New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-30
EVENING DRESS TO ROB.
POULTRY IN SUIT CASES.
Gang of Gentlemen Burglars WorE
WeStcheSter HeRneTies.

westchester County and Greenwich, Conn.
now have 4 gang OF gentlemen burglars. II 10
the uueerest band OF criminals that has ever
operated in towns near this city. No longer do
westchester servant girls look coGuettishly at
strange young men who are well dressed and
have winning ways. No longer do tirnid people
stay out late. Even over some OF the watch
dogs, whose records for keeping tresDassers on
the premises Of their masters night and day
were unblemished. the burglars have cast a
spell. For it is said by answering churchgoins
people. I'm clear and emphatic words. that 50
great IS this spell that some OF the famous
watchdOgs OF the county are absolutely useless
in the presence OF this syndicate gentlemen OF
the jimmy
These burglars do not break into houses. They
are far above such unsallant conduct. The car
dinal rule Of their code appears TO be: This
world owes every gentleman living. and II
gentleman should feel the touch OF hunger and
the lack OF a soft bed no rich gentleman should
be offended II impoverished gentleman should
steal some OF the rich gentlemans chickens IN a
gentlemany way" To steal in gentlemanly
way one must wear evening dress. patent leather
shoes and kid gloves and carry not bag but a
dress suit case. for the chickens. IT was learned
yesterday that not one OK this highbred band
had ever broken this cardinal rule of their code.
Among those whose hennerics they are said to
have visited after dusk number Of per-
sons OF social prominence living in Mount Yer
non. and c. y Moore J. Close y. Hustled and
r. L. ChamberIin. of Green =ich. Conn.
Several alleged members Of this gang Of
gentlemen burglars have already been caught.
and in their dress suit cases live and dead fowls
were found. These birds were taken. fl is said.
from the henneries Of persons prominent in the
social life Of Greenwich.
There was a man several months ago who
broke into the homes Of we'll known persons In
WestChester County, and after stuffing his
pockets with vaIuables visited the kitchen and
ate, drank and made merry as though he were
in his home. That man. because Of his
peculiar methods. was called the gentleman
burglar" lie did nothing that could be called
Eentlemanly, except place notes on the kitchen
table telling the cook that he was sorry for
having left some dirty dishes on the table and
asking her to excuse him for causing her extra
work. because her pies and other edibles pre-
pared by her dainty hands were so toOthsOme
that he thought he would have iusUlted her II he
had not eaten the food cooked by her. The
gentleman shabbily dressed. Often he left
the muddy imprint OF his shoes on valuable
carpets, and sometimes he discarded his well
worn clothes for the COstlesJ and best fitting
suit that he could find.
The present gang Or gentlemen burglars who
dress up 20 their calling, organized. IL is
thought, about three months ago. From
study OF their movements one might infer that
some OF the rules Of the society are:
Never take more than twenty chickens from
one heunery at one visit.
Always wear large diamond In the shirt
front as the sparkle Of diamond has a
soothing effect nervous chickens and will
prevent them from CaCkliuS.
Kid gloves should never be discarded in in
viting the chickens from the roost into the
dress suit case. as society chickens might
sent being handled without gloves. and quickly
put end to the festivities Of the evening.
If the chickens are talkative. wiring their
necks quickly. and they VIII cease their dis
turbanceS.
After saying good night to the hennery. leave
in the dress suit case the chickens that are 70
be taken TO the syndiCate's headquarters at
some place near the hennery. Loaded dress
suit cases must never be taken out Of an IN
vaded territory until the day following the in
vasion and then only I'm broad daylight
Always be a gentleman wherever possible.