Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-17
$1,000 GEMS
STOLEN: CASE
A MYSTERY
PROMINENT PASADENAN Is
VICTIM
Second-Story Man Ransacks Home Of
Dr.. Albert s. Hoyt While
Family Is at Dinner
Table

PASADENA. Dec. 16.-A robbery at the
home of DR.. Albert s. Hoyt on Buena
Vista street. South Pasadena, this even
ing resulted in the biggest haul made by
burglars in recent years. Jewels aggre-
eating in value from $4,000 to $1,000 were
taken.
Among the most costly articles missing
art on ring containing three Brazilian
diamonds valued at $500, one lorgnette
with solitaire set and chain of rare earls
valued at $1,000, one large diamond sun
burst valued at $500, one string of black
pearls, two diamond rings, and two rings
with Intaglio settings, which DR.. Hoyt
pronounces as very rare, valued at $500.
Among the other articles taken are cuff
buttons, studs, scarf pins and a miscel-
laneous collection of jewelry of smaller
value.
The robbery took place while the family
was at dinner. A ladder was used in
ascending to a balcony at the rear of the
house. From the balcony door leads to
the apartments on the second floor Mrs.
Hoyt had been absent from her room per-
haps thirty minutes When she returned
after dinner she found the drawers of the
dresser in her room open, and a quick
glance told her that they had been ran
sacked DR.. Hoyt was summoned, and 1t
was discovered that his room adjoining
had also been entered and the dresser
rif1ed.
A safety deposit box was found on the
lawn at the rear OF the house. 1t had
been easy for the robbers to remove the
contents, as the key had been left in the
lock. Other empty jewel boxes were
found scattered along the walk leading
from the street to the rear of the house.
The ladder had been removed from the
balcony and thrown to the ground after
the robbers had used 1t.
Few Knew of Jewels
Mrs Hoyt said she had put her jewelry
through course of cleaning at the house
only a few days ago, and so far as she
knows no one outside of the family and
the maid who did the cleaning were aware
that the valuables were kept in the
dresser drawer. Other drawers in the
same dresser were not disturbed. In the
room occupied by DR.. Hoyt the missing
articles were taken from several small
drawers in the dresser, all of'which were
left open after they had been rified The
two rooms bear no evidence of footmarls,
showing that the thief or thieves wore
soft-soled shoes or rubbers.
Mrs Hoyt recently took out $4,000 burgA
larry insurance. The Hoyt family is one
of the wealthiest of an aristocratic neigh
borhood. Last winter they visited New
York and while there Mrs. Hoyt had her
jewels cleaned at Tiffany's. DR.. Hoyt Is
retired physician of note and his family
has resided in South Pasadena about four
years.
After taking out burglary insurance it
is said DIR. Hoyt discontinued the services
of a watchman furnished by local patrol
agency.
Thieves Unseen
The scene of the robbery is in the midst
of an avenue of fine residences occupied
by families of wealth and social prom
inence. Immediately adjoining the Hoyt
residence is the home of Mrs. Helena
Childs, widow of the late George W.
Childs. The occupants of Mrs. Childs
home say they heard no one about the
premises of either place at the time Of
the robbery. The driveway through which
the robbers passed in reaching the street
is not less than fifty feet from the house
Across Meridian street is the home of
Mrs. Lucretia Garfield widow of the mar
tyred president.
On the north side of Buena Vista street
is the home of Samuel W. Allerton, mil
lionare whose premises were burglarized
a few years ago in almost precisely the
same manner as the Hoyt burglary.
The police departments of both South
Pasadena and Pasadena were notified of
the burglary and the private detective
agency of w. w Freeman was also
called into consultation. Steps were i'm
mediately taken to trace the robbers AS
description of the missing articles imme-
te mn tc ~ .toft