The sun., 1896-10-25
VOLUNTEER GIRLS ROBBED
THIEVEs ENTERED THEIR ROOMS
TWICE AT NIGHT.

Carrying on or Funds Belonging 10
the Harlem Braneh OF Bniiinrton
Booths Forces-The Police Not Notified.
Two pretty yot nR women who belong to Bal
lington Booths American Volunteers. and aro
in charge OF the work OF saving souls ut tho
Harlem post, told startling tale yesterday of
having been choroforned and robbed in the
fiat whore they lived Mt lT5 East l2ad
street. The story was not told originally to
the police. but as soon rs Capt. HnuRhcv Of
tho East 120th street station heard OF 1t, he
sent two of his ward mon out TO investigate II.
Their inquiries, up tn the time they reported to
Caut. Haughey last night, hal only served to
mystify them, and for the time. at least, 20
make them skeptical as to part II not the whole
of the story of tho robbery.
The young women who say they were robbed
are Nellie Denmnn and Edish Biurberg. Both
were privates in the Salvation Army, but since
they have belonged to Commander Booths
forces they have been promoted. Edith Blur
berg is now Lieutenant, and Nellie Denman
lie n Captain. About two months ago Nellie
was sent to Harlem to take charge OF the post
Edith went with her as second In command.
Tho Young women arc very different in ap-
pearnnce. Capt. Denman 10 slender, with
light hair ana a long, oval face surmounted by
high forehead. She Ia Of tho melancholy
type. Miss 9jurberg Is plump, with a round rosy
face and curly hair, and so full Of life and fun
that Capt. Denman says she has often thought
of reproving her for her freedom OF manner.
and would have done II she were not salts
fled that Lieut.. Bjurberg was 90 good at
heart
The American volunteers..hod their Harlem
meetings in Orpheus Hall, 124th street, just
east of Third avenue. Capt. Denmnn and
Lieut.. Bjurberg have been very successful in
ttnry tn, rn11o ton yD t1nle
penscs and this money Capt. Denman was in
the habit OF carrying homo in a little satchel
More than once. she says. she and Lieut.. Blur
berg were followed when they left tho hall.
or after conducting an opn-air Saturday night
meeting at 122d street and Third avonue,
and sometimes they were spoken to by mon.
II didn't think much of this then." Capt
Denmnn said yesterday, "for I thought tho
men were attracted by Lieut. BjurberE, but
now shall be afraid of my life"
When they got to their little fat the money
was at first put away in bureau drawer. Six
weeks ago the first chapter of the robbery mys.
terry began. One night Cant. Denman brought
home $40. She rolled all the bills toke her
and tucked them away before she went to bed.
When she and a. Lieut. BiurtsrE arose the next
wrong about the fiat, but when n little later
Capt Denman had occasion TO go to her store
stracted. This alarmed her. but she did not
report the matter to the police her friends say
the minds Of her family. She belongs in New
ark After that the rent for Qrpheus Hall
was paid IN every VERY week; % SO as to @ nave WA as little
was was left in the little satchel and this was
hung behind Capt. Denmans bedroom door
On Thursday night the fiat was robbed again.
That niVht Capt. Denman had Young wo-
man friend visiting her. and this friend shared
her bed. They, occuried room opening into
the paror Of the fopr-ro1m fiat. and. like the
street. Lieni. BiurberG slept in a room which
connects the pari9r and tho kitchen. When
its accustomed place 1t contained S45. Capt.
Denman says that all the windows were closed,
about O'Clock Miss Denman's friend awoke
and remained awake until they arose to dress
t tnas the tedroim ] door which had been closed
when they retied was open. She got up before
why: where is my dresses?" she cried. ''An
my clothes are gomez
Capt, penman jumped out Of bed: SURE
her own were gone. They ran out int tho
parlor and from.there into Lieut.; Bjurbergs
of fo Evidence iis That th,eye: had been at work in
the house. Bureau drawers were open, and
their contents seal!erst on tn" floor and az @ be,
Edith: Edith; Wake up!" cried Capt Den
G"i;: as: he. oneest time:beforeI could awake
hor." said Capt. Denman yesterday. She
some i way. we didn't think then about being
chlnroformed. although tho strips OF cloth
might have made ns think oft. 1t was after
ward. when we felt sick. that We came to tho
conclusion that tho drug had been used"
Whom Miss Bjn:berg was aroused. draught
following It up. she found that 1t came from
an open window in the bathroom. There on
a "r %hs sE h n h
dress was Capt Denmans satchsi: E. III inc & $40
as @ | the pocs S s NOT Hs sa the
robbery, but the two women determined to
move at once. and Yesterday they secured a
nat opposite Orpheus Hall, in l24th street,
Just, before Capt. Denman left the old fiat
ark They had intended TO go to the theatre
and then stay over night with the Captain.
When they heard Of the robbery they were
oh, dear" they cried, what will mother
say when she hears nj this?"
the whole Denman family had been Chloro-
formed one light. and their house in Newark
When the police got arouni to Capt. Den
mans apartments tho only evidence Of the
robbery they could find was a.square hole that
had heen torn in some MOSQUITO netting which
had filled The bathroom window frame This
netting had oeen tackled to the frame OUTSIDE
could see how thieves might have got in there.
This window and the kitchen window beside
tween the house tho women occupied and n
row of 2Ia-story frame tenements to the west
OF 1t. Down through this shaft is n fire escape
ladder. and the landi Ing from Capt: Denmans
floor is In front Of her kitchen window. and
leading along nearly 20 her bathroom window.
IA person could easily gain access to the fro
escape. either from an Jthcr floor of the same
b-ilding or from the roof OF the wooden house
next door By hanging out from the outside
Or the fire escape landing n person could reach
tho bathroom window and raise II II it were
unlatched, and then crawl through 1t. There
are some things. however, about the condition
OF that window which raise doubts in tho
minds OF the police to whether It was tam
pered with at all except from the inside.
Capt. Denmin says that all the windows
were seen TO and fastened at bedtime the night
before the robbery. They all have safety
locks which cannot be opened by the old trick
OF pressing them back with, knife blade.
Then, the police say. II would have been nat
uraI for person tearing away the mosquito
netting from the outside to reach to the fur
thest part of IL. and null IT out by drawing the
hand toward the body Of the intruder. Tho
netting is torn only on the side nearest the rre
escape. and tho opening in 1t is only about a
foot square. This opening does not extend up
to the dividing bar OF the SASH and a person
working from tho outside could not have got
Mt the latch over the upper sash through this
hole nor could he she have raised the sash