New-York tribune., 1901-06-11
ihiHD ~ STEAL EXAM. PAPERS.
DARING BURGLARY ATTEMPTED IN RoARD
OF REGENTS ROOM. IN STATE CAPITOL,
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1RrNr

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEI
Aipdnv' June p-A daring attempt to steal ex-
animation papers of the Board of Regents IN the
State Capitol became known TODAY This a++e,,o,
was made on Friday night. May 81 at midnight
""' II was unsuccessful owing to it's being dis
covered by an alert watchman- No disclosure was
MADE about the affair until today in the hone
that the burglar could be detected II nothing was
said about his action. The officials of the State
board OF Regents had stored in their meeting
room IN the southwest tower of the Capitol sew
eidi IONS OF examina lion papers They comprised
examination papers for those desiring to practise
medicine. dentistry and veterinary surgery those
wishing to be public accountants and all the
academic school examination papers used in the
hIEh schools and academies of the State. These
papers were to be used I'm examinations all over
the state which begin June II and extend TO
June Il There were seventy-two different subjects
treated Of in them. The theft Of any of the nanArs
would have excited such dlstrust that IT would
nave been necessary for the Board of Regents TO
nave prepared sets OF examination papers
This could not have been done it is estimated at
cost less than 10000
For these papers the Board of Regents has
printing Office Of its own in the Capitol TO which
access is not obtalnable except by persons holding
the proper credentials This precauuon was taken
IN view OF apparent efforts several years ago 10
OBTAIN copies of the examination papers. Not only
are the examination papers carefully guarded
"hie they are being printed but they are also put
in the care Of watchmen night and day after they
are printed and lastly they put in steel safes
and sent by express from the Capitol TO their
destinations
on Friday night. May 81 the examination papers
Were IN the special care of Lyman Hurd mail
clerk OF the Board OF Regents who put up bed
TOT hlmSef in . little room off OF the big room in
" men the examination papers stored. About
midnight Mr.. Hurd was awakened by the noise
mace ny some one who was endeavorinS force
mis- way into the room through door east
side or the room Mr. Hurd shouted Samuel
Abhot. the watChman. who was on a lower floor
or the Capitol in another room used by the Re
gents, that thief work. Abbot came rush
ing up the stairway. and ne did 50 heard two
shotS from a revolver. Hurd. who was armed had
opened the door which the burglar had attempted
10 force and seeing a man running up a lttle
stairway leading 10 a doorway opening the
or the tower had fired him. These shots Ap-
parenty reached some ones body blood was
found upon an iron stairway and an iron gallery
leading to the door opening the roof already
mentioned.
The shots fred by Mr.. Hurd alarmed the other
Watchmen or the Capitol at their posts. and hunt
was made for the burglar. but he could he
found The building lighted and a thorough
search made. Shots fired in rooms which are
unfurnished and where there are no lights in the
hope OF finding the man but they We're unsuccess-
ful That the burglar was acquainted with the
building there is absolute certainty. but how he
managed 10 escape from il IS mystery.