The Washington times., 1895-03-23
Police Raid the House in the
Tree Near ihe Zoo.
FOUND FULL OF STOLEN GOODS
It Was Used by Three Youths Of the Neigh
borhood-They Tried to Burn It to Escape
Detection-0ne CAPTURED = and Others
Escaped-Policeman Yoe Assembled by
Means of a Rope-False Floor to It.

The little house that aestes high up among
the branches OF big oak tree, that stands
where the Columbia road turns down to the
200 is not as innocent as 1t looks to be.
People on the way to the Zoo" have
often noticed the curious little structure,
and it was frequently remarked that the
boys who assembled and descended from the
'nest" were like the lads of the swiss
Family Robinson" who also lived with
their parents in a tEee.y
It was always thought that the three
youths who claimed ownership Were simply
initiating their heroes of the popular fiction,
and it was never dreamed that they were
also following the thiev Dg examples ofdime
novel heroes until yesterday. When Police
man Yoe. of the Eighth precinct, became
convinced that suspicious be had entertained
for some time were trne. and raided the nest
The result was that he uncovered a YER
liable robbers roost. and brought from
the unique hiding place large>squantities
of miscellaneous stolen property. Recent
thefts that had been committed in the
neighborhood Were accounted for by the
| discovery of the booty.
THREE RASCALLY HEROES.
The occupants Of the castle in the air
were Walter Muligan, Lee Baker and Will
lam 0'Hare, whose ages range from e!gh-
teen to twenty years. O'Hare and Multi
gan made their escape, but Baker is in
the hands Of the police. Active search
is being made for the fugitives.
The tiny house was found to be com
fortably fitted up with two stoves and
fully large enough TO hold the three no
| mads. Quilts and bedding were found
in plenty, and the airy structure was
lighted by two windows.
Before Patrolman Yoe had q chance
to get into the den the boyssaw that they lad
been caught aud setfire toit. Tnepoliceman
bent every effort to extinguish the flames
desiring to save the stolen property and in
the excitement Mulligan and o'Hare es-
capped the two men whom Yoe called upon
to help hum. The fire was put out before
much damage was done
ROBBED OF HIS DAINTIEs.
The peanut man near the Geological Park
was robbed of about $35 worth of his
Philip Caffrey, a carpenter living in Rock
Greek Park, was relieved of valuable lot
| of tools. Several things caused OFFICER
! the trees, as he learned that the boys would
allow no one but themselves to enter the
place.
He consulted with Mr.. Caffrey and de-
| ciied 10 search tie place. First he called
/ upon Mrs. Munigan mother of one OF the
| lads. who lives pear by. She protested Wig
| oroasiy and the policeman advised Mr..
Caftrey to get search warrant.
While this was going on. the boys became
aware that they were caught and soaked
/ the floor OF the little house with kerosene
and set fire to It, Officer Yoe at once
grasped rope. which is the only way OF
gaining entrance TO the place. and swung
| himself up.
SLID DOWN THE TREE.
AT the same time Mulligan and o'Hare
slid down the tree and escaped the police
mans assistants.
/ After putting the fire ont the officer
! nneaTthed the missing goods of the peanut
man, the tools of hir. CsffTey, and about
! 15o Jars of preserves that had been stolen
/ from a house on Fourteenth street Ri Ids
| were found which were taken from a
nearby lew building, and many books,
| among them beng Swiss Family Robin
/ son
Five pistols and gun were discovered,
| and an infinite variety OF other articles.
! These were all concealed beneath false
/ floor The house is built between two
! great forks, and is about by and about
/ feet high. II is impossible to reach it
/ except 10y the way the officer took, stand
| ing on a bank and swinging TO another
limb by rope provided for that purpose.