Evening star., 1899-03-18
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HYATTSVILLE P. o. ROBBED
Powerful Explosive Used and Safe Door
Blown to Pieces
Burglars Take Stamps and Cash and
Make Good Their Escape-Au-
thOrities Investigating.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


HYATTSVILLE. Nd, March 1s, 1899.
The Hyattsville post Office was visited by
burglars at an early hour this morning, the
safe was blown open and stamps, cash and
valuable papers taken. Entrance was eff
iected by forcing the front door of the
store in which the post office is situated
with tools stolen from the Baltimor. and
Ohio tool house on the Alexandria branch.
Inc burglars then proceeded to drill
through the front of the large safe which Is
located In the rear of the store in small
private Office. This was accomplished. and
evidently by the use of some powerful
nitro-expfosive the front of the safe was
tern to pieces; several large sections of 1t
being blown asltirely through the front Of
the store, some twenty-five feet distant
and the door of the inner safe, a piece of
solid iren weighing about twenty pounds
was imbadded in the wall in front of tn,
store showing the force of the explosion to
have been very great.
The small office was completely wracLed
and the floor was strewn with papers
books and pieces of the shattered safe.
Several persons heard the explosion. hut
switching cars.
Messrs William Hickey and George
Stonel, who were preparing to go to mar
ket in Washington, who live in a cot
tage adjoining the store, heard the explo-
sion. Both gentlemen ran from the honSa
and stationed themselves in front of the
store, and then sent word to Constable p
Fl. Vincent in Biadensburg He tmmedi-
ate}y responded, and on Investigation found
the robbers had escaped by the rear door.
Suspects Arrested.
He was informed by two gentlemen who
were on their way to Washington that
three suspicious characters were seen on
the road walking toward Baltimore He
at once started in pursuit and overlook the
men at Beltsville and arrested them IN
suspicion. They were taken to the r and
o. station at Beltsville and searched hut
nothing discriminating could be found upon
them, and they were released
Henry Clark. a colored man who works
for DR.. Chas. A. Wells, stated he came
from Bladensbnrg last night about 10
o'clock and met two weli-dressed nen
wearing long overcoats and derby hats man
near the Baltimore and Ohio tool bouse
the one that was broken open and snoLa
to them Sam Clarkilhis son, said he Came
home about 2 o'clock in the mornine and
saw three men standing on the porcb ~
the post Office. and that all the men had On
long overcoafs and were acting susnIcio,,s
~; fs,, FROM the deseription given by both
rather and son IL would appear that these
men were implicated In the burglary
Notice Sent Out.
The Washington and Baltimore no,,oo
nave been notified to, keep lookout. From
the direction when the burglars made their
escape 1t is thoaghtsthey may have gone
over to the Pennsyivahia road and taken a
train from some point on that line.
Mr.. George Tise. the postmaster, is un-
apie at present to estimate the loss. A
large number of. stamps were on hand a,sa
considerable money. The robbers carrisJ
away everything eve Of value in sight re-
mar arkanie Coincidence IN relation to the rob-
the 18th of March the railroad office was
broken into and safe blown omen re-
5o"sna toWn authorities tho s are diligently at work
night. From the amount of the exnIosi,,e
used and its efect-it is believed the parties
concerned were not familiar with the uss
of the substance. '