Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-19
SATURNALA
OF CRIME IS
INCREASING
THIEVES COMMIT DAYLIGHT
ROBBERY
ENTER FITZGERALD HOME, BUT
MISS JEWELS
Safe Broken in Lunch Room; Tailor
Shop Robbed and Goods Taken
in Wason--JaiIs Over
flowing

W PuI a ElOP TO lIG tplOtIIllC OIL CIlIn0
now rampant In this city, holdups and
robberies seem TO increase daily, and
although scores OF persons, vagrants.
drunkards and suspicious characters have
been arrested and the city jail is filed
to overf,owing. none of the perpetrators
of recent crimes has. so far as the police
have been able to learn, been landed be-
hind the bars. The police department,
the detectives and the police courts are
doing all in their power to put an end to
the wave OF crime now sweeping the city
and suspicious characters are being made
examples of in order to discourage wrong
doing by others.
Yesterday the boldest daylight robbery
in the history of Los Angeles took place
In the homo Of one of the citys promi-
nent business men, when two men,
masked and carrying revolvers, entered
the house of J. T. Fitzgerald, music
dealer on Spring street at 2S15 West
Adams street. and after frightening
Marie ynFisssseel nisssseeli, the neil, into silence one
of the men went through the upper part
of the house, ransacking every nook and
corner. while the other remained down
stairs, revolver across his knees and
ready for instant use should the woman
he was guarding attempt to make a
move.
OVcFtooN @oOuO w JeWeiS
The robbers secured two rings, the
value of which was about $50. The search
was made in quick time and in their
hurry the men overlooked q number of
pieces OF valuable jewelry, valued at
S5o00 which had been hidden by Mrs.
Fitzgerald in a slipper. which she had
stored In the drawer OF a. bureau In her
bedroom.
Mrs Fitzgerald left her home for a
drive shortly after 8 o'clock yesterday
morning, the horses being driven by
Joseph wiebel. husband of the maid who
was left to care for the house. The car
riage had proceeded but short dis
tance and had barely turned the corner
of the block when two men entered the
house through the front door. The house
ir hidden partly from view by mass of
shrubbery and trees and it is believed
by the police that the robbers had con-
cealed themselves in the yard awaiting
an opportune moment to enter the place.
AS the men threw the front door open
they were confronted by the maid, who,
when she saw them. became hysterical.
She was soon quieted, however. as one
of the men thrust a revolver before her
face,
.sYou sit down there and keep etill.' he
ordered.
While one man kept the woman covered
with the weapon, his companion made
his way to the upper floors, making a
hasty search into every place where he
thought valuab.es or money might be
concealed.
Knew of VaIuables
His quest was brief. and after ten min
utes absence he returned, apparently
greatly disappointed and angry, and from
tie talk it would seem he expected to
find vsiuabes of which he had knowl-
IL he rxfH a torn ad hfz
i'll luck.
The robbers left the house, telling the
woman to make no outcry. threatening
to return and kill her il she gave an
alarm.
Suppressing her terror, the woman sat
silently for fifteen minutes. when the
sound OF the returning carriage gave her
courage to cry out. Wiebel jumped from
his seat and dashed into the house, and
II was some moments before he could get
an inkling of what had occurred from
his almost hysterical wife.
The excitement of the two at this mo-
nlent seems to have communicated Itself
to the horses, standing near the door
way and they broke away. dashing
down West Adams street. The animals
were stopped only after they had run
some distance and smashed the carriage.
The coachman procured another car
rage and driving quickly to a house at
which Mrs. Fitzgerald was making a cali
told her of the robbery. Mrs. Fitzgerald
telephoned the news to r. H Holmes, a
partner of her husband, who, in turn,
notified the police.
The police have a good description of
the men and are following up every clew
il their efforts to arrest them.
Force Safe Open
Another crime which the police are
investigating occurred some time Satur-
day night or Sunday morning at the Dake
lunch room, 4141a South Broadway, in
the heart Of the business district, where
thousands of people pass and repass all
day and where pedestrians may be seen
at any hour of the night
The iron safe Of the lunch room which
stands near the front part of the build
ing and in view from the street, was
forced open and S75 in money taken. No
evidence of a forced entrance to the res
taurant is found and the police believe
night and concealed themselves in a Sc
cluded spot until the place was empty.
In order to carry on their work. with
out molesta ton the safe was rolled to
the rear OF the restaurant, into the
kitchen and thence into a big ice box,
where the robbers proceeded leisurely to
open It. The bottom of the safe was
in all directions.
The robbery was reported to the police
about 4 o'clock Monday morning.
Tailor Shop Robbed
Carrying goods away by wagon is an
innovation upon the methods in use thus
far during the season b.. thieves, but that
is what one or more robbers did Sunday
night. Entering the store of the Lyon
Cloak company, 74i South Spring street,
the robbers stole thirty bolts of cloth.
which they loaded upon a wagon backed
Up to a rear entrance, and drove away.
The United Saddlery company's estab-
lIshment 652 South Main street was also
entered the same night by thieves, who
packed up enough stuff to fill a good
sized wagon. but who were frightened
away by man suffering from insomnia
The thieves had packed eight suit cases
with the most expensive goods in the
place and were about to load them on a
wagon when John Brerton, who rooms at
737 South Spring street unable to sleep
appeared on his back porch. The thieves,
hearing the noise. became frightened and
ran.
The police are adopting the strongest
measures in their efforts to stamp out