Smyrna times., 1895-12-04
DARING ROBBERIES.
Smyrna and Clayton Excited Over the Work
CT a Sneak Thief.

CT Sneak Thief.
Again Smyrna has been infested bv
thief or thieves, who have been oct
ting III their cunning work the Dost
week. On Friday morning last shortly
before day-break, a thief entered tbe
residence of Joseph Smithers on uDper
commerce street, and after belDin0
nlnselt to some pie, which he got from
the pantry, proceeded upstairs to the
bedroom of Miss Bertha Smithers for
the purpose of plundering for money
He went through her bureau comDlete-
y and stole some money out of the ton
drawer, which she had put away in a
black bag. The work was done quietly
and not known until next morninG
getting about $40, dropping s.. 90 of #
on his exit
lie then went across the street and
entered the back parlor door of James
Z. RObinsOn's residence. With the
same hungry intent he helped himself
to some bread and preserves before ro-
ing upstairs. In a braZen, daring man
ner he entered the bedroom of Mr.
Robinson and lifted his vest and a pair
OF his wlfe's shoes. The amount of
money taken was about S715. The
noise of the thief awoke Mrs. Robinson
and she called to her husband that n
man was i'll the house and wished to
see him. The burglar stood in the
hallway, without an effort to move.
Crying again Mrs. Robinson exclaimed
that 1t was a burglar and told her hus-
Dand to get his pistol. At this threat
the thief walked quietly downstairs
and disappeared in the darkness of the
night
The act of this thief was not lone in
circulating, and at once suspicion rest
ed upon three tramps who had been
living IN an old barrack in "Jimtown. "
Warrants were issued and put in the
hands of Constable eGOldsborough. but
he was unable to find any trace of the
tramps, they having pulled out for
parts unknown.
The next morning Saturday a re-
port came to Smyrna that CLAYTON had
experienced a robbery. About 80
o clock sneak thief entered the resi-
dence of Isaac Clayton, while his wife
was IN the kitchen, and going upstairs
the bedroom of a minister who |
was stopping there for the night and
stole So from his clothes. From there
he went into the bedroom of Miss !
Florence Clayton. Here he struck a |
match which Immediately awoke Miss |
Florence. The thief seeing his predic- |
lment, threatened to blow her brains |
out II she dared make noise Frantic
with fright, shep paid no attention to the |
-hlet and her screams brought he father
to the scene of action. The thief bolted
out the door and fired two shots at his
He was finally caught and
arrested by Constable Boggs. His
name IS James Brown, (colored) resid-
ng between Smyrna and CLAYTON.
After hearing before Squire Casper
ion, he was committed to Dover iaii.
Mr.. George w. Joseph, who was re-
ported as arrested, is without truth
he reporter of a Wilmington paper
;etung particulars provokablv mixed.
'lr: Joseph is a conductor of a shifting
ram and on entering his home that
morning found negro lying on his
ltchen floor. Waking him up. the
legro started to assault him. but few
lows of poker dealt by Mr.. Joseph
aused the assailant to make his escaDe
The matter has assumed a serious
hape IN this town and has put our citi-
ems IN state of unpleasant apprehen-
ION. In the month of November more
obberles have occurred in SMYRNA
han IN the past five years.