Smyrna times., 1898-08-24
The Robbery at Mrs. Cunningham's.

Mrs. S., E. Cunningham and daughter
Miss Anna Cunningham returned from
Atlantic City, n. j., last Wednesday |
and at once went to their home on the |
corner of South and Pearl streets. The |
TINES of last week published an ac- |
count of the robbery which occurred |
during their absence, week previous, |
August the 10th, ut which time the
house was broken open and everything
turned tOpsy -turvy in their efforts to
find money. Entrance was made into
the library by prying open the bay
window, and breaking open the inside
shutter blinds The library doors
were locked and they easily made their
way by prying open the door leading
to the hall. From here they had ac-
cess to the other rooms of the house by
simply unlocking the doors, the keys
of which were left in the keyholes.
The facts of the case were given in
last weeks issue, but the extent of the
robbery could not be learned until
Mrs. Cunningham and daughter return
ed When the latter arrived last We'd
needay, they found everything in the
condition heretofore stated, and the
house was so badly torn up, that it
took several days to straiGhten things
out again. Miss Cunningham was in
terviewed regarding the case and 1t
seems that the robbers entered every
room in the house, as if they proposed
to leave nothing undone in their search
for the filthy lucre. The side board in
| the dining room was found i'll com
plete disorder, but strange to say they
passed right over the solid silver
spoons, and in fact threw them upon
| the floor. The silver service was for
tunately packed away in concealed
| place, and this was undisturbed. The
| two bed rooms, one of Mrs. Cunning
ham and one of her daughter, were
| the most disarranged of any Ill the
house, for here it was that they made
the greatest search. In Mrs. Cunning
hams room they almost tore up the
| bureau. Finding they were unable to
prv open the drawers, they lifted the
| marble slab, mirror and all from the
stand of drawers, and then with a
hatchet or some instrument, split open
the casing. Somehow or other they
did not interfere with much in the bu-
reau after they had taken the trouble
to break into it. All that was found
missing was a set of sterling silver
souvenir spoons, a gold turquOis ring,
and a necklace, the most of which be-
longed to her daughter.
In Miss Anna Cuningham's room
considerable damage was done. Be.
sides looting her bureau drawers
stands, &C., they broke into her cabi-
net of curiosities by smashing in th'
front glass door, and taking mos
everything of value they could lay thei1
hands upon. One relic especially
which she valued very highly was al
J old silver, double-case bulls eye watcl
which was brought over to this coun
try from Ireland by her great grand
father, Capt. Allan Cunningham in 176
: and was carried by him as timepiec
during the bloody days of the Revolu
tiOnary War. Miss Cunningham ha
intended passing this interesting reli
over to the National Society of til
| Daughters of the American Revolutio
as soon as the proposed d. A. r
building was erected in Washington
t Among the other relics taken wer
f some old jewelry, some continental an
n foreign money, her d. A. r. badge
o box and all recently purchased at CalC
e wells, Philadelphia, and lot of Othe
>. relics, not of much intrinsic value, bT
It as heirloooms and keepsakes, of ine
q timable value.
s The main object of the burglars I
n get money proved fruitless, for Mr.
Cunningham and daughter never kee
e money of any amount in the hous
v What good these relics will do to I'll
!, burglars is not known, but one thin
?. sure, the Police Department of Tn
n town should institute a close searcl
e Miss Cunningham has no doubt but tn
?. the work was done by band of loc
l. thieves, who watched their wherabou
/" and took advantage of their absence.