The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-16
HIGH SCHOOL
In A FURRY
SNEAK THIEVES OPERATING
A Good-Slred Sensation EuOrossinG
the Faculty-Bhat Professor
Payne SayS-NO Clue.

tions which had been committed
since the close Of school On Friday
last II was discovered that from
nearly every room In the immense
building articles ranging all the way
from money and other valuables % q
plaLe pencil had besn stolen By some
one whoge Identity as yet is unknown.
Desks from basement 20 attic had
been r1ed. even tho9a Of Profcs or
Payne. the principal. and the teachers
being despoilcd OF everything worth
taking away
Al the close OF the school hour yes
terday afternoon Professor Payne
called meeting OF the faculty at
which the matter was thoroughly
discussed with view 10 asoertalnIng
the Identify OF the thief.
When Professor Payne entered the
building yesterday morning he was
aoeosted by the janilor who asked
him II he had left his ley IN the back
door. stating thai one had been found
by him on the inside as he opened up
the building a short time before, The
professor stated that he had not done
so and upon Investigation II was
found that the Key had been taken
from his desk. where he had been
keeplng II as II was not being used.
Shortly after school had been called
to order. Miss Gray. who Ii in charge
cf the third grade. informed the pro-
fcssor that a sum of mcnsy amount
ing 10 about $3.50 had been taken
from her desk. shortly after, Miss
Garner. n teacher IN the first grade.
came In and stated that her desk had
been rlned and that small sum Of
money had been stolen together With
other contents OF more or less value
In less than an hour nearly every
teacher In the building had reported
discoveries OF similar depredatlons
upon their own property as well as in
Vulnerable pllferings from the desks
Of pupils.
In the classroom OF the sixth grade
over which Miss Stockton presides,
several articles were found lying on
top OF a desk. among them being a
small revolver. two knives and fold
Ing foot measure. Upon investigation
II was found thai the revolver had
been taken from the desk Of Pro-
fcssor Payne. where It had been kept
for several weeks. having been taken
from one OF the boy pupils. The other
articles were identified as belonging
to pupils about the building.
Professor Payne was seen yesterday
afternoon by an Astor4an reporter.
lie made substantially the following
statement:
PROFESSOR PAYNE TALKS.
There Is a grIat mystery connected
With the thef,s which l have just re-
ferred to-" said he. "and must con-
fess that we are utterly In the dark
as to the guilty person. There Is
every reason to believe the culprit to
be boy for the articles taken are
those which would most naturally be
sought by boy II Is also reasonably
certain that the individual is not very
young for any idea to this effect Is
dlsslpated by the exceeding cunning
and ingenuity displayed. l will state
that this Is not the first time that
thefts OF this kind have occurred, al
though Il is by far the most important
and widespread. Since the first
offense was reported to me l have
taken every precaution to obviate re-
petitions. / have also exercised all
diligence In attempting to detect some-
one In these piferings, assisted by the
janitor, But In spite OF all that could
be done in this direction articles of
more or less value have been con-
stantly stolen, We have gone to the
extent OF leaving small colns-even
upon the desks, en-
leavorlng to watch them closely. But
singular as 1t may appear, the money
has been invariably taken while the
hief completely baflled detection. One
II the reasons why / am convinced
he guilty party is n boy Is the fact
hat some time ago l missed tennis
,all from my desk. Now 1t is the
most reasonable thing In the world
o conclude that no girl would have
aiken 1t. But this Is absolutely as
ar as we have been able to get in the
direction of detection. It is one of
he most mysterious cases l have ever
ANOTHER STATEMENT.
Janitor Bue was next seen. His
story of the theft was substantially
lmilar to that Of Professor Payne.
II have done everything within my
power to catch the party" said he,
but with all l can do, the thief
'vades me"
How could the thief effect an en-
rance?" was asked.
THAT is what completely puzzles
me-" was the reply. II have taken
very precaution in this respect but
10 no use. The only conceivable man
ler in which entrance could be made.
rs far as I can see, would be for the
thief to reach one OF the windows by
means of a long ladder, but no ladder