The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-11
Irreverent Thieves Break Into
the Cathedral.
Fifty Dollars Taken and ParaphernaIia
Of Blessed Sacrament Disturbed.
Burglary Discovered This Morning by
Sexton--One Man is Suspected.

Robbers, who are sscrilegists as well,
visited the Cathedral last night, pried
open q safe and took $50, broke open
desk, removed the poor box from
its position, and then priej
the cover from the tabernacle
The culprits used one OF the altar candles
TO light their path and left it, with It's
silver candlestick, in the basement near
the fire room door through which their
exit was made. The robbery was care
fully planned, and, although cash was the
only thing taken, and small amount at
that, the daring of the perpetrators has
caused the greatest CONSERVATION.
The robbery was committed sometime
between O'Clock last night and before
early mass this morning. Ii was discov-
cred by Sexton Thomas Toohey, no went
into the church as usual TO open il for
the service and he knows that every thing
was all right when he locked up last
night and that he locked every door and
window, SO upon seeing the broken safe
he Immediately investigated and found
all the doors and windows as he had
left them. This shows that entrance was
either effected by means of key, or chat
the rob Der or robbers were in hiding in
The church until after Mr.. Toohey locked
II Tor the night and then used a key to
get out.
The fire room door is at the rear end OF
the church, in the lane on the east side,
and the passageway is dark ana
could easily have served the robbers
purpose. 1his entrance is used by work
men, as we'll as the fireman, and more than
one Key exists. or skeleton key might
have been used, or at some previous time
an impression might have been taken in
wax and key made.
The safe that was opened is a small key
safe and the door could be easily pried.
IL contained small sums of money picked
up from time to time and which, when q
sufficient amount accumulates, is turned
over to the rector for church purposes.
The safe is kept in corner of the ves-
try, and there is another and larger one
containing the silver service which was
not molested. Whoever did the "job"
knew that there was no money in the
tabernacle, yet the lid was pried off
and the golden chalice and the articles
OF the blessed sacrament were scattered
about, much TO the dismay of the clergy
men and parishioners. An old desk in
the basement was broken into, but there
was nothing OF value in IL.
Sexton Toohey lives in the house oppo-
site the fire room door side, but heard no
unusual sounds during the night.
The episcopal residence, in which
Bishop Harkins. Rev. DR.. Stang
and the assisting clergymen reside, Is at
the rear of the church, but the occupants
heard nothing during the night and knew
nothing of the robbery until notified this
morning by Mr.. Toohey. That gentleman
also notified the police, and detec-
tives are at work on the case.
Suspicion points to one man who has
been in the church before and it is
thought he had an accomplice.
The Cathedral is so openly situated that
the temerity of the robbers is marveled at.
"They left US alone a long time" re-
marked Mr.. Toohey, land the principal
thing we regret is the disturb bing of the
tabernacle"