The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-16
FIRST THOUGHT OF CARPET.
Woman Ordered Burglar to Hold
the Candle Straight.
FROM the New York Sun.


Orange, N. j., Feb. 9.-"Hold that
candle up straight. The grease is
dripping all over my carpet" was the
first exclamation of Mrs. w. b. Ar
rowsmith, as two masked men, each
holding a revolver, entered her sleep
ing room in her residence, "a Haw-
thorne, avenue, East Orange at 3
o'clock this morning.
The masked man with the candle
started back, but obeyed the COM
mand. Then he and his companion,
holding their revolvers in a threaten
ing position, demanded to know where
the valuables and money were kept.
Mrs. Arrowsmith is a widow with
four children. She keeps two domes-
tics, Bridget Leyden, cook and her
sister Margaret Leyden, a nurse. Yes
terday Bridget complained of bad
cold, and this morning when Mrs. Ar
rowsmith heard, some one coming uI
the stairs she supposed 1t was Mar
garet, who had gone down for some
medicine for her sister. This impress
sion, Mrs. Arrowsmith said to a Sun
reporter this afternoon, was heightened
by the fact that she heard nothing
more.
AS it developed later the noise was
made by the burglars, who went first
to the servants room, where the nurse,
who was sleeping with the cook be-
cause of the latter's sickness, promptly
crawled down under the bedclothing
and did not emerge until the intruders
had left.
The burglars, Mrs. Arrowsmith said,
We're well dressed, and one of them was
about foil forbf
hair and black handkerchief over his
face. His derby hat was pulled down
over his eyes.
The other was dark and wore a white
handkerchief over his face.
Mrs. Arrowsmith said: THE tall man
had scarcely warned me to keep quiet
and make no outcry, but to tell him
at once where L kept my valuables,
when there was a cry from the nurs-
cry adjoining. That is baby Jack L
remarked, and then the tall man asked
me If l wanted the baby, as he might
arouse the other children. / told him
to bring the baby in and he took Jack
from his crib and brought him into my
room. The other man stood on guard
in the meantime"
Mrs. Arrowsmith said she told the
burglars that she had no jewelry and
that she was a widow and unprotected
Then her l5-year-old son Dick came
and stood before the dresser, with his
hands behind him. AS soon as she
called the boy by name, the shorter
of the two burglars spoke up:
What have you got behind you.
pick?"
"A club" replied the boy.
Just drop it on the floor" returned
the burglar, as he pointed his revolver
at Dick, and the club was dropped.
Pretty good protection" remarked
the burglar you've got a brave boy
there, madam. He can take care of
his mother, / guess"
Have you no nfother?" asked Mrs.
Arrowsmith.
III had. 1 wouldn't be here" replied
the burglar.
There was some further conversation
and then the tall man said: well, we
had better get out of here, madam: we
have taken nothing from your house.
Let Dick come down to the front door
with us so he can lock it after we GO"
At the door the burglars shook hands
with Dick and again declared that
they had taken nothing. II can't be-
lieve you" replied Dick, but good
night, anyway"
This morning Mrs. Arrowsmith found
that a ring composed of a circle of nine
diamonds, a cluster ring containing
nine diamonds and her wedding ring
were missing. The gold band was
marked 'W. II. A. to M. V. A." A
purse containing a small sum Of money
was also missing. The thieves, how
ever, had not looked into her dresser,
where she had a quantity of valuable
jewelry.
Mrs. Arrowsmith reported the burg
larry to w. V. Snyder, Jr. her next door
neighbor, who informed the police.
Mrs. Arrowsmith thinks that the light
burglar was probably the man who
called at her house on Thursday and
asked who lived there. The burglars
gained entrance by smashing a pane OF
glass I'm the kitchen. reaching through
and unlocking the door.