pits a
midnight the police. though workInl
diligently, had been unable 10 solve tn
mystery surrounding the robbery.