The evening times., 1896-06-19
HUNTING FOR 4 BURGLAR
Officers Who Guard the Capt.
tOl Have a Scare.
ANxloUSABoUT THE SAFE
Thousands of Dollars Were Deposited
In the Big NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Heard
Strange Noise and Became Ex-
cited-Thorough starch Failed TO
Show Any Signs of the RObber.

police force on the House side of the Capitol
sustained at least one good, thorough sub
stantial, hair lifting scare during the
session OF Congress recently terminated.
II was firmly believed that burglars had
attempted to enter the mammoth safe in
the Drfice Of The Sergeant at-arns, luIed
by the hope Of obtaining from $2O,OG0 to
$50,oG0ln traDsportabIe money.
The time and date selected for the COM
mission of such crime were both oppor-
tune. 1t was sunda night, and inky black
clouds overspread the sky, while few
drops Of rain were calculated to drive in
doors the stroller and the chance passerby.
The operations OF the burglars were sup
posed 10 have been set for midnight. The
size OF the safe and the length of time
necessary TO effect an entrance doubtless
rendered the selection of SO early an hour
necessary.
As watchmaD passed along the cor
ridor bounding the hall of the House on the
east, at IL so O'Clock, wondering il IL was
not almost daylight, he was startled by
hearing sundry and divers strange noises
coming from the interior OF the office
of the sergeaDt-at-arms. The sounds seemed
to indicate the stealthy movements of at
least one person and a muffled metallic
thud could be distinctly heard, which APP
parently indicated thatan expert was work
ing the combination by listening to the
falling tumblers.
THE OFFICERS HUSTLED.
The Waterman had no key TO the room.
He was disnclined to raise an immediate
alarm, fearing that his ina gination might
have played him false. Consequently he
held his peace, rushed down the nearest
flight of steps and out into the open air,
where an uninterrupted view could be
secured of the presumably burglar-iDfested
room. To his intense amaZement the east
window of the room containing the big safe
was raised to the top notch The guardian
of the peace waited to see no more. He
did not even wait for the combination worker
to leap from the window and alight on
his head. He hastily retraced his steps,
and notified the officer in charge.
There was an immediate. not to say in
stantaneous. tustling in all directions.
Some OF the officers watched the exterior
exit afforded by the open window, in case
the frightened marauders had not already
effected their escape. while others pro-
unlocked the room in which the depredat on
was about to be committed.
The safe was still there and none of the
other articles of furniture were missing.
II the safe had been opened the door had
again been closed in a way that left no
trace. The fact of the window still being
open. together with the knowledge that it
had previously been securely fastened. was
convincing proof that the room had re-
Gently been tenanted 10y some one who had
no official business therein.
Officers Were promptly notified of the
mysterious occurrence and sent out in
every direction to make a thorough and eX-
haustiye search OF the Capitol grounds for
the iDterccption Of any and all suspicious
characters. whose appearance might in
| iicate TIA tiIey ha d been engaged in trying
to get rich without work. Messengers were
also sent out for the purpose of ;IIousing
Serceant-Jt-arm Russell from his sup
posedly peaceful and refreshing sl.mbers.
But that official was not at the Congress
ional Hotel. having gone out to a Iarty
and rot yet returned.
In the meantime all those seeking to
enter or leave the building were compelled
to establish their identity, as has teen
| the rule for some months past. The sea rch-
ing parties returned and reported that no
clues had been developed. And then the
officers fell To calculating theories, pend
ing the arrival of Col. Russell.
Finally the colonel made bis appearance,
some time past 1 O'Clock, and after an ex-
animation of the safe, stated that nothing
bad been taken He could not tell to what
1
He directed that double force of officers
be detailed for duty in the vicinity of
the sergeant alarms office, and incident
ally that the open window be again closed
and locked. This practically ended the in
cident As sort OF afterthought, all those
| concerned were sworn TO strict secrecy,
and that accounts for the details having
attained publicity.
1t is n fact generally known to the "prU-
fessioD" that the safe in the office of the
Sergeant-at-Arms always contains any
where from $4,000 to $4,000. While
that official pays none of the employees eX-
cept members of Congress. that roll alone
| amounts to more than S15 900 per month.
| Many members do not draw their pay only
! as wanted. preferring to leave it in the
| custody of the proper officer rather than
take charge of it themselves. A coDsid
cradle sum must always be kept on hand for
| the reason that a member can draw his
| salary every day. if he feels so disposed.
| Hence the chances are for a large rather
| than n small haul.
MANY THEORIES ADVANCED.
The safe itself is mammoth one, being
| double doored, fire and burglar proof, and