The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-19
ROBBERS AT PHENIX.
They Break Into Store of Messrs.
ConIey and Thornton.
Safe Door Open so They Did Not Have TO
Smash it--Small Booty.

Robbers made their appearance again
in the Pawtuxet Valley last night and
this time selected Phenix as the scene Of
their operations. Up to last night the
village escaped the attention of the
knights of the drill, and the jimmy and
the residents had been lulled into feel
ing of security by the manner in which
they had been passed by-by the robbers.
This morning, however, they were rudely
aroused from their dreams of security by
the news that the wholesale liquor store
OF Conley a Thornton, located on Phenix
square and In the heart of the village
had been robbed during the night and
that the thieves had escaped without
leaving any tangible clue behind them.
When the store was closed last night
everything was left IN the usual order,
but when it was opened this morning by
Thomas Sullivan, an employe OF the firm,
be at once discovered that something up-
usual had occurred during the night. lie
Immediately commenced an investiga-
tion and found that the place had been
visited by robbers and that they had made
themselves very much at home with the
firms money and goods.
Yesterday was collecting Lay with the
firm and as usual, large amount OF
money was paid in. The robbers were
evidently aware of this fact and laid
their plans accordingly but they made
enc mistake In their calculations, as they
did not know that Mr.. Conley is in the
habit OF depositing all Of his money in
the bank just before 1t closes in the af-
ternoon.
The men were evidently well acquaint-
ed with the premises.for they had SO ar
ranged their operations as TO be conceal
ed from the sight OF any chance passerby
sl.f la fNrn fr,rx 20 ha hnt n
ing. They first broke into Bates black
smith shop, near the fire station and stole
heavy sledge hammer, two wide heavy
chisels and a bitstock. After securing
these tools they entered the yard OF Col
onel Phillip Duffy, who'lives nxet TO Mr..
Conleys' place OF business and passing
through his carriage house, climbed oSor
into . small yard in the rear OF Conlcy's
building.
Mr.. Conley's office opens on this yard
and the thieves found no trouble in
effecting an entrance through one OF the
windows. Once inside they turned their
attention to the safe which they found
unlocked, as il is always left at night.
This they thoroughly ransacked, pulling
out the.drawers and throwing -thnm on
the floor, but they were poorly rewarded
for their trouble as nothing OF any value
Is ever left In the safe-ever night They
next turned their attention 10 Mr.. Con-
ley's desk and the drawers were forced
open with one Of the heavy chlsels stolen
from the blacksmith shop. here the
thieves secured about $50 i'm silver. They
then entered the front stop and apparent
ly made themselves very much at home
with the liquor and cigars which were
behind the bar. After rumaging around
and falling 10 find any more money they
left, taking with them about half dozen
bottles OF liquor and quantity
OF cigars and leaving behind the tools
stolen from the blacksmith shop. When
MIR. Conley was seen this morning by a
News reporter he did not seem 10 resent
the loss of his money and goods 40 much
as the ungentlemanly way in which the
burglars had Uttered up his Office with
tho drawers and papers taken from his
safe and thrown about on the'tioor.
The police were notified of the break
and are working on the case, but unlfss
they have better success III finding the
perpetrators than they have bad in the
numerous others which have occurred in
the valley the thieves will probably es-
cape imprisonment.