Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-12-10
DESPERATE BURGLARS.
Isaac 7. Haines' Marrow Escape.

About 2 O'Clock last Friday morning,
Isaac T. Haines, merchant and post-mas-
ieF at Clarksboro, had an experience with
burglars that he does not desire to have re-
peated, because the fact that he escaped
with his life is little less than miracu ous.
His house and store are combined build-
ings on the principal corner Of the little
village At about that hour Mrs Haines
was awakened by a peculiar noise ID the
store and awoke her husband, who dressed
and went down stairs, passing out doors
through the front door Of the residence. In
front of the store he saw two strange men
who about as soon as Mr.. Haines appeared
opened fire on him with their revolyers.
Mr.. Haines stepped behind post and
attempted to return the fire, but his pistol
refused to work and he simply stood ha t a
mark for the robbers. When the shooting
began, two more men. ran ont Of the store
and the whole band ran toward the rail-
road station, shooting back as they fed.
The report Of the pistols, and MIR. Haines'
cries for help, aroused the town, and soon
about the entire population Of the village
was out, armed to the teeth.
In the meantime the men made their es-
cape in wagon left near the scene Of
the robbery, and to which they fled After
the shooting began Il ere was an explo-
sion in the store, which was no doubt the
explosion that blew the safe open
An effort was made to arouse Woodbury.
By phone, bpt this was unsuccessful. Bet
ter result followed an effort to arouse Cam
den, but this was not fruitful in prevent
ing the thieves from making good their es-
cape.
When Jacob Nolte, a farmer residing
just North of Mantua creek bridge, went
to his stable next morning, one Of his
horses and wagon was missing Il was
discovered at the Toll gate above Woodbury.
next morning, which is proof that with
this the thieves made good their escape.
It is the opinion that after detection they
gained the wagon, drove to Mantua Grove
school house, thence to the Crown Point
road, then to near Gloucester toll gate,
v here they turned the horse around and
started it toward home. Instead OF COM
ing the way it went, the hoise took the
shortest road to Woodbury. and WAS stopped
at the toll gate.
BEFORE THE ROBBERY.
Last Thursday evening one Of the socie-
and about all the young people Of the vii
lage were there Returning home after 12
O'Clock, one Of the boys saw Jacob Nolte's
horse and wagon, with three men in, drive
around the Clalksboro conner While the
to recognize the men, but he was familiar
with the team. This proves that the horse
was taken before the burglary occurred.
Entrance was effected into the store by
removing q pane Of glass from the window.
Early Friday morning three strange men
boarded the first North bound trolley car at
Gloucester City, and strange man board
ed the first North bound train at Park
vile Friday morning. These facts seem to
bear the theory that three Of the men es-
capped in the wagon that night, while the
fourth lay about until the first train went
up.
This was no doubt most desperate gang
Of burglars. That the shots fired at Mr..
Haines were meant TO kill is evidenced by
the fact that two of them pierced the post
behind which be sto d, and were detected
away from his body.
The safe was much damaged BY the ex-
plosion, a portion Of The door being blown
through the side of the building out into
the hack yard. Only S1.7s ID money was
taken.