The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-17
HOME MADE BURGLAR SCARES.
Some of Them Seem to he Successful De-
vices and Some DO Not.

While Minneapolis remarkably free from
burglars, there are thousands OF househoders
in the city who live in mortal terror Of those seldom
seen but oftenheard.of persons, and many are
the devices resorted 10 by the tlmid 10 Brighten
away the marauders This is particularly true
when applied 10 those citizens who make prac
tice Of locking up their homes for month or 80
every summer and going 10 the lakes or to the
watering places OF the past
Probably the most unique burglar checker
In the city is owned by a physician residing
on the east side lie has fine home well filled
with costly bric a brac Of all kinds, and ho
Ia away with his wife large portion Of the time
every summer leaving his home alone, he has
procured nicely i.oishcd skeleton, which rcclineS
i'll an easyChair i'll the parlor. The bones have
been treated TO coat Of phosphorescent paint
and any burglar who has courage enough 10
approach the grnning skull On n dark night de
serves to he well rewarded for his bravery
This doctor has Il brother. who arrived uncN-
pectedy in the city a few weeks ago, and, not
knowing the doctor and his wife were away, went
To the residence and let himself in with a pass
key he carried. The house was not lighted. no
one being at home. and almost the first thing
the brother ran across was the skeleton the flesh
less Jaws opened in a sncer and the bony arms
outstretched as II 10 clasp him. The young man
was unaware Of the doctors burglar checker
habit and being badly frightened. drew re.
volver and began firing at the skeleton.
Another resident Of the city pins his faith 10
huge quantities Of tinware placed upon the win
dow lodges and over the doors from which places
they will be thrown should any oi the windows
or doors be opened by person not knowing the
combination On two occasions burglars have
ia AID he houSp and carried
nearly everything except the tinwarr, VIII ch
was not disturbed in the least tprovcd effective
in but one ca c. aud this was when the owner
OF the house returned from the lake one evening
| and failed 10 remember the trap he had set
As he pushed open the door Of his home there
was a crash and II cattcr that nearly scared him
| 10 death and brought all the neghbors within
a block 10 the scene on u run. A policeman
who happened TO be new III that locality, also
came, and the unfortunate householder had
most Difficult, task convincing him that he had
perfect right 10 throw tinware and kettles around
the house if he wanted TO, as he had paid for il
and likewise owned the house and all II contained
One OF the most amusing burglar stories ever
told was at the expense Of a society woman whose
name is often mentioned in connection with the
doings in high life Her plan for keeping bur
glars from the house rked in q way she did
not expect and caused all kinds Of trouble,
Dear John" read the note which he left at
tached TO the front door when she departed for
the lake, leaving the husband To run the house
alone when you come home from the Office do
not open this door there is a big rattesnake
loose in the house and it will he sure 10 bite you"
The woman reasoned that her husband would
be sure TO turn the card over, So she transcribed
on the back Of il this rcaSslIrng little note
There Is no snake Frank. il is simply n bur
gar scare you see Pin the card up again. so
the house will be safe when you leave it, The
silver is hidden in the little china closet in the
| buffers pantry"
II Frank had turned the card over all would
have been well, but this he did not do, but the
burglar who visited the house before him did.
and the result was that the house robbed
of several hundred dollars worth of goods.