The morning times., 1897-03-05
Several West End Residences
RanSaeked by Skilled Burglars.
JAMES H. ECKELS A VICTIM
Over Three Hundred Dollars Worth
of Jewelry ard Other Valuables
Stolen From Him-Other Rob
berries Reporte d-No Clew Left by
the Thieves in Any Instance.

yeSlcIuds- Liz blE lSldAS Noe d liIt's5iSO
which drew people from their homes,
and many Were o thousht!ess as 10 leave
their houses unprotected by the presence
Of a servant OF some member OF the fam
lily. The result in a number OF instances
was that when these persons returned
to their domiciles after the procession
had disbanded, it WAS TO find that they
had been entered and obbed by thieves
Information was received here yester-
day from Capt. o'Brien, OF New York,
that gang OF professional housebreakers
had left that city IoT Washington. The
information was true, the gang came,
and they left their mark behind them
in several OF the handsome residences
in West Washington. The professional
heusebreakcr is shIewd, cunning fellow.
lie does not 20 to a city during some
great celebration, like the inauguration,
and exI ose himself to the detectives by
Saunter!ng along the business Thorough
fares. On the contrary, he waits Until
the "crib" he is going TO crack is
ripe and then quietly makes his ap-
pearance, finishes the sob OF obs, and
as quietly and quickly leaves town.
In this manner the New York burglars
worked yesterday, No doubt they reached
this city in the morning. OF course, they
were too foxy to 20 into the depot TO bc
looked over by the Pinkerton men on
duty there, and, perhaps, some OF the
local and visiting detectives. Instead, they
left the trains before it pulled into the
station, and then made their way by back
streets TO West Washington, where, be-
tween II o'clock in the forenoon and )
o'clock in the afternoon, they did several
neat jobs.
The first place visited was the hand
some residence of Mr.. James II. Eckess,
Comptroller OF the Currency, No. 1926
Eighteenth street northwest Entry to the
house was effected through the basement
door, by means OF skeleton keys. Mr..
Ecllels ana all tie members o. his family
were down town to see tie inaugural
parade, and the house was deserted. The
burglars, therefore, had plain sailing.
After entering the premises they proceeded
to the upper floors, ransackmg room after
room
In Mrs. Eckels bedChamher the crooks
made the biggest haul They secured a
fine ladys gold watch, gold bracelet,
necklace Of pearls, four GOLD aud one silver
bracelet, a pair of large, plain gold cuff
buttons, a pair Of black onyx cuff but
tons, pearl set ring, and other jewelry
and apparel, valued at about $500. The
thieves then departed, leaving no Clew
to their identity.
The next house broken into was the
fesidence of Mrs. Hopkins, No. 1920
Twentieth street. This house was entered
10y the same gang and in the same manner
they followed in getting into Mrs. ECkels'
hUme-thruUgh the basement do0r by means
of skeleton keys- In this house they Sc
cured wo sold watches, a gold bracelet,
and other Jewelry, and $50 i'll money, a
total haul OF not less than $500, it is said.
No trace was left behind the crooks in Mrs.
Hopkins house.
Another house visited is on Z street,
between Twenty-secoud and Twenty-third
streets northwest {, where consi derable
plunder was secured.
IN each case entry was gained with false
keys through q basement door. 1t is be-
Iieyed the crooks hUrriedly left town after
doing their work, and that they were
well out of town when tie families re-
turned TO their homes at the conclusion of
the parade Inspector Hollinberger will
take every effort to turn up the bold
burglars who did this work. Other jobs
done by them in West Washington may be
reported to the police today.
Ar unusually bold attempt at burglary
occurred in broad daylight, near Mount
Pleasant, yesterday, about noon. Two
men who diSdained tile usual precautions
adopted by their profession, deliberately
smashed the rear door of the residence OF
MT William II. Rhees and proceeded to
ransack the house. Bat they came to grief
before many moments had passed.
Ottoway Brown, coIored, wBo Lad been
left in charge OF the premises for the day,
observed the suspicious actions of the men
from the stable, where he was working,
and, procuring a shotgun. he awaited the
moment when the burglars Teappeared.
This they shortly did, with various articles
Of clothing, etc, which they had found in
side. Brown ordered them to throw up
their hands, which they promptly did,
though a moment later one Of the men
lodged around the corner OF the house and
escaped. The other did not relish the looks
OF the weapon trained upon him and made
no effort TO escape.
Brown hailed passing boz, who ran at
once and tclephoned 70 the Eighth precinct
station for the patrol, which shortly ar
rived on the scene, and the captured bur
glar was conveyed TO the station. He was
Identified as Frank, alias Fatty" Moore,
q crook who is well known to the local
police.
The residence Of DR.. Walter z. Reid, the
medical electrician, was also robbed yes
terday, but not by the New York gang.
This case is believed To be the work OF
local crook, who got away with a consid-
erble quantity OF money and jewelry.
Pickpociets who worked the crowds yes
terday have also been heard from in sew
eral instances. and more reports Of their
crooked work may he made to police head
quarters today. A visitor fIom New York
reported to the police that a diamond scarf
pin, valued at S175, was lifted from
his neck scarf by some lght-iingered fel-
low while he was in the push on Pennsyl-
vania avenue. Another visitor had dia-
mond stud unscrewed from his shirt front
and several pockets are said to have been
picked in the great crush Of humanity
about the Presidents reviewing stand.
The visiting and local detectives kept
up their good work of aTesting crooks
last night Detectives HusSey and Walsh
of Baltimore picked up Christian Il. Myer,
who is said to be an expert Monumental
City crook Detectives Helan, Boyd, Grim
McDermott. Murray, o'Leary, and Burke