The herald., 1895-07-08
SUCCESSFUL DURG[AR|ES
Professionals, 1t Would
Seem, Are at Work
PEOPLE ROBBED while Sleeping
Lodging Houses and Hotels the
Places Selected
THE PLUMBER SECURED
Some of the Victims Think That They
Were Drugged
How Many Cases Are Withheld From Pub-
licity Is Coniectural
Hrs. Wheeler, at the OrIand, Lost $3oo-The
Hotel Lille and the Clifton Among
the Places Visited by Knights
Of the Jimmy
How Many Cases Are Withheld From Pub-
Iicity Is ConjecturaI

~-------J
During the past two weeks no less than
four successful burglaries have come to
light, and how many more have been
withheld from the public by the police de-
partment is a matter of conjecture. From
the m amer in which all of the tnefts
have been committed it would appear
that professionals are at work. Lodging
houses aud hotels seem to be the prlnci-
pal objects of attack. Each OF the burg
laries has been characterized by reck-
less style OF operation, as in three cases
rooms have been entered while the occu-
pants slept and the apartments ransacked.
The earliest robbery occurred June 22d.
two weeks ago last Saturday night, when
the Clifton mousse on Broadway near
Temple street was entered. About $40
was secured. OF this amount $35 was
taken from Mr.. George A. Woodcock and
the balance from Messrs. Williams and
Church, who room together on the same
floor. About three other rooms were
entered, but none of the occupants were
awakened. The burlgar paid spec ial at
tention to the chambermaid' room, as
every cupboard and closet was ransacked
and the contents thrown about indiscrim-
inately.
1t is supposed the thief entered by the
front door as it is always left open, and
made his escape by the rear door, as this
one was found unlocked the morning of
the robbery. Entrance was gained to the
various rooms by turning the key in the
locks with the aid of nippers. Some of the
guests are Of the opinion that they must
have been drugged. Mr.. Woodcock states
that he is ordinarily light sleeper and
as in the habit of rising early in the
morning to take a walk before breakfast.
On the morning of the robbery he did not
awake until o'clock, nor did his wife,
who was with him, stir until the same
time.
\ There was no trace of any drug percep-
tible, but as all of the windows were
raised in the various rooms, it is likely
that had any anaesthetic been used the
fumes would have soon evoporated.
Mr.. Church was one of the last persons
to enter the house and when be passed to
his room at 1890 o'clock he noticed
nothing wrong. The lights in both the
upper and lower halls were turned out by
the burglars. who were evidently in hur :
ry, ,as they overlooked quite an amount of
gold in Mr.. Woodcock's s vest and some
In Mr.. Church's.
Mrs. Ella L. Young, the proprietress,
stated tnat there was not the slightest
clue to the perpetrators, but this opinion
is not shared by one OF those robbed. He
stated that several mornings after the
robbery small key that had been taken
from his clothes was found in the bath
room. He admitted that his suspicious
were aroused. but declined to say in re-
gard to whom.
All of the other burglaries occurred last
week, two being on Wednesday morning.
The first of these was committed at the
orland. lodging house at 81 West Third
steert conducted by Mrs. ID. l.. Whipple.
A big haul was made. over $500 being Sc
cured in money and jewelry. Mrs. E. A.
Wheeler was the sufferer. She is manag-
ing the house during Mrs. Whipple's ab
sence and handles considerable money.
Her room is in the northwest corner of
the building. there being two windows,
ono TO the north and the other looking on
q narrow alleyway formed by high board
fence and the adjoining building.
About O'Clock Wednesday morning
Mrs. Wheeler was awakened by hearing
some pers rustled, as she at first thought
by mouse. In minute or two after she
head louder noise, and upon springing
from the couch, saw man making the
best of his way out of the window. She
ran, sceamlng. into the hall. and called
TO the hired girl to get some matches. as
a man was trying to get into the room.
An examination revealed the fact that
time before Mrs. Wheeler awoke. The
pocket of her dress that had been on
chair had beer cut open and purse con-
tanning $100 in gold and notes, abstracted.
The bureau had also received its share OF
attention. The drawers had been ran
sacked and many articles taken. Among
them was gold watch and chain and
some diamonds. The fellow was EVIL
IDENTIFY thorough, for among the things
stolen were box of tooth powder and
pair of colored glasses, which no doubt
were supposed to have been gold.
Mrs. Wheeler believes that the fellow
must have peeked into her room through
a crack in the fence and seen her count
ing the money that had been received,
and he accordingly took steps to get it.
He gained entrance by the window. A
second attempt to get into her room was
made last Saturday. About 3 O'Clock in
the morning she heard someone trying to
enter by the same window. and screamed.
The hired girl came to her and both heard
footsteps going down the little alley way
The Hotel Lille. 534 South Hill street,
was also burglarized, Wednesday morning
between 8 and O. clock. The man opened
the side door with the aid of nippers and
went up the back stairs. A large number
OF rooms were unlocked, but only two
persons had anything taken from them.
They were r. l.. Durant, the music
dealer, and Otto Arnold. About 81 was
secured from Mr.. Durant, while Mr.. Ar
mold lost SO and his watch and chain
The latter was aroused when the man
was in his room, but did not get up as
he supposd it was his brother, who occu-
pies the adjoining room with "a sick wife.
When the burglar went into the hall, Mr..
Arnold started alter him. The burglar
ran down the back stairs. and his pur-
suer CROPPED his way down the front
stairs as the lights had been turned out.
|. Mr.. Arnold aroused the household and
an investigation showed that his vest had
been carried down the stairs into the
bath room. All of the doors to the rooms
entered were standing wide open, but
only small amount was secured.
II is thought the burglar had a confed-
crate outside, for about the time he is
supposed to have escaped one of the lady
boardcrs heard a peculiar whistle which
none Of the men about the house made.
Friday night the office of Stewart &
Naftzger Bros, in the basement OF the
Times building, was burglarized. The
entrance was effected by unlocking the
side door on Broadway by means of nip
pers. A II of the desks in the room were
broken open :and everything about the