The Washington times., 1901-10-14
A MYSTERIOUS BURGLARY.
Valuable Jewelry Missing From
the Home of l.. J. Davis.
Booty Abstrncted During the Pro-
Ercss of Banquet. I'm nm Un-
known MRnner-TheOries OF the
PoIice-Thieves Overlook n Haul.

Diamonds and jeweiry. valued at more
than 500, was stolen Saturday night from
the residence of Lewis johnson Davis, I'LL
Massachusetts Avenue northwest. De-
tectives are now working on the mystery,
which presents varied and puzzing fea-
lures. Mr. Davis is member of the
banking concern of Lewis Johnson & Co.
A cameo pin, set with diamonds and
pearls and worth about $3.50. solid gold
watch valued at 500; a pearl crescent
pin. valued at 800; a diamond pin. 500;
gold chain bracelet. $50: five pearl set ring.
s25; an amethyst pin, with pearls. SIS;
gold locket. s25: a sapphire and diamond
ring, So: a gold loc<et, so; gold stick
pin. worth So together with several
small articles of jewelry Is the property
stolen. The identity of the thief or
thieves has not been established.
All that is known of the affair indicates
that the robbery took place between and
8 O'Clock Saturday night while Mr.. and
Mrs. Davis. a niece OF the latter and
company of friends, invited to participate
in the party previously arranged, were at
dinner in the house. 1t hardly seems pos
sible that the diamonds and jewelry
could have been taken either before or
after the respective hours mentioned. for
Mrs. Davis found her jewels in proper
place when she dressed late in the after
noon. and the robbery was discovered
about II o'clock. as the family was ready
to retire.
Following dinner, which was over at s
o. clock, Mr.. Davis invited several friends
to join him in the library OF the residence.
adjoining the bedroom occupied by him
self and Mrs. Davis. The door of the
latter room is so arranged that no one.
1t is thought, could have passed either
into or out OF the room without being OBJ
served.
Two theories appeal to the police, on
both of which investigation Is being made.
1t is believed by some, including one or
two detectives, that the robbery was the
work of professional thieves. and that the
latter are what are known as secoEd-story
workers. On this theory 1t is deduced
residence by climbing or scaling the pill
lars of the front porch of the house, or
of the residence of Senator Cullom, ad-
joining the Davis home. Once on the bal
cony at the second story Of the Davis
residence the thieves could have entered
the house by means of one of the win
dows, and having consummated the rob-
berry, might have left by the same method.
Opposed to the theory, 1t is urged that
the burglars would have been seen from
the street while so entering the residence.
In a bureau drawer, in the bedroom on
the second floor, was Kept the 1ewelry
which has been stolen, while within a
wardrobe in the same room, was a guam
tity of jewelry. worth several thousand
dollars which the thieves entirely over
looked. The drawer of the bureau was
not forced, and appears to have been
opened by a key. This fact creates the
suspicion that some one acquainted with
the room and it's contents, who possibly
was able to secure temporary possession
of key to the bureau, may have COM
mitted the robbery. Still another point
learned by the detectives, Trumbo, Boyd.
McNamee, Hartigan, and Evans. who are
detailed on the case. is that the same
key used for the bureau, apparently, will
open the wardrobe, in which was the more
valuable jewelry. which was overlooked.
While no. one, so far as known, Is
under suspicion, the detectives are max
ing every effort to find some trace of the
missing jewelry. thus hoping to secure
information which may lead to the ar
rest of the thief.
A list of the stolen property was pre-
pared yesterday and sent out last night
to large number OF cities, including New
York. Philadelphia, Baltimore. Richmond
Wilmington and Pittsburg- The police Of
those cities were asked to look out for
the missing jewelry. The various articles
taken were described in a circular letter
prepared last night. which is being sent
out generally over the country.