New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-30
THEORIES THICK AS HOPS.
LITTLE LIGHT ON THE CRIME.
VISIT OF A DISCHARGED MAID TO THE
BURDEN HOUSE.
1T is THOUGHT THAT IT MAY LEAD TO POS
sIBLE CLEW-CAPTAIN PICKETT'S NEW
THEORY AS TO THE WAY THE ROBBERS
GOT INTO THE HoUsE-DETECTIvES
AT THE HOUSE AND IN THE
BRUNSWICK CORRIDORS.

BRUNSWICK CORRIDORS.
The circumstances connected with the Burden
diamond robbery still shrouded in the deep
est mystery. All day yesterday detectives from
the Central Office and from Captain Picketts
station in the Nineteenth Precinct were working
the case. but at night they were compelled to
acknowledge that no definite clew had yet been
obtained Theories there a-penty. and
nearly every one held different one as to how
the thieves gained access to the house and as
to their manner of egress.
A DISCHARGED MAIDS VISIT.
An interesting fact became known yesterday
which may furnish cew to the mystery
Tribune reporter learned on good authority last
night the following story: About eight months
ago French maid Marie by name. about thirty
five years old entered the employ Of Mrs. Burden
She was with the family at Newport last sum-
mer, but never enjoyed Mrs Burdens entire
goodwill. owing to the maids excessive Ni-teni-
per. She did not get on well with the other SER
wants in the household. and soon after the return
of the family from Newport to this city Marie
was discharged. Since her discharge she has
| been living somewhere in Sxth-ave., where she
has done work It is said, for private families.
On Friday morning last. the day of the rob-
berry Marie went to the Burden house at 9
o'clock to secure as she said. bottle Of head
ache medicine which she had left in her room on
the fourth floor. The laundry maid. who was In
the kitchen at the time Marie called, insisted
upon going up to the room to secure the bottle
rather than to allow Marie to do so. The visitor,
therefore remained downstairs and engaged the
chef in conversation while the laundry maid went
upstairs The latter was detained for about five
minutes and upon returning to the kitchen found
that Marie had gone, leaving word that she would
call some other time for the medicine.
1t was impossible to learn the address or the
surname of the discharged maid. 1t is said that
the maid had left this information with one OF the
servants and that the laundry maid had pinned
the slip of paper containing the address on the
wall Of her room with hairpin. Recently this
slip of paper has disappeared. when or In what
manner it is not known.
GAZING CURIOUSLY AT THE HOUSE
People returning 10 their homes from church
yesterday morning stopped in front OF the Bur
den home and looked with curiosity upon the
brownstone 'front.' which, however exhibited no
signs that one of the greatest robberies known
in the annals Of crime in this city had been COM
mitted only forty hours before.
Mir Rurden was in consultation the greater
part of the day with the detectives. and at least
a score of them passed in and out at the front
entrance during the day.
1t seemed though nearly all the friends and
acquaintances of the Bdrden family called In the
afternoon and early evening TO offer their SYM
pathy. Mrs. Burden received them In the front
paror SO continuous was the stream of visitors
that It was o'clock in the evening before the
family had the opportunity Of sitting down at
the dinner table.
Reporters who tried TO gain access to the fam
ily did not fare so well. Mr. Burden refused TO
Trb ma
evening and inquired through messenger II 1t
was true that Mr. Burden had offered reward
oe SO 900 for the recovery OF the jewels for In
formation leading TO the arrest of the thieves, as
generally reported yesterday. Mr.. Burden denied.
that he had offered any reward or had advertised
for the jewels in any way other than through the
notice which appeared in yesterdays Tribune
over his name.
The corridors OF the Hotel Brunswick were
crowded all the afternoon with detectives and
reporters whose principal occupation was that
of waiting for some new development Ihe
hotel proprietors still insist that 1t is highly
improbable that the hotel was used as a
means OF access to the Of the Burden
house 1t was said at the hotel that the only
window through which a man could have
reached the house was closed all Of Friday
night and furthermore. that William Telshow
the head waiter, was close beside the window
the greater part OF the evening
CAPTAIN PICKETTs THEORY.
Captain Pickett seemed to agree with the hotel
people so far as that goes He said to a Trb-
une reporter yesterday that his conviction was
that the thieves had secured entrance
through the back yard coming in from Twenty
seventh-st. The theory which found the great
est credence at the Nineteenth Precinct station
was that the burglars had secured an entrance
through the stable at No. East Twenty-sev-
enth-st Beside the stable is long passage
way leading to the rear OF the houses in Twenty
sixth-st.. and 1t is said that the burglars could
ea siy have forced back the lock of the iron gate
at the Twentyseventh-st entrance to the pas
sageway.
After gaining access to the passageway.
climbing the rear fences separating the thieves
from the Burden yard would have been COM
paratively easy matter.
The discovery of some empty Jewel boxes In
the Stevenson yard adjoining supports the
theory that the robbers escaped through the
stable
Acting Captain O'Brlcn. Of the Detective
Bureau spent most of the day at Police Head
quarters consulting with his men. He said 10 re-
porters that he had no theory In connection with
the robbery that he cared to discuss. There Is
absolutely nothing new in the case. said ne. ana
| do not care t. discuss any OF the theories that
have been proposed as plausible. The pubic may
depend upon il. however. that we are doing every.
thing possible in power to solve the mystery.
The chief theory advanced by the ponce Is
that there was colluslon of some sort from with
in.
In support Of this theory. the police, after
carefully questioning all the servants now In
! tho Burden household without securing any
definite information. went on saturday 10 see
one. Marie Desverney mot the same Marie men
toned abONe). who some time ago was a trusted
French maid personally in the employ OF Mrs
Burden This girl left the employ Of Mrs. Bur-
den about two years ago however and has since
married. She enjoyed Mrs. Burdens fullest con-
idence. and the police after cross-questioning
the girl abandoned the theory that she was In
any way implicated In the robbery.
II was learned yesterday that Marie Desverney
was 50 much exercised over the visit II the police
10 her home that on Saturday evening she went
10 the Burden house and told of all that had
passed between herself and the police. and was
lusOn.