The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-02
MIDNIGHT PROVIDERS
Residences on the West Side Entered
by Burglars.
A DARK LANTERN INTRUDER
An Unsuccessful Attempt to Rob
Mrs. Mcbride of Her Diamonds
Other Houses Visited Recent
ly by Desperate Thieves.
DARK LANTERN INTRUDER

Burglars have been very active in
the western part of town and there is
a great boom in the locksmith's trade.
New locks are being put on doors and
windows and watch dogs are once
more at a premium in that part of the
city. They seem to have been par
ticularly active on Thursday night, or
rather in the early hours of Friday
morning. One place visited by one Of
the dark lantern fraternity was the
]. Ross Clark residence in West
Broadway, occupied by Mrs, Busch,
who conducts a private boarding
house at that place. One of the board
ers is Mr.. Mallory, a travelling man,
who occupies a room on the second
floor. Mr.. Mallory was awakened at
l or o'clock on Friday morning by
consciousness of the presence of some
one in his room. He heard a man
breathing and stumbling about the
room. Mallory felt for his vest under
his pillow and found that the vest and
the watch in IL were safe. The move
ments he made alarmed the burglar.
who instantly became quiet. Mallory
concluded also TO pretend TO be asleep
and kept perfectly quiet for many
minutes. and the time seemed 70 him
to be several weeks. During the same
period of time the burglar also re-
NAMED motionless. Suddenly a bull's
eye lantern was flashed into Mallory's
face.
Light the gas. pardner, and I viii
get UP and divide with you said NAL
lory.
The burglar did not say word, but
turned off the lantern and bolted for
the door. Before Mallary could get
ready for action the intruder had
made his escape. He did not succeed
in talin" anything with him.
On tn. anne night, an hour or two
later. tho house Of DR.. ]. w. Reed
No. 80 West Granite street, was en-
tered. L. Il. Mcbride has been in Hell
ena during the week and Mrs. Nc
Bride has been living with her parents.
DR.. and Mrs Reed. She occupies a
room on the second floor. There is no
lock TO the door and Mrs. Mcbride
IN retiring, placed a heavy trunk
against the door. She has some very
valuable diamonds which she had in
the room with her. She was awakened
by hearing the door knob rattle. and
the trunk being pushed. She jumped
up. turned on the light, and saw that
whereas she had placed the trunk
close up against the door. II had now
been showed several inches into the
room. At the same time she heard
heavy steps running down the stairs,
and the front door shut. This noise
also awakened Mrs. McBride's mother
and her brother. Gay Reed. both of
whom came from their sleeping rooms.
Mrs. Mcbride placed the diamonds in
the care Of her brother for the balance
of the night.
While the family was at breakfast
the same morning there was another
persistent attempt to get the dia-
monds. Evidently the intruder was
acquainted with the house, and had no
difficulty in passing through the front
door. lie was not heard on this sec
ond trip but on returning from break
fast Mrs. Mcbride found unmistaka-
bic evidences OF her room having been
visited. She was certain she had shut
the door when she went 20 breakfast,
but II was open when she returned,
and several things in the room had
| been disturbed and drawers ransacked
in a hunt for the diamonds. The lat
ter being in the possession Of Mrs.
/ McBride's brother were not found.
About a week ago the house of ]. S.
Shropshire. at No. eos North Crystal
street. was entered on two successive
nights. on one of rhe visits a few
| dollars in money was found and car
ricd off