The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-17
Ramsllackle House in Fashionable
Residential Section Gathering
Place for Hoboes.
POLICE PAY VISIT IN NIGHT
Remarkable Scene Discovered, but
Gang Had Disappeared-Of-
ficers Are Baffled.

Rat-eaten ran1sllackle and dreary
looking, with vermin running loose be.
hind Its open doors and spiders weav-
ing their webs from sill to ceiling, a
house standing near the corner OF
Grove Avenue and Strawberry Streets
IN the heart OF the fashionable section
OF Lee District. holds within its wall.
a mystery which is battling the mount.
ed police of the West End. Not much
over month ago the house was rented
by q family who paid the rent in ad
vance. They left before the time was
up, and no one has seen or heard OF
them since. After their departure the
place. II is believed became infested
with band of professional hobocs
who arc seen only in the early hours
Of morning or late at night sneaking
In and out with Strengthening bun
dies.
Remarkable Scene.
{, Mounted officer Moody got wind of
the matter. and. with Officers krouse.
krug, Smallwood and Nuckols, visited
the place last night to make investi-
cation. All the doors were swinging
wide. The only living creature which
met their eyes was lonely COW stand
Ing in rickety stable mournfully
chewing her cud. Climbing up the
shaking stairs, the officers found a
low-roofed. ill-smelling loft. and In it,
strewn over The floor and depending
from rusty nails were numberless over.
coats. suits of clothes. mems and wo-
mems shoes, silk handkerchicfs, hats,
shirts. underclothes, socks, suspenders,
and almost everything to stock good
sized clothing store.
AT the southern end of the loft was
r wide opening, about mans height
from the ground. through which, II is
believed, the hoboes tossed their booty
zach night In one corner stood an
]. old dilapidated couch or sofa. covered
over with several thicknesses of car
pet and paper, and evidently used for q
bad. =
But the house is open to all the
winds OF heaven. and how anyone could
sleep In such q place without diving
from exposure Is beyond ina sination
1t is very evident. however. that the
building Is inhabited. for in one room
We're found the ashes of n fire, news.
papers laid out to sleep on and cmpt,
whiskey TASKS. showing that though
tho band seems to care little for the
physical comforts OF life it manages
notwithstanding, to pass the night IL
'F'i!IS ioi III VI !'iShSu c---toi t- pldyIlll
probably.
Den of Thieves.
The officers searched every nook an,
granny, but the birds had flown or i
was too early for them. and they la,
not yet arrived. An open trunk wa
found in another corner of the loft
This was filled with a varied assert
ment of clothing goods, some of IT YER
expensive. Pots and pans. paper an
other stuff of nondescript charncte
were also strewn about the place, tn
whole altogether presenting a mystic
Y!ous and motley scene.
In one OF the overcoats was foun
o revolver. carefully wrapped In
piece Of cloth. Another coat containe
i handsome cut glass goblet of prett
design. Silk handkerchiefs We're ther
galore. Some of the suits were new
others were old, as We're the shoes. Q
which there were nunlberless pair
al the head OF the stairs a rusty a!
to be used. perhaps. In case OF inva
sion. was found.
Omcer Moody and his associates ar
puzzled 10 know whether all this stu
was left By the family which so mys
tAr1ously disappe AIRED, or whether Ii
the collection made by profession;
hend of crooks. Five men Were see
to leave the place early one moruin
last week. and two suspicious person
lowered about Sunday morning. but al.
appeared when q mounted officer can
into view,