The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-16
RICH HAUL OF JEWELS
BURGLARS RANsACKED Nj. j. DON
NELLY's RESIDENCE ON PLEAS
ANT AVENUE
MRS. GEIsT LOSES $500 GEMS

Thieves Also Had the silverware in
the House Packed Up for Trans
portation, but Were Evidently
Interrupted by the Return of the
Family - Burglars Were Pretty
Bold.
Early evening burglars made a rich
haul at the home Of M. J. Donnelly,
228 Pleasant avenue. last night, when
the house was ransacked and Jewelry
valued at nearly 500 was stolen. Most
Of the stolen articles were the property
Of Mrs. J. M. Geist, a sister-in-law Of
Emil Geist, the Jeweler, who lives at
the Donnelly residence.
The robbery took place while the &C.
cupants Of the house were absent
From the indications 1t was the work
Of skilled operators, who apparently
knew where to look for valuables, and
possessed the ability to pick out the
best articles coming within their reach
Entrance to the house was secured
through the kitchen door. The house
is at the corner Of Chestnut street, and
the back door Is easily accessible from
this street In the darkness it was lit
tie trouble for the burglars to force the
lock, and once within the house they
had things all their own way
Mr.. and Mrs. Donnelly left the house
late in the afternoon to take dinner
with relatives, but Mrs. Geist and her
daughter remained at home until about
1880 o'clock, when they visited the
home Of Emil Geist, on Sixth street.
Doubtless the burglars were watching
the place when Mrs. Geist and her
daughter left, and at once effected an
entrance. The first act Of the burglars
after getting inside was to turn on the
gas all over the house, a move intend
ed to convey the impression to passers-
by If any noise was heard, that the
family was at home, and at the same
time to furnish better opportunity to
search the house.
But for an occurrence upon which the
burglars had no way of reckoning the
chances are that everything of value
about the house would have been car
ried off, but they were interrupted in
their work and had to escape with it
only half done. Mrs. T. NJ Pleins a
neighbor, had arranged to spend the
night with Mrs. Geist, and seeing the
lights burning at the Donnelly home,
concluded that Mrs. Geist had returned
home and started to visit the house
She rang the bell several time without
getting and response, and then con-
Guiding the family had probably left
the gas burning, turned to go back
home. On the way she met Mrs Geist
and her daughter. The women at once
surmised that something was wrong
and hurried to the house. AS they I'M
locked the front door they heard the
burglars running out by way of the
rear door.
The house had been little disturbed
down stairs, but on the second floor
the presence of the burglars was ev-
erywhere indicated. Drawers were
pulled from their places and the con-
tents lay scattered about as though
blown by the four winds Closets had
been ransacked, clothing thrown upon
the floor and trunks and chests opened.
In Mrs. Geist's room the search had
evidently been thorough Every ar
ticle of jewelry was missing. The
most valuable Jewels had been in
box in the bureau. Box and contents
were gone. The burglars We're prob
ably interrupted in Mrs Donneliy's
room. Confusion reigned here as we'll
as elsewhere, but jewel box on the
bureau containing a gold watch and
other articles had been overlooked A
silver mounted hair brush and comb
seemed to be all that was missing in
this room. Down stairs, on the dining
lOoLl table, were IOunQ TWO boxes OF
silver tableware, that the buglars had
prepared to carry away, but which had
been abandoned in their flight. A sum
of money in the dining room was also
overlooked.
Following is list of the stolen prop
erty: One marquise ring, twenty eight
small diamonds, $500; solitaire diamond
ring, $75; gold ring, set with two dia-
monds and emerald, 5000; gold ring,
set with diamond, ruby and sapphire,
SIS; gold locket, set with diamond, ini-
tials ]. M. G., 500; open face gold
watch, s25; gold locket and chain, dia-
mond setting. SIS; ladies' fob chain,
with diamond setting, $40; gentleman's
gold chain, $40; chlld's gold 1ocket, set
| with diamond and emerald SIS; gold
| mounted opera glasses, So
The robbery was reported to the po-
lice. Mrs. Geist and Mrs. Pleins saw
two well-dressed young men apparent
ly watching the house from across the
street when they entered the front
door. One Of the men hurried down
Chestnut street toward the kitchen
door as soon as the women entered the
yard. 1t is thought likely that these
men were keeping watch outside for
accomplices searching the house.