Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1895-12-19
HOUSE BREAKERS.
Bold Work Upon the Part of Several
Thieves Saturday Night on West
Commerce Street.-The Clues Left
Behind.

Commerce Street.-The Clues Left
Behind.
Perhaps the boldest piece of house
breaking that has been reported to the
police, was that Saturday night over on
West Commerce street. The thieves,
whoever they were, went into three West
Commerce street residences, ransack ed
the dwellings thoroughly, carried off a
roll OF money, and in none of the homes
was the attention of any of the occupants
directed to the thieves.
The victims of the thieves were Assem-
blyman Bloomfield II. Minch, ex-Coun-
Gilman Francis B. Minch and Mrs. Emma
Pogue.
From Investigations made yesterday, it
would seem as if the robbers first tackled
the residence of Assemblyman Minch.
Just how they effected an entrance is not
known. but is thought through cellar
window. They then came up to the first
floor, and ransacked every part of the
house downstairs. Drawers were pulled
open, closets were rifled, the refrigerator
thoroughly examined, and things gener-
ally overhauled. Articles from the hall
and other parts of the house, were carried
into the kitchen where the thieves seemed
TO make their headquarters temporarily.
The silverware was carefully examined,
but none missed. The thieves evidently
became hungry. and cody sat down and
ate baked beans aud cold potatoes. They
also carried away large piece of roast
veal, and some fish that had been
brought in for Sunday mornings break
fast.
But the most serious loss fell upon
Miss Matte Hepner, domestic. She
had saved $54 in bills, and they were in
purse which lay upon the top of the side
board. Another purse containing S1.16
was also taken. Nothing else seemed to
be disturbed.
1t is passing strange that in the wander
lngs over the house, they attracted no at
tention. Mr.. Minch was in attendance
upon his wife, who is ill., and did not at
tempt to sleep until four O'Clock Sunday
morning. He was not aware of anything
wrong, until Miss Hepner called his at
tention to it at nine o'clock yesterday
morning.
When the fellows left the house they
carried with them step-ladder, and went
directly to the handsome residence of F.
b. Mhch. There they secured from the
tool house broad ak, and forced open a
rear window of the library. They went
through the lower part of the house as
they had done at the younger Minch's
home, and ransaclked everything in sight.
They were not so fortunate here, as the
family never keep any money in the
house.
The only thing missing from this resi-
dence is pair of sleeve buttons, and at
tention was directed to them from the
fact that the cuffs from which the buttons
were taken, were found outside the win
dow.
Under the window where the entrance
was effected, is a large cellar door, and
upon this was discovered five prints of
stocking feet, showing that the burglars
were without shoes.
A young lady in the elder Minch's resi-
dence was startled by sound during the
night, but hearing nothing further, paid
no attention to it.
From the Minch residence the thieves
visited the home of Mrs. Emma Pogue,
just west of Lawrence street. Just how
thew entered this house is not quite clear,
but it is thought through cellar window.
The thieves followed the same program
as in the other residences, scattering ev-
erything all over the floor. A silver
watch which had belonged to Mrs.
Pogue's father, Eli Sayre, deceased, was
taken, together with small child's saw
ings bank, which contained little
money.
1t is not certain that the fellows did not
make an attempt to enter the residence
of Chester j. Buck, as one of the windows
of the shed shows signs of being dis
turbed, but there was nothing removed
in the house.
AS far as can be learned there are no
clues behind the fellows which indicates
who they were, and nobody in the neigh
borhood seems to have heard them or
seen them.
The police officers will work upon the
case, and their labor may result success
fully.
Narrow Escape.
Late Saturday afternoon little fellow,
nephew of Mr.. A. M. Rook, attempted to
ride his tricycle. across the ice at East
Lake. The ice bore for quite distance
from the shore, but he ran over thin
portion and broke through. Harry E.
MartS was at MrS Cows roc;donoo o,l