The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-15
VERY choice BURGLARS
They ScOrned to Take Anything but
Silverware.
VISITED ATTORNEY O'BRIEN
They Gathered Up Silver Service and
Carried It Away but Did Not Touch
Anything Else Obtained Entrance
Through Window.

Professional burglars forced an en-
trance into the residence of Attorney
Joseph O'Brien, on Madison avenue,
near Mulberry street. between 2 and 3
o'clock yesterday morning. They Sc
cured over 5000 worth of solid silver
ware.
The cracksmen made n nice distinc-
ton between solid and plated stuff, and
carried away only articles of excep-
tional value. The job was done neatly
and with dispatch, andrthe peculiar de-
tails or the burglary indicate positively
that the men We're professionals and
knew their business. The case was re-
ported yesterday morning to Chief Of
Police Simpson. At late hour last
night no clue had been found of the
identity of the bold night prowlers.
list of the articles taken is as fol-
lows: three dozen tea spoons, a tea
service of many pieces, several napkin
rings, two childs mugs, a cake dish
and match safe. all solid silver. A
chenille cloth, which covered the din
ing room table. ,and which was prob
ably used to hold the plunder, and a
pocketbook containing SO cents. which
had been left in the drawer of a coat
rack In the hall, We're taken. II Is pos
sible that other articles of silver were
also stolen.
The Way They Entered.
Mrs. O'Brien, who is i'll, and who is
attended by nurse, heard suspicious
noises between and o'clock She be-
came nervous and directed the nurse
to awaken Mr.. O'Brien. After being
called. Mr.. O'Brien descended to the
first floor and found the small cellar
lamp lighted and resting on the kitchen
floor. The small window at the rear
of the kitchen was open. The sill of the
window Is about IL feet from the
ground.
Mr.. O'Brien soon ascertained that
silverware had been taken from the
buffet in the dining room. After sat
isfying himself that the robbers had
left the house he refastened the window
and retired for the remainder of the
night, notifying the police early in the
morning.
A Tribune reporter visited the house
yesterday afternoon and found many
evidences that the burglary had been
done by professional knights Of the
Jimmy. That at least two men did the
job was indicated by the scratches and
marks beneath the window which is
possibly twelve feet from the ground
The scratches showed that one of the
men stood upon the shoulders Of a
companion, and, after sliding back the
window catch with thin knife, raised
the sash and climbed inside. No ladder,
board or other means of reaching the
window was found after a careful
search. 1t would have been impossible
for a person to reach the window un-
assisted.
Gave Clothing the Go By.
A plated pickle dish on the top of the
buffet, and a wooden box of steel nut
crackers, and another box of plated
knives and forks We're not removed
from a drawer. From this drawer,
however, several solid articles were
taken. The dining room is connected
with the sitting room by large double
doorway, and in closet, opening from
the sitting room, many wraps and
articles of outer clothing, as well as a
silver-handled umbrella, were left un-
disturbed.
On the coat rack in the hall several
wraps hung and were not removed. The
pocketbook in the drawer of the rack
contained number of receipts and
statements. The papers were left in
the drawer and only the pocketbook
and the so cents it contained was taken
The mode of entry, the quick work
and the leaving undisturbed of articles
which might lead to detection, points
to professional and daring men as the
visitors.