Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-03-23
A SENSATIONAL ROBBERY
Diamonds, Watches, Money, &c., Stolen
in Broad Daylight.
PROPERTY OF MORRIS SCHWARTZ
His Hosts Had Been Good
Samaritans to Him.
THE PLUMBER VALUED AT ABOUT $500

One of the boldest robberies that has
occurred in Wilmington in recent years
was perpetrated Thursday afternoon be-
tween and 80 o'clock at the resi-
dence of Morris Schwartz, No. Oil
Reed street, the value of the plumber,
which consisted of watches, chains,
diamonds, trinkets and money, aggre-
eating something like $500. The money
taken was all Mr.. and Mrs. Schwartz
had. which makes them feel the loss
all the more.
Mrs. Schwartz, who is distressed over
the robbery, when seen Friday morning
made an explanation which certainly
neighbors and friends. She stated that
Tuesday two weeks foreman at the
factory of +. Blumenthal & Co., where
her husband works, requested him to
take man, who had just come from
Philadelphia to work, to board at his
house until other quarters could be
secured. Mr.. Schwartz does not keep
| boarders, but he consented and the
man was taken to his house and given
the best room and shown great courtesy,
although neither Mr.. nor Mrs. Schwartz
knew him. They saw nothing about
him to arouse their suspicious and he
was given the freedom of the house.
| He told them his name was Cohen, but
| from what has been learned in the last
| few hours, they believe his name is
Harry Lipschitz. He is Russian and
told them he had IA wife and child
living in New York City.
He worked at Blumenthal's for eight
| days, but last Wednesday did not work.
saying he was sick. He made similar
/ 1.i yartarIav and au0nt u,oEt pf
| the two days loating about the house
and complaining. He complained about
| % sore shoulder and Mrs. Schwartz
asked him why he did not 20 to a
| physician. He said he had no money
and she offered him 81, but he declined,
!, saying he would 60 and see what an
examination and treatment would cost.
| He returned shortly afterward and said
the doctor did not charge him any
thing. A
Thursday afternoon about O'Clock,
while the stranger was lettering about
the house Mrs. Schwartz wanted to go
to the store, but she did not care to go
and leave the man alone in the house,
She spoke of the fine weather and
asked him why he did not go out and
take walk. He made evasive answers,
intimating that he was not familiar
with the streets. She volunteered to
show him where he could take a
pleasant walk and not get lost, but still
he declined to go out, whereupon she
said she must go to the store. He said
he would go to bed and started as if to
go upstairs. Mrs. Schwartz placed all
of her money in the sideboard with
her other valuables, and after locking
the lower part, where they were kept,
hid the key in an upper drawer of the
sideboard.
She returned in about 20 minutes,
and, as the stranger was not about the
lower part of the house supposed he
was in bed. She was not suspicious of
him and thought nothing about his
absence until her husband returned
from work in the evening. He eyi
IDENTIFY was suspicious, however, and
began to look for his guest. He was
nowhere about the house, and as soon
as this became known Mr.. and Mrs.
Schwartz began an investigation.
! They found that, although the keys
were where Mrs. Schwartz had put
them, they had been used to open
the lower part of the sideboard, and
from it all of the money and valuables
! had been taken. They searched the
rest of the house and made the dis
!; covery that every room had been ran
sacked and iewelry had been stolen
from the clothing.
} The money stolen amounted to about
SIS. Other articles missed included
several diamonds, pins, studs, &C.,
two gold watches and chains, gold
cuff buttons, a gold locket containing
Mrs. Schwartzs portrait and other
things, everything taken being worth
} considerable.
, The robbery was committed in less
than 90 minutes and the thief must
have worked pretty rapidly, and it is
! believed that he had occupied his
leisure time in acquainting himself
) with things about the house and the
, affairs of Mr.. and Mrs. Schwartz.
, Tho stranger was nowhere to be found
, and it is supposed that he lost no
| time in leaving the city.
, Mrs. Schwartz, who came to Will
: mington last October, had planned a
} visit to her mother in New York at
, Easter time, and the money stolen rep
: resented her savings for the trip. which
she said would have to be abandoned
> Mrs. Schwartz described the missing
man as being about 81 years Of age.
) He is about . feet inches tall, has
! brown curly hair and wore nous
! tache. His face is broad and his com
! | pleXion fair,