Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-14
THE WORK OF BURGLARS
Three Buildings Invaded by Thieves, Be-
Geved to Be Professionals.
Jewelry and Solid Silverware Valued
Mt 1875 Taken From Residence
Of George T. Roberts.

1t was only last week that the police
were congratulating themselves on the
city's good record during recent months,
while in other cities burglars were bold and
aggressive, and the police authorities were
sending out lengthy descriptive circulars.
During the past few days. however, bur-
glars have invaded Washington. The nature
of the work done by them has caused the
belief that there Is a regularly organized
gang here. The robbery of D. N. Wal
fords store on Pennsylvania avenue Thurs
day night, when about $500 worth of cut
lery and other goods were taken, was the
first of the series. Saturday night M. A.
Tappan & Co.'S store on street and ]. 8.
Topham's store on Pennsylvania avenue
were entered, and yesterday afternoon the
police learned of big haul of gold and sill
yer jewelry and other goods that had been
made at the residence Of Mr.. George T.
Roberts. No. 496 4th street northeast.
The robbery was committed some time
between Friday afternoon and yesterday at
noon, and so far as is known the burglars
left no teltele clues. Mr.. Roberts, who Is
government clerk, went to New York
Friday and took his family with him. The
house was securely fastened, he thought,
but when he returned home yesterday he
found that every closet and bureau drawer
in the house had been ranSacked and that
almost every piece of valuable metal in the
house, worth several hundred dollars, had
been stolen. He found things in such a
condition that he hardly recognized the
house the cozy home he had left only
two days before.
Wedding Presents Included.
Many of the articles stolen were wedding
presents that had been packed away and
had been used only occasionally. Only the
solid goods were taken, the burglars being
careful to leave all the plated ware behind
An entrance was effected by climbing a
waste pipe in the rear of the house and
forcing open an upper window. Once in
side the burglars had nothing to disturb
them, for not even servant had been left
to guard the property. A heavy iron crow
bar, taken from the adjoining premises,
had been taken into the house, it is
thought, for the purpose of prying open
trunks, but this was found unnecessary
for none of the trunks had been left locked
The jewelry and silverware were put on
the dining room table by the thieves, the
police believe, In order that it might be
properly assorted and the plated ware sep
arated from the more valuable solid pieces
1t is supposed acid was used to deter
mine the quality, and the burglars were
In doubt only in case of a silver waiter
which they broke and left on the table. it
being plated. Before leaving the house the
burglars visited the pantry and enjoyed
some canned fruits.
MIR. Roberts, who is a clerk In the inter-
state commerce commission, had asked his
fether-in-law, MIR. Watson, to look after
the house and he was the first one to as
certain that a robbery had been commits ted
He made the discovery about noon yester-
day, and Mr.. Roberts returned home later
in the day.
The property taken included gold watch
and chain, several gold and silver pins and
about fifty pieces of solid silverware
among them a variety of spoons. Mr.. Rob-
erts values his property at about $375 De-
tectiyes Weldon and Boardman visited the
house and made an investigation. Today a
descriptive list of the property was pre-
pared and sent to the police authorities Of
other cities.
Visits Elsewhere.
M. A. Tappan & Co.'S store. was visited
by burglar about IL o'clock Saturday
night. Two young men looking in the show
window saw man behind the counter act
Ing suspiciously. A crowd soon collected
on the sidewalk. The intruder, who had
entered by forcing open a skylight, disap-
peared, and could not be found when the
police appeared. An investigation of the
premises showed that 1.45 had been taken
from the cash drawer.
At ]. S. Tophams leather store the rear
window was found open by Special Officer
Wallace. Mr.. Topham was certain the
window had been closed earlier in the
night, and that it had been opened by a
burglar. The place was searched. but
nothing had been taken. 1t is thought that
the burglar was frightened away before Sc