Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-30
MYSTERIOUS BURGLARS
They Have No Respect Even for a Police
Court Judge.
More Intent ON Mischief Than Plundel
Have Visited Many Houses
How They Operate.

the work of band of villains who opera1d
in this section Of the country more than
twenty years ago. and they are unable to
account for the singular conduct Of those
who are now visiting so many houses and
destroying so much property. 1t is not that
the intruders carry of so much property.
but they are destroying all sorts of valuable
household goods clothing and brdc-a-brac, as
well as doing other damage. Then there is
a degree of charity about their conduct
which makes their operations show that
they are not out for stealing so much as
they are for annoyance. They invariably
enter houses through the kitchen, either by
removing a portion Of the door or forcing
open a window, and If the servant finds her
cooking utensils In the proper place the next
morning she is exceedingly fortunate, for in
no other part OF the house, except in the
occupied bed chambers, are things likely to
be In good condition, for seldom do the in
truders 90 in such portions OF the house,
although. in some instances. they even ven
tured to the bedside Of the sound sleepers.
For several weeks they have been carrying
on their operations in Maryland and Virgin
Ia, and finally they reached the District.
In the states mentioned there were evidently
two men together and they Travelled in a
vehicle of some sort, for at houses where
depredations were committed persons pass
ing had seen the vehicle and the wagon
tracks, and footprints Of the horses were
also seen by the occupants of the houses.
Farmers, who lived a mile or more apart,
were astonished in the mofniag to see their
goods a their houses. CaobhAE wa cat In
as were as1fcles OF fuRnfcare Assa provisions.
Portions Of crops IN TIE Heaee were even re-
moved from one farm to another, as wefe
horses. wagons ana an SORTS Of portable
xcn1r
ems were killed and the next morning they
were found on the parlor floor at a neigh
boris house. Pieces Of meat were taken from
one place to another. and 1t was not an I'M
downstairs. to find a dead chicken or piece
Of meat hanging where he had left a lamp
the night before.
Judge miller . Victim.
After the sad experiences Of the Mary
land and Virginia farmers several resi-
dents of the county above Georgetown
were visited, and next the intruders APP
peared at Fort Myer, where hundreds Of
dollars worth OF articles OF wearing APP
parel and household furniture were de-
stroyed. Mount Pleasant was next visited.
and there the intruders cut carpets and
furniture and smeared the houses with
filth. Takoma Park was visited Saturday
night, and Judge Miller was the worst suf-
ferer.
The Judge went home Saturday after
court, and retired as usual about 10 O'Clock.
door neighbor, called to him, saying she
had seen a burglar. Although the judge
had lost his marketing several times. he
thought Mrs. Doyle only imagined that her
house had been visited IN the manner
stated.
But I'll be over in q minute" he said
to her from the frCnt window.
The Judge put on his clothes ana was
a n nI1f hon rnl Uanf her
reminded him that he needed an overcoat.
He went to the coat rack In the hall, but
his coat was gone.
They've been here. tco," the Judge said.
An investigation was made and the Judge
discovered that q pane OF glass had been
cut from the kitchen window. In some
rooms In the house every drawer had been
ransacked, and part Of Sundays dinner as
well as the overcoat was missing. A pack
age OF sausage meat was among the MISS
ing articles, and this was afterward found
in Mrs. Doyies house. where the intruder
had stuffed it into the pockets OF Mrs.
Doyle's brothers coat. In Mrs. Doyle's
house every bureau drawer had been ran
sacked. and nothing was in order, although
In both houses there was silverware and
plenty Of portable property. but nothing in
this line was touched. Judge Miller's Gun
buttons were taken from his cuffs. and the
missing overcoat was found on the lawn,
where II had been cut into carpet rags
The pair OF shoes taken from Mrs. Doyies
presented the same appearance when found
on the lawn. A dark lantern was I'M
doubtedly carried by the men. for one of
Judge Miller's children cried out only a
short time before the affair was discovered
The Judge went to the nursery to see what
was the matter, and calling the little one
by his pet name, Brother" he asked what
was the matter.
Il saw a lightning bug on the wall.
papa" was the response Of the innocent
| little child.
1t is thought that the men were In the
house at that time and were frightened off
by the movements Of the Judge about the
nursery. Judge Miller Is surprised at the
failure OF the men to use chloroform as they
did over at Fort Myer only q few nights
ago.
Other Visits.
At the house OF Capt. Lewis the men were
! frightened OF by the dogs. 1t is evident
that they also selected the house of Mr..
Cushman for q visit, as the footprints of a
| horse being led by a man were visible about
| his house yesterday morning. The house of
| a colored man named Simms, on the Piney
Branch road, between Takoma and Bright
| wood. was visited. 1t was about 3 am.
when his house was reached and had he
! needed the warning given by his little dog
YnAr<v mn