Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-18
HOUSE ROBBED,
THRICE FIRED
BURGLARS SUSPECTED OF ACT
OF REVENGE
Fooled in Attempt to Escape With
Booty, They Are Suspected
of Attempts at In
cendiarism

Once during the last three days the
home of Frank V. Botiller, us East
Sixteenth street has been burglarized,
and three times it has been set on fire
by men who are thought to be the ones
who robbed the house.
The last attempt was made yester-
day evening at o'clock. when the
miscreants nearly succeeded in de-
stroying the building. It is thought
the incendiaries will be apprehended
today.
When the alarm was turned in yes
terday evening fire company re-
sponded. When the firemen arrived the
building was burning on the inside. and
as one of the hosemen attempted to
enter, two men who are said to have
been identified as Burt Peacock and
Thomas Bridges of 1903 Santee street,
are said to have come out of the house
and ran into the fireman. 1t is said
by witnesses that the two boys who
met the fireman attempted to keep
them from entering the house. The
fireman finally pushed them aside.
According to witnesses, the boys i'm
medately left the house and they have
not been seen since that time by the
police.
1t is said they went home, but last
night they could not be found. although
repeated efforts were made to trace
them.
Saw Burglars Leaving
When the home of Mr. Botiller was
entered by the burglars Monday after
noon Miss Susie Botiler and a friend,
AnN,a AIE.g.Y ,st tl,~
front porch. A slight noise inside the
house attracted the attention of Miss
Mesplow. who started to enter the front
door. Looking inside she saw the
drawers of the dresser in the front
room open and two men disappearing
by the rear door The two young wom-
en- screamed and followed the men, who
ran out the back yard and disappeared
over a fence and vanished. The descrip-
ton of the men they saw coincide with
that of the men who attempted to
blockade the way of the fireman.
When the young women returned
they found diamand solitaire and a
valuable violin had been taken. These,
| however, We're found a few hours later
| hidden near the rear of the building.
1t is thought the men might have re-
| turned them, but it is said by the police
| the burglars probably hid them when
they heard the young women approach
ing.
Awakened by Smell of Smoke
The family was awakened early Tues
day by the smell of smoke and on the
rear porch a small blaze was dis
covered. The fire was eXtinguished by
Mr.. Botiller, who found a quantity of
gasoline and shavings on the porch. IT
was not then thought that the same
men who attempted to rob the house
Monday had started the fire. but the
police. after an investigation. expressed
the thr>,ry that the men had attempted
to burn the building in revenge for
the booty which they were forced to
leave behind Monday.
After this fire Mr. Botiller left home
and took many of his valuahles to the
bank While IN town he expected to
get his home insured, but he was called
over the telephone at $3.50 yesterday
and informed that his home again had
benn set on fire.
When he returned the flames We're
out and Warner Robinson. aged II, and
living at 1910 Stanford avenue, was a
local hero on East Sixteenth street.
The lad not only had put out the fire.
hut he had chased the two men whom
he saw leaving the building when the
fire was discovered. The description
which he gave the police COMEDIES with
the two men who We're seen to blockade
the passa gewav last night when the
froman entered
Young Robinson said that one of the
roen was small, dark compleXioned and
dressed in black clothes. and the other
was tall. stoutly built man, dressed in
gray clothes.
This description also is said TO CO.
ircide with the one qiven by Miss Bo-
ti'lnr and Miss Mesplow.
Yesterday evening when the fire oc
Cured the members of the Botiler
family were newt door and they Wore
not aware that their house was on fire
until the alarm was turned in.
Both Men Injured
As the fireman attempted to enter
the house the two young men came out, |
and It is said they tried To blockade the
doorway Before the fireman could
enter Il was necessary II is said. to |
strike both Bridges and Peacock.
When Peacock and Bridges left they
we've followed for some distance. it is |
said by a gang of small boys. In the
excitement of the fire the men disap-
peared and, it is said. they went to
their homes on Santee street.
The case Immediately was placed in
the hands of the police but late last
nght the two boys had not been To-
Gated.
The mother of young Bridges says her
son came home and afterward went |
to physician to have his wounds
dressed.
She said Peacock also was hurt and
talked verv bitterly of the affair,
Although the police do not implicate
Bridges and Peacock in the burglary,
they say the bows no doubt resisted the
fireman. and this must he explained,
Their friends refuse to believe that
they were guilty of anytime more seri-
Gus than indiscretion and officiousness
-&%S
DEWEY REACHES