Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-10-27
Walked Boldly 0ut-Threatened to
Kill Crowd.

| Just when and how he entered the
house is not kno wn, but at o'clock
Thursday afternoon burglar was
seen emerging from window in the
residence of farmer named
Sechrist, in Springfield township,
two miles east of Akron.
Clutched in one of his hands was a
revolver; in the other was a gold
watch, two gold rings and a razor,
stolen property.
Although several persons were
about the house, seeing him and he
seeing them, the burglar walked
away in most deliberate and uncon-
cerned mannar. He was apparently
not afraid.
And then another singular feature
presents itself: Several men, it
seems, witnessed the departure of
the burglar. Supplied for moment
at the thief's boldness, the men re-
manned inactive. Recovering them
selves, they started after him, over
took him, and for short distance
walked almost side by side with
him. But he was armed, and they
| were not.
Finally the bold desperate ordered
the men to leave, threatening to
shoot if they refused to do SO. They
obeyed, but kept an eye on his move
ments, meanwhile arousing the
neighborhood.
Soon. a chase was instituted and
the crowd of pursuers kept growing
larger and larger. Some were
mounted, others in buggies and yet
others to large number on foot.
Excitement, intense from the first,
now began to assume furious proper
tions.
Soon the bad man was cOralled in
a wood ON the Britain farm, three
miles east of Akron. A crowd of
% farmers had him surrounded.
Some were armed with double bar
relied shotguns, others with revol-
vers, and a few had corn cutters,
while one, with rare presence of
mind, brought along a copy of one of
Mark Hanna's late speeches on
trusts, which as last measure of
threatening violence he intended to
exhibit to the burglar, and if he re-
fused to surrender the stolen articles,
taking his own life in his hands, it
was the further intention to read the
speech to him, with the hope that if
death would come to his relief, he
would become an easy prey to the
pursuers.
But the thief then became desper-
ate, reason apparently forsaking her
throne, and he defled the whole pha-
lanx, with Marks speech thrown in.
The next move was to send to Ak
ron for help. Deputies Sheriff Hol-
linger and Stone started at once,
with Sheriff Kelly following in hot
haste. The police department was
notified and in a short time the pa
troll wagon with four big officers was
Fastening to the scene, amid cloud
of dust and grave apprehensions.
All along the line, people were
hurrying to the wood. some on bicy-
cles and others running, all out of
breath.
At the woods the farmers at first
debated what to do. Some suggest
ed that the thief be lassoed, others
declared that he ought to be gigged,
and while one was advocating the
idea of sailing into him with a corn
cutter, others stood around like an
accusing conscience on the 9Th day
July, and listened with respect to
the lamentation of a man who regret
ted that Bosco wasn't there to 'seat
the thief alive.''
/ The burglar, IN a few we'll chosen
words, declared his intention of re-
firing from the scene, which he did
in the most song-froid manner.
The whole thing was funny; the
farmers, county officers and police,
besides the reporters and other
prominent citizens, all standing
around, trying to blame it on the
other, while the thief continued on.
And then an undue quietness,
broken only by the tinkling of cow
bell In the valley, settled over all,
while the crowd dispersed for their
respective vines and fig trees to dis
cover where they were at.
The thief escaped 80 completely
that no trace could be got of him.
1t is thought he is one of a gang of
tramps whose headquarters have
been in a swamp just south of
Weeks pottery establishment in
East Akron. In company with sew
eral police officers reporter for the
DEMOCRAT visited the camp Thurs.
day evening. 1t was then deserted
but there were on the ground pots.