New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-17
BURGLARS SUNDAY WORK.
CRACKSMEN IN PARK ROW.
FIVE SAFES BLOwN OPEN IN DENNETT's
RESTAURANT BUILDING.

RESTAURANT BUILDING.
NEARLY FOURTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS STOLEN
THE SAFE ON THE FIRST FLOOR MUST HAVE
BEEN CRACKED IN VIEW OF THE STREET.
WHICH Is FRnoUENTED AT ALL HOURS
OF THE DAY AND NIGHT-NoBoDY IN
THE NEIGH3oRHooD HEARD ANY
UNUSUAL SOUND. AND NOTHING
SUSPICIOUS WAS NOTICED
ABOUT THE BUILDING
An extremely bold burglary was committed
some time between 1890 a. m. and 4:3O p. m.
yesterday. at No. 25 Park Row, which Is oc-
cupied by the bennett Surprising Coffee Com
pany, the first floor being used for restaurant
The burglars blew open five safes and stole
about s1,375. An idea of the boldness OF the
crime can be gained when 1t Is said that the
restaurant in which Of the safes was
opened when closed as it is only for the twen-
ey-four hours of Sunday. Is lighted and the IN
terror Is in full view of passersby. as there
are no curtains the windows. The cracks
men, nevertheless. rolled the safe from its
place beside the cashiers desk pushed 1t behind
the stairway and there blew 1t open. They
drilled holes around the combination and In
serted the explosives, which tore on the door
and scattered the papers In the safe around the
floor. On the table beside this safe was part
OF kit of burglars tools. including a dark
lantern, a screwdrver a hammer, with the
handle broken off. and two jimmies. The four
other safes robbed the third floor
.THE ROBBERY DISCOVERED.
The robbery was discovered about 430 In the
afternoon by the day manager Robert l.. Hail
1t Is his duty each Sunday afternoon to inspect
the building He WIS astonished on entering the
place 10 find the cashiers safe removed from Its
customary place and the contents scattered
around. Without waiting TO Inspect the rest OF
the building he started on run for the Oak-st
police station and Informed Captain Thompson,
who with Detectives Gilhooley. McCrorey. Bar
low Calvin and Maarksy, went 10 the place
,mmeda tely.
The bennett Company occupies the entlr,
building which Is nve stories high On the third
noor IS the office Of s. s. Swain. general manager
for the company. The officers. after investigat-
ing the break on the first floor went upstairs to
the third noor and found that the burglars had
entered Mr. Swain's private office and blown
omen the safe which contained. In addition 10
tho nrjvatc papers Of the company. sl75 In cash.
stool: ir the bennett company to the value OF
$50 O0c and , check for 500 The cash was miss
Ing but the stock papers and check were un-
touched Outside of Mr.. Swans office, and with
in a few feet OF Il. were three other safes ABOUT
four feet square In size in which money was
\ t.nt The safes stood slfe by side. The do1r
of each had been completely blown from its
hAnt ha
loor.
AMOUNT OF THE LOSS.
Mr. Swain was Immediately summoned. and
after n hasty investigation placed the loss at
sel75 Later the bookkeeper after looking over
his accounts found that the loss would not
exceed 81. 375.
When the news Of tho robbery was received
a, Police HEADQUARTERS Captain OBrien i'm
media,ey detailed Detective Sergeants Reap
and Rynders to assist Captain Thompson. There
, was great excitement at Headquarters on ac-
count Of the bodnefs of the crime. The burg
lars left no clew. except a new leather bag,
which had evidently contained their tools.
II was at first thought that the burglars
must have hidden In the building before the
restaurant was closed, and then lelsurely pro-
ceeded In their work. Detective Calvin went
10 the roof and found that the scutte had been
pried open with jimmy. 1t was secured with
a paddock and In forcing entrance the
thieves had broken the wood into splinters
The opening thus made led. to the nth floor.
which is used for storage purposes. The burg
lars had no trouble In coming down to the third
floor. where four safes
WENT oUr THE REAR DOOR.
Apparently they left the building by the way
OF rear stairway which leads to the pantry on
the first floor and thence through door open
Ing on Theatre Alley This fact was discovered
by the detectives who found that bar which
locked the door from the inside had been pushed
aside
The police believe that gang of professional
burglars has come to the city. They say that
bolder crime has never heen committed In New
York. That part Of Park Row Is frequented AT
all hours OF the day and night. on either side
Of the building are newspaper Offices. where
there are persons employed till o'clock In the
morning
It Is not thought probable that the burglars
did their work In the daytime. No one couid
be found who had heard any unusual noise. al
though people who were in the nelghborhood
up to o'clock were questioned
1t is believed that number OF persons were
concerned in the robbery. 1t was found that
some of the robbers had gone from 'he 'nii"
floor to the pantry as they had dropped along
the rear stairs papers from one OF the boxes
in the safes on the third floor. one or THESE
boxes was found at the foot OF the rear stairs
WORK OF PROFESSIONALS.
That the work done by professionals
is plainly shown by he similarity OF the
breaks on each Of the safes. Around the COM
binatons five holes had been drilled Ihe eH-
plosons which followed did not mar the papers
inside, but blew holes about six inches square
around the combination and the outside plates
were blown completely off. The burglars EVIL
IDENTIFY did the work leisurely. Mr. SWAN kfPt
a box OF good cigars In ris desk. The desk was
- hnl az the cigars taken.