The San Francisco call., 1896-06-28
The Pastor and His Wife Were
at Prayer-Meeting at
the Time.
A BOLDLY EXECUTED BURGLARY
Entrance Was Effected Through a
Window and Escape Was Made
by the Rear.

While the Rev. John Stephens, pastor of
ing the amassing of spiritual wealth at
prayer-meeting last Wednesday night
divers iimmy-wielders were ransacking
the reverend gentleman's humble cottage
at 800 Haight street with view OF laying
up little earthly treasure in the shape of
numerous wedding gifts, which the doctor
and his wife had received upon their mar
riage day some six months ago.
The prayer-meeting concluded about 8
o'clock, and as the parsonage is less than
five blocks from the church 1t could not
have been more than quarter past 9 when
the pastor and his wife reached home.
AS he opened the door the doctor saw
one of the gas jets burning brilliantly.
The burglars, like the wise virgins in the
parable, had needed the warning to 'be
ready when the bridegroom comes" for
they evidently fed precipitateIy through
the already opened back door and gate lead
ing out into little street or alley that
runs back from Buchanan street, Just op-
posite the Protestant Orphan Asylum.
Like the wise virgins again, their lamps
were bright, even if not trimmed, and the
flaming Jet certainly "sent forth radiant
light"
Seeing the light the unsuspecting
preacher, who innocently thought that
nobody would stoop to such depths of folly
and wickedness as to rob poor Methodist
parson, asked his wife why she had left
the light burning. She was positive she
had put out the light. Then he noticed
that the door into the bedroom was un-
locked, and when he asked his wife why
she had not locked the door she again was
certain she had done so, By this time
hoSr crYsOioior1S uvnT ar0T1snd ar6 fhnv ha.
gan to examine their belongings.
Mrs. Stephens black silk dress was
missing, as we're the doctors overcoat and
a silver watch, which had been presented
to him as pulpit monitor"
The bureau drawers had been ransacked
and all the wedding presents OF the couple
were missing. Mrs. SteDhens usually kept
the gifts hidden in a secret place IN the
house, but on the day before the burglary
she had taken them out 10 show friend
and had pushed them under the bed, in
stead of replacing them in their hiding
place.
When they made these startling discov-
cries Dr. and Mrs. Stephens hastened out
into the street and told the story to some
of their friends who we're coming up
Buchanan street from the prayer-meeting.
One of them, G. B. Perkins, quickly noti-
fed the police, who are now actively work
ing on the case.
Ss
loss, as the sentimental value of the wed
ding gifts, which had been given by
various friends, was much greater than
their actual value, which, however, was
considerable, amounting to q couple of
hundred dollars.
The burglary Of the house was a particu-
larly bold undertaking. for the neighbor-
hood is thickly built up and cars were con-
stantly passing. Entrance to the house
had been effected by climbing up on a
fence and prying open the side window
with a jimmy, breaking the catch by
which the window was locked. The
burglars had then evidently opened The
back door and gate in order to escape read
lily in case the occupants returned.
DR.. Stephens believes that they were
busy ransacking the dining-room when
they heard the noise of his key opening
the front door ana that they then immed-
lately fed with their booty.
The empty boxes in which the presents
had been PACKED were left scattered about
the bedroom. The silverware, which con-
stituted much of the booty, was marked
with the owners name, but if, as is prob
able, the burglars were professionals, this
mark of identification has doubtless been
obliterated.
Although the thieves were evident tly
somewhat familiar with the house and
custom of the occupants to be absent at
prayer-meeting on Wednesday evenings,
DR.. Stephens and his wife have scarcely
any suspicious as to who the burglars
were.
The only one the doctor can think of is
a tramp who applied at the house at
various times, and whom the doctor
gave work in the garden in return for
meals and other assistance. However,
the doctor has no further reason for sus-
pecting him to be the guilty person.
Inasmuch as the police were almost i'm
mediately notified and Detective Dillon
was at the house few moments after the
burglary, it is hoped that the thieves may
be captured.