Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-07-06
FADS OF BURGLARS.
POLITE P1LFERERs HAVE THEIR
LITTLE PEcULIAR1T1Es.
One Regretted His Attempt to BOD
a Noted Angler and Another
complimsnted Car
negie.

II ever q burglar were a sportsman,
II was the one who broke into the house
of Laylie Hall, at Richmond, last year.
The work was done In the most skilled
way and there was upwards Of $1,000
worth Of meltable valuables In the
house; but all the burglar took was his
leave. and neatly written note left
ON the table explained why he had not
looted the whole establishment.
The note ran as follows:
"Dear Sir: 1t is with extreme regret
that find have disturbed, profession
ally. the house of such popular angler.
Your name is well known to me, but !
did not recognize in 1t the Mr.. Hail,
and only the Inscriptions on the fne
prize cups on your sideboard enlight-
ened me. / had not the heart to take
any Of them, and beg to retire with apol-
ogies."
There was no signature. But not one
Of the heavy silver cups on Mr.. Halrs
eideboard-all trophies Of angling COM
petitions won at Newport and other
places--was taken. The cupboard in
the adjoining room, which was broken
into first, had evidently been ransacked,
but all the spoil had carefully been put
back. The police could not trace the
note, as there was no possible clew In
n NJ which the champion angler was
glad, for he would have been sorry to
see such . sportsmanlike burglar laid
by the heels. It is said, however, that
his identity is now known as one OF the
most skillful Of modern cracksmen.
Mr.. Carnegie, the philanthropist, al
ways claims that the greatest compli-
ment of his life was paid him by an ex-
pert burglar, the same who broke into
his house near Glasgow during his 30
journ in Scotland. As usual he had col
lected round him big array OF price,
less old books and art treasures, gath
cred in England-at least $780, 900 worth
of such things being in the house. A
window was carefully and neatly cut
out in the small hours Of the morning,
the house ransacked and every corner
searched, while the owner and servants
were asleep. In the morning Mr.. Carne-
gle found on his study table a letter,
which in pathetic tones described the
burglars sorrow at finding that he had
been near cleaning out" the residence
Of man he greatly esteemed and ad-
mired. 1t was only the fame Of Mr..
Carnsgie's philanthropy and charitable
ness that saved the valuables.
"Millionaires," continued the letter,
ARE my natural enemies and prey-you
are the only exception. am thankful
there are plenty more, about whom I
have no scruples, and am sorry to have
put you to the expense Of repairing the
shutters"
Nothing in the house was taken, not
even the plate basket and the abundant
old silver.
Different, but still more satisfactory,
was the experience Of Mr. Hoddesdon,
small fruiterer. who retired from his
trade and went to live near Chicago
FIVE years ago. Both he and his wife
bitterly distrusted banks, and most of
his worldly goods were kept in the
house. One night thief paid him a
visit and he awoke In the morning to
find himself all but penniless; $4,000
in government bonds, which he had
kept in box under his bed. had been
taken, though he had counted them,
as was his custom. before turning in.
As government bonds pass current
lust as bank notes do, there was no
possibility Of recovering them unless
the thief were caught, but there was
no trace Of a clew, and all efforts
failed. The old couple, though both
over 60 managed to get together
enough to start a little fruiterer's shop
in Chicago. and began life over afresh
IL their old age.
They struggled on for four years,
when registered packet APPEARED one
morning, and when opened 1t disclosed
"wad" Of bank notes Of the value
Of $4,000. Imagining the notes to be
either false or stolen, the fruiterer
took them to the police. On that same
day came a letter which stated that
the sender. having robbed them of
all they had four years earlier, had
later on taken to an honest living and
prospered. He had only lately dis
covered. with pain, what straits the
old couple had been brought to. and
begged to return the sum he had
stolen, together with four years IN
terest at four per cent.
But prettiest Of all was the case
Of the man who was sorry" and
who was tended by physician In New
York. The doctor was called to rem
der aid in a street accident, and found
young man, neatly dressed. with
both ankles broken by cab that had
run over him. The doctor had the
victim taken into his house, where he
set the broken bones, fed the patient
and attended to him for two hours
when he sent him to the hospital in hii
private carriage
Three weeks later, the day after thS
nafient waa DISCHARGED from the hoa