The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-31

That this city is being worked by a |
most adept burglar or gang of burg |
lars, presumably the latter, was, for |
the third time within a week clearly |
! evidenced last evening, when the resi- |
dence of former County Treasurer d. |
]. Campbell, at 521 Gibson street, was
thoroughly ransacked between 7.30 and |
$50 o'clock. Nothing of any value was |
taken, the thieves being beyond all |
| question after money.
The burglar or burglars had no lack |
of nerve, as entrance was effected In
all probability before darkness had set
in and while the neighborhood was |
astir. Not only this but there was
some one of the family in the house
| all the time.
The family had supper shortly after
s o'clock, as is their usual custom,
and after the meal Mr.. Campbell left
the house to spend the evening at
| Peckville. The other members of the
| family left at intervals until about
7.30, when the only one left was a
young niece of Mr.. Campbells who
went out on the front porch and sat
down, remaining there until shortly
before $50 o'clock, when she went up
| Slai LOl SOlHCNhllib'
A THOROUGH SEARCH.
She was very much astonished to
| find the four rooms on the second
floor In a most chaotic condition.
| Every drawer in each bureau was
| pulled out and the contents thorough
ly ransacked. The closets were all
overhaued and the pockets of each
article of mems apparel were turned
inside out Valises were cut open and
their contents strewn on the floor.
The surprising thing, however was
that nothing more than a few cents in
change, as far as could be ascertained,
was missing Diamond pins, neck
laces and several watches, together
with other valuable jewelry, were
haughtily thrust aside by this most
peculiar thief, who appears to have
been after money and nothing else.
Several pocketbooks known to have
contained but small sums in change
were opened and their contents taken
| One of these contained but six cents,
yet this was gone.
The burglars weren't quite as shrewd
as they thought they were, however,
as they entirely overlooked a purse
containing $40 and an opera glass case
containing $25. The former had been
left in the house by Mr. Campbell
prior to his going out and had been
placed on one of the beds upstairs
One corner of the coveet had been
accidentally turned over it and it thus
escaped notice.
The opera glass case was in one of
the bureau drawers, but 1t was not
opened. the thieves probably thinking
| 1. I,,t ,ir OF
opera glasses in it. A small clock on
the mantlepiece which was known to
have been running earlier in the even
ing was found tipped over and stopped
at 7.4O, which was beyond question OF
doubt the time the house was ran
sacked.
WAY HOUSE WAS ENTERED.
The method in which the house was
entered is the mysterious part of the
affair The most likely theory is that
the burglar or burglars entered boldly
by the front door while the family
was at supper and hid upstairs until
the majority of the family went out.
The front screen door was unlocked.
The question then arises-how did
he or they get out? The back door
was locked on the inside but the cell
lar doors in the back, both outside and
inside, were unlocked. Just back of
the Campbell house, about fifteen feet,
is a house occupied by John Tulley,
who was sitting on his front porch
from shortly after o'clock until the
discovery was made.
He was sitting behind a vine, to be
sure, but he AYERS that he would have
heard a noise if the outside cellar door
was opened. Not only this, but his
dog was playing all the time in Camp
bells yard and is known to bark at
strangers on the premises. Mrs. Tul-
ley was sitting inside the window and
says she saw nobody.
An escape could not have been ef-
feCted by the front door. as the young
l lady on the front porch could have
seen those coming out. The house is
, double one and anyone who attempt
ed to get out by the windows on the
side would have been plainly visible
to passersby on Adams avenue and
? Gibson street, as nothing but an open
field intervenes between the house and
! the former thoroughfare. The Win
dows on this side were all locked.
, Patrolman COnnery was constantly
in that neighborhood until after the
Jul Ldl was COIlllllLGu, Dul saw no
J suspicious characters. He carefully
| examined the bureaus and says that
the cupboard in one, which was known
to have been locked. was not forced
open, but was opened with a key.
PUZzLING AFFAIR.
The affair is n most puzzling one
: and it will be difficult TO ascertain Just
: : how the thieves got in and out of the
house. The burglary is strikingly sim
, , liar to that OF the residence of Thomas
+. Jones on Delaware street last week.
In this instance the house was COM
pletely ransacked and jewelry neglect
: ed, the thieves evidently being in
: search of something more valuable.
The house of DR.. Lindabury, in West
Scranton, was also entered last week
: and, though the lower floor was over
hauled, nothing was taken. The police
- headquarters were notified of the bur-