The Washington times., 1901-09-22
THE WORK OF 4 FIREBUG.
Evidence of Attempted, Burglary
at Mrs. Capron's Home.
Flames Discovered in the Residence
of the Rough Riders Widow
Bureau Drawers Ransacked and
Contents scattered I'm ss)0nfusiOn.

The police of the Eighth preci@ct>police
station are endeavoring to locate an un-
known firebug, who they have every ev-
idence to believe, set fire to the bone of
Mrs. Allyn Capron, widow of the late
Capt. Allyn Capron, of the Rough Riders,
of 1896 Wallach Street northwest, shortly
I, after o'clock last night
An alarm of fire was turned in by cit
liens whose attention was attracted to
the house by the large clouds OF smoke
pouring from the basement windows. The
fire engines were soon upon the scene
with the reserves of the Eighth precinct
station, under command of Lieutenant
Jordan A hurried entrance was forced
into the structure, and there a4disorderly
scene lay before the eyes of the firemen
and policemen Every bureau drawer,
cabinet, and closet had been ransa acked
the articles contained therein being
strewn about the house in confusion.
Lieutenant Jordan at once made hur-
ried search, but found no one at home
save young colored girl who is en-
ployed as a servant. She Informed the
police that she was on the last floor of
the house about o'clock, when she was
startled by hearing footsteps in the lower
hall. She said she called to the party, but
upon receiving no answer thought 1t was
Mrs Capron or some members of the
family returning home. all of them hay
ing left the residence early in the evening
on a visit. She did not know what had
taken place until she was startled by
hearing passing citizens cry fire
The thief, according to a renort nada
to the detective bureau by Lieutenant
Jordan in person, had. from the obser
Vations made by the police, forced an en-
trance into the house by breaking the
blinds of a window in the rear. He.tben
craWled in through the open kitchen win
DOW and began mis- search for valuables
Appearances indicated that nothing evil
dently, besides the room in which the ser
want was. escaped his attention. After
having ransacked the house thoroughly
the mlScreant descended into the cellar
evidently hoping to find something of val
ne concealed there. While engaged in the
search in the basement the police beliye
ne struck match and threw it into d
parrel OF paper. He then made his es-
cape py the same route used upon enter
ing The firemen promptly extinguished
the flames before any great amount of
damage was incurred, the fire being con-
fined to the basement alone.
Upon Mrs: Capron's return she was in
formed OF the affair and at once began a
hurried examination to discover whether
or not anything of value had been taken.
She announced shortly afterward that So,
far as she was able to ascertain the in
truder had not departed with anything of
value A policeman was stationed in
front of the residence for the rest of the
night by Lieutenant Jordan. while num-
Der OF biuecoats We're assigned to clues
All Of the neighbors in the vicinity were
examined by Lieutenant Jordan, but none
w
be thoroughly investigated. however, as
policemen We're detailed to work upon the
case all night. This morning Captain
Boardman, the chief of detectives, Will,
In all probability, assign several detec-
uves to the case, with view to learning
the identity of the thief.