The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-09
TUXEDO PARK ALARMED
BURGLARS HAVE GROWN BOLD IN
THE PEACEFUL SUBURB.
Woman Fires Several Shots at an In
truder-A "song-and-Danceo Man
Caught by Detectives.

the city limits and Irvington. are becoming
concerned for the safety of their lives and
property because of the recent numerous
burglaries and the boldness of the thief or
thieves. Though several people have seen
the robbers or one of them at different
times. they are unable to say whether or
not he is black or white, and are unable TO
give a description of his face. Some say
he is short, heavy-set man, wearing black
clothes and a SLOUGH hat. Others say he Is
a tall, slender man, wearing a hat similar
10 Campaign hat, which is kept pulled
we'll down over his face. Others say there
is a man and woman. One thing to which
all agree is that whoever the robbers may
be they are evidently well acquainted with
the neighborhood and with the habits of
those living there and seem to know the
interior of many OF the houses.
According to reports there have been but
few nights during the last two months when
some one in Tuxedo Park has not been
awakened by the burglars. though but little
of value has been lost. The marauder has
apparently little fear Of being caught and
is not at all careful about working quietly.
He has talked to several persons who have
frightened him away. About two weeks ago
he entered the house of George r. ridden,
but got nothing. Mr.. ridden is night watch
man for the p. & Z. Railway, and there
was no one in the house but his wife and
daughter. The burglar pried open win
dow. and after passing through the parlor.
Mrs. Ridlen's sleeping room and the dining
room opened door and window In the
kitchen and then returned to the bedroom.
He was searching the bed when Mrs. Rid
len awoke and began screaming. He told
her to shut up and when she attempted
to get UP he violently pushed her back and
said he would shoot her If she did not stop
yelling Mrs. Rdlens cries awoke her
daughter. She, too, began screaming, and
the intruder threatened her. Concluding
finally that it was use to try to stop the
screaming he went out through the kitchen
door with the daughter following. He was
leisurcly in his departure and fingered In
the neighborhood within sight of Mrs. Rid
len and daughter for an hour or more A
few nights later several houses across the
street from the ridden home were visited,
and in two cases the burglar gained en-
trance to the houses, but secured nothing OF
TRIED FOUR HOUSES.
Early yesterday morning an attempt was
made to enter four houses in Tuxedo Park,
and in two cases the man got inside, but
was frightened away before securing any
thing. James Carter, living on Gladstone
avenue, awoke yesterday morning and was
unable to find his trousers. A search
showed that a window in the dining room
had been raised and the kitchen door was
unlocked. Mr.. Carter found his trousers,
which he had hung on his bedroom door. on
a sofa. Two gold rings and about 81 in
money was the extent of his loss. In Car
ter's vest was a fine gold watch and near
by were two diamond rings belonging TO his
wife, which the burglar had evidently over
looked.
Sanford Thomas, living near Washington
tied. Mr.. Thomas has been iii tor about
six weeks with typhoid fever and is very
nervous and easily awakened. He said that
noise in the rear of the house, which he
thought was made by some one trying to get
in He called his wife. but she insisted that
there was no one around the place and went
TO sleep. About o'clock Mr.. Thomas was
again awakened. He listened for about an
hour and heard unmistakable sounds of
pounding. He called his wife again and in
sisted that she sit by the door and listen.
They then heard continuation of the
pounding and a noise as if some one had
kicked or stumbled over a gas pipe which
ran across one side of the kitchen. Mrs.
Thomas then went to the kitchen and ar
rived there just in time to see a man Jump
out of the window. Mrs. Thomas went to
the door and found it had been unlocked.
She went out and saw the man leisurely
walking across the lawn. He had left mud
tracks on the porch and in the kitchen.
Around the outside OF the house tracks
were found at every door and window.
awakened by footsteps on the front porch,
and he thought the robber had returned.
A WOMAN DISTURBED.
Mrs. Charles Moore. living just east of
the Thomas house. on Euclid avenue, was
disturbed from her slumbers by an at
tempted entrance to her house. She got
lamp and looked over the house and then
went to the window. She saw a man out
side and she asked what he was doing there
He made an evasive reply and went away.
Not long after she was again awakened.
The man had succeeded in getting the shut
tiers open and stopped when Mrs. Moore be-
gan moving about the house. She called
and asked again regarding his business
there and was told, II was just passing
by" She had a revolver and fired several
shots at him, saying, well, If you pass by
here any more it'll be the last of you"
Chris Weber, a blacksmith, living at the
corner of Denny and Michigan streets, was
awakened by some one trying to get into
burglar made considerable noise and sue
ceeded In raising one of the windows, but
got no further. Mr.. Weber arose and kept
watch for some time, but the man did not
return. About three weeks ago Mr.. Weber's
house entered by the same window
and footprints were found on a table cloth
left on the table in front OF the window,
and on the floor. On that occasion Mr.
Weber was up getting his daughter a drink
and heard noise in the kitchen He went
out just in time to see someone go out the
kitchen door. He got a spade and kept
watch at the window, but had no opportun-
ity TO use it.
Numerous other attempts at burglary
have been made during the last two weeks
and a general meeting of the residents of
Tuxedo Park will be called for the purpose
OF planning some method of protection
The residents looking forward to the
time when that district Is included within
the city limits. that they may have some
police protection. An effort was made about
two years ago to have it taken into the
city,. but the administration was not IA
vorably inclined.