The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-12

Long String of Residences Entered and
Plundered-Havoc Played at the
Home of Ex-Mayor w. N. Harrfss.
Police Sergeant Hewlett Among the
Victims.

YIN Y ~
Victims.
The thieves, who are peculiar in
their attentiveness TO Wilmington,
for which our citizens are longing to
express their appreciation in some
way more substantial than strong
language, although the language is
mighty much" powerful, are growing
bolder every day. We see no reason
for a display of more energy on their
part, for their efforts to amuse us in
the past have been quite sufficient, but,
of course, if they are progressive and
DESTROYS of pushing ahead, well We
can't help it. The reports yesterday
OF rObberies were about as numerous
as the abundant growth of luxuriant
"weedlets' tha. can be observed here,
there and everywhere on the streets of
the city by the sea-" always remind
ing e~xcursionists of home.
PLUNDERED AND DESTROYED.
Mr.. w. n. Harriss resides on south
side Of Market street, between Sixth
and Seventh, but, as usual during the
summer months, he and his family So
jOurn to Wrightsville Beach, where
they are at present. 1t has always
been Mr.. Harriss' custom to come to
the city in the morning, returning to
the beach in the afternoon, after per-
forming his days labor.
Yesterday he came up as usual, but,
this time, decided to return to the
beach earlier than usual. His inten-
tiOns were to leave On the 2:30 o'clock
Seacoast train, and while on the way
to the depot he stepped by his resi-
dence, which was securely shut up
when the family left the city. He
ven around the back way and was
perfectly astonished at what he
saw. Thieves, Of the most reckless
and destructive class Of ~scoundrels,
had been at work. A lattice work
surrounds the back piazza, but this
made no-never-mind to the miscre-
ants, for the door of this lattice apart
ment was smashed in and the back
door of the residence was utterly de-
mOlished. This permitted access to
the down stairs passage into which
the doors OF many of the rooms on
this floor open. All these doors were
literally battered to pieces. The
broken down doors and the most
Wanton destruction of other property
gay the house the appearance of hav-
ing been sacked" by Spaniards, in
fact Mr.. Harriss could hardly recog-
nize the residence as his, after he got
inside.
Everything in the house was pell-
NELL and there is no telling what the
thieves stole. However, as well as
--- - oc+;~oo+oJ NJ IIor.:oo, Ior,
will amount to several hundred dol
lars. A large quantity of clothing,
including two handsome OvercOats of
Mr.. Harriss', umbrellas, walking
sticks, guns, pistols, etc, are among
the articles missing.
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY NEXT
DOOR.
The residence of Mr.. George Har-
riss, corner Sixth and Market streets,
next door to Mr.. w. N. Harriss,' plain
ly shows signs of an attempt being
made by burglars to enter. Several
of the windows are battered up, and
bear other evidences of the unsuccess-
full efforts of thieves to raise them.
However, it is not probable that they
were thwarted by the durability of
the windows, but that they were
frightened off or desisted in order to
accomplish their devilment at Mr.. w.
n. Harriss' residence.
DEPRECIATION EARLY YESTER-
DAY MORNING.
A bold attempt was made early yes
terday morning to enter the residence
of Mr.. j.. D. Steljes, corner Fifth n
Nun streets. The thief or thieves
tried to effect an entrance through a
window, and were discovered by n
of the lady inmates. The alarm was
given and soon a search was institute
ed, but no signs of the s%coundrel or
Scoundrels could be found.
Mr.. Steljes is out of the city, but his
son, Mr.. Herbert Steljes, was in the
house at the time the attempt to break
in was made.
OBTAINED QUITE A SUM OF
MONEY.
The store of Mr.. Edwin Workman
is located on the corner of Seventh
and Harnets streets, and his sleeping
apartments ara in the rear of the
store. 1t was the latter place that
thieves visited and ri1ed Sunday af-
ernoOn.
At the time Mr.. Workman was out
riding on the street car with three
lady friends, and when he returned
he discovered the robbery. An en-
trance had been effected through a
window, and the top draw of his bu-
reau priced open and nearly $50 in
money stolen.
TRIO OF PANTRY ROBBERIES.
No respect have thieves for the po-
lice when they (the theives) are after
grub Saturday night the residence
of Police Sergeant l.. A. Hewlett, on
Church street, between Sixth and
Seventh, was entered, and the pantry
cleaned of everything.
Two other pantry robberies happen
ed Saturday night. One was at the