New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-27
BUTLER SAVES THE SILVER.
THREE BURGLARS SURPRISED IN J. D.
RoCKEFELLER's COUNTRY HOUSE.
TABLE ARTICLES VALUED AT MORE THAN ssu

PACKED UP TO BE TAKEN AwAY-sHors
BRIGHTEN THE THrEvEG OFF
Three burglars entered the Pocantico Hills
home of John d. Rockefeller the well-known
millionaire who is president Of the STANDARD OIL
Company and patron Of he University OF
Chicago. early yesterday morning. and but
for the prompt action Of Dania Conaty. the but.
Ter, would have stolen silverware valued at morn
than $1,000
The house stands in a beautiful piece Of land m
the Bedford Road. adjoining Kaak-Out. where
Mr.. Rockefeller is about to erect handsome
mansion which. 1t is said. will cost about 81 000.
900. Mr. Rockefeller recently purchased his
present house from the Parsons estate. and IN.
tended to make 1t his home until his new mansion
is completed. He found 1t desirable TO make
so.1e repairs and build an addition to the houae.
asd had plans prepared by d. W. Purdy. OF Tar.
rytown. Work was begun last week. and r.
Rockefeller went to Lakewood. while his wife b
staying with their daughter in the West.
The improvements made IT necessary TO dscon.
meet the burglar ALARM a thing that was never
allowed while Mr.. Rockefeller and his family
were in the house. This favored the burglars.
for had the alarm been in place 1t would have
been impossible for them to gain an entrance.
which they made by cutting away the sash and
showing the catch back window leading into
the telephone-room. which Is on the east side Of
the house They made their way through the
library the main hall to the dining-room.
where they broke open the sideboard.
sILvERwARE PACKED UP.
It was here that the table silverware was kept
The burglars took 1t all out and placed IL on q
quilt. which one OF them took from bed on the
second floor. Together with the silver they re-
moved a lot OF table linen. cut glass and china
ware
While two Of the thieves were packing up thef
plumber, the third went upstairs and entered the
room OF Daniel Conaty, the butler. adjoining the
one in which he was sleeping He pried open
Conaty's trunk without awakening him, and
emptied the contents on the floor He seemed
to like two dress suits belonging to the butler for
he tied them up and then proceeded 10 ransack
the bureau. From the top drawer he secured
$3.50 in cash and some trinkets belonging to
Conaty.
The butler was suddenly awakened by loud
noise which. he thinks, was caused by the burg
lar letting a drawer fall to the floor. He jumped
out of bed and opened the door leading into the
next room. Before him stood tall man, wear
ing a black overcoat and a soft hat which was
pulled down over his eyes.
THIEVES CHASED BY THE BUTLER
Conaty turned around and seized revolver
and a shotgun, which he always kept In his ROOM
The thief took advantage Of this opportunity ana
sprang for the stairway. closely pursued by
Conaty who fired shot from his revolver IL
missed it's mark and lodged in the wall.
At this point the buffers attention was dis
tracted by d second burglar. who ran across the
hall into the library off which opens the small
place called the telephone room.
Conaty followed, in time to see the burglar
iump out the window Looking out ne saw the
figures of the three. He aimed through the WIN
dow and fired FIVE shots. but the bullets went
wild and were found in a tree opposite the VIM
dow Yesterday morning He then discharged MS
shotgun and he thinks that ne succeeoeo III MT
ting one of the burglars.
The shots aroused the two women servants IN
the house and William Hemingway ana reoIse
f. Hutchinson. foreman and superintendent tor
hemingway telcphoned TO the North TerIy
town Police Headquarters, and Policeman JohI
IT Wurnhv responded. Together they searched
,i,b anterns for some distance around. but no
trace of the robbers could be found.
NOT PROFESSIONALS WORK.
Later in the morning Chief of Police Fred
erck Hackett and Policeman Murphy visited the
Mace and made thorough investigation. Chiet
Hackett says he does not think the burglars
were professionals. because the silverware Is
valued at 81 600 alone, and no professional ne
thinks. would be foolish enough to run the risk
Of being detected when they were sure or so
much silver. He thinks that the burglars took
TO the woods and went toward Pleasantv'le'
He telephoned to all the villages in Westminster
County and to New-York City In hopes OF capt.
uring them.
Mr. Hemingway said yesterday morning that
he saw three poorly dressed men hanging around
nd
the place on THURSDAY afternoon anu .utersS
the house Conaty and others also saw tneiIl.
They acted suspiciousy, ana at places a.
they applied for work were reiuse9. -. 10
thought that they noticed the addition oeihs
huilt to the house. and. knowing TO whom IL
belonged planned the robbery some time De,
fore and that their object In hanging arouhu
the place on Thursday afternoon was 10 get .he
Law of the ground and to decide on the pest
methods Of operation.
A DETECTIVE TO GUARD THE HOUSE.
Yesterday morning Hemingway telephoned
what had occurred to Mr. Rockefeller at Lake
wood and he gave instructions to secure the
services of a private detective. and to spare no
exnerse in capturing the robbers
A detective from this city arrived at the place
Yesterday afternoon and made a careful ihNes.
tigation Of the house and premises. he asreea
with Chief Hackett that the burglars were ho'
professionals. II, ,..
II Is thought that Mr. Rockefeller Will leave
Lakewood for Pocantco Hills to-day ana prooA'
bly, offer a reward for the capture or the
burglars.
HIS GUEST STEALS FROM SENOR ACtNA.
Senor Jose Acuna. one OF the Spanish Nice-Con'
suls at New-York, Is mourning the loss or ABOUT
5000 in money. a collection OF rare old CONS ano
a number OF valuable jewels that belonged to his
wife and that are valued al more than 10000 Hs
laws the blame at the door OF a fellow-countryman'
who gave the name of Bias Ibanes. OF Valencia
Spain and told Senior Acuna a tale OF hard luck
and misfortune. Ibanes said he was the son OF
the keeper OF a well-known cafe In Valencia ana
the consul believed him. and took him 10 his
home TO look after him until he should be on he