The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-06-08
THE BURGLARS AT
BARTON HEIGHTS.
Intense Excitement Created by Their
DerredatiOns'
THE TOWN PATR0LLED NIGHTLY
The Volunteer Guards sleep ana Are
Disarmed-Mr l.. ID. Bland En-
counters the Gang - Nc
.rocs 10 Go Free

There seems little reason 90 doubt that
Barton Heights is now the objective point
of wel-orcanized gang of burglars.
The inhabitants Of this charming little
town 20 20 rest with fear and trembling
and upon arising take an inventory Of
their possessions TO see if pcrchance
something has not been distracted dur
inc the hours OF gloom
The matter has grown to Doe a very
serious one 90 the inhabitants of the
Heights. and there seems t0 be- no relief
an sight i'm addition 20 the regular POI
lice. there is now a volunteer force,
which patrols the streets armed with
gums and pistols from n.Ehtfau until
dawn.
This concert Of action has, Of course,
made the burglars more cautious, but
they have continued t0 show mp az va
rI0us points with startling regularity.
THE PATROL SLEPT
Tho story is related that a portion Of
, the volunteer guard a few nights ago,
becoming fatgued with their labors. lay
down about O'Clock and fell asleep.
The other portion, more yisilant. con-
tinued on Us rounds. and came upon the
sleeping contingent, which was al first
taken for the burglars and n consults-
ton was held as 90 whether BE- would be
advisable 10 shoot them first and then
% parley with them.
This rash counsel was rejected. how
ever. and AN Investigation resulted in the
Identification of the slcepers. They were
disarmcd and the patro. continued ne
rounds.
Yesterday morning as Mr. r. ID. Bland
was driving into Barton Heights he was
stopped by a white man. who came OUT
of the woods holding a copy Of a Rich
m0nd newspaper IN his hand. lie ask
ed Mr.. Bland o. few questions and then
allowed him 20 proceed.
ROUGH STOMER.
There were several others with the
man. who was a r0ugh-lootinR customer
and Mr Bland thinks thar they compose
the gang OF burglars
Nearly every citizen 81 Barton Heights
now has his revolver handy and will Use
ST. on the slightest provocauon. A few
nights ago gentleman saw mysterious
light and fired ~ &c. lie afterwards
found that a. came from dark-lantern
carried hy a burglar, who was about
twenty feet from whore The BAN struck.
Henry Holland and Charles Russell,
the two negroes who were arrested az
Barton Heights Tuesday night on sus-
plci0n of having been engaged IN the
r0bbcrle- committed there. and lodged
in tho Hcnrioo county JAIL VIII be per-
m.ffei % so FREQ. They viii be examined
to-day
Naen arrested ono stated that he
had been working AZ Newport News up
ID Saturday nenr and was paid of
there Inquiries hv wire proved tho
truth ~ this assertion.
specal-Ofcer Taylor. NJ Barton
Heights. about 1870 O'Clock yesterday
morning halted a negro who was pa Xng
through tho town with a pistol in h's
hand He stated that boz was employed
at dairy farm out in tha county and
carried the pistol FOR protection.
"'T's 'enst tho law 90 carry conceal
"a weapons" Doc sail "hu. 7 didn't know
twas amy harm % tote one long in go
hal."
ST. Taylor confsoated the pistol and
the man was allowed t7 90 with the un-
der-taudug that ho could recover the
weapon upon presentation ~ a note from
his employer.