Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-09-18
THE FIRST BURGLARY.
u Occurred IN the Treasure Vaults Of
King Of Egypt.

it Occurred In the Treasure Vaults %
King Of Egypt.
Robberies Of treasure reach back into
antiquity, and the latest achievement
OF the twentieth century craftsman Is
pSralleled I'm the time OF the pharaohs.
Ever since civilization has been. and
wealth measured in precious dollars.
Jewels and metals. mans cupidity has
been aroused and thieves striven To-
gain case and luxury by stealing tho
treasure Of others.
The first burglar OF treasury vaults,
so far as known 10 history. occurred
when Rhampsinitus was king OF
Egypt He possessed 50 much money
that none OF the kings reignlng after
him in Egypt was able TO rival him In
riches
Thinking to have his treasure safely
kept. he had constructed the best bur
glar proof vault that the builders OF
that day knew how 70 make-a solid
chamber OF stone. The builder fitted
one Of the stones 50 that IL might be
easily removed by two men or by one
exceptionally strong. After the COM
pletion Of this chamber the king laid
his treasures I'm II. thinking them safe
from designing hands. But when the
builder came 10 die he called his two
sons and directed them how they might
get the kings riches.
After his death the sons went to the
palace, quickly removed the stone in
the wall and almost depleted the kings
vessels Of their money and treasure.
When the king opened the vault he
found II nearly empty. yet the seals
on the entrance door were unbroken
and the chamber apparently secure.
He determined 10 set a trap. He seal
ed IL as before. Again and again he
broke the seals, each time finding the
precious treasure diminished, and then
he had traps put about the treasure re-
ceptacles. one day the trap caught It's
victim, and. the man being unable 70
free himself. he ordered his brother to
cut OF ami carry away his head that
both should not be ruined by the dis
aster. This was done by one stroke OF
the others sword
The next day the king came and
found the headless body Of a man In
the trap. while the chamber was still
apparently without means OF exit.
Much mystifcd. he had the headless
body suspended from a gallows in full
view of the populace. thinking that
possibly the dead mans relatives would
betray themselves by their agitation ut
the spectacle
Then 4 new difficulty arose for the
remaining son. His mother com
monded him 20 cut down the body and
bring Il 10 her. else she would expose
+ him 70 thc king. After a little time
i he succeeded I'm giving the kings sen
/ tries knockout drops" and took his
brothers corpse 90 his mother.
Tho king was angricr than ever
not only because of the theft OF hIs
treasure. hut because OF the Disappear
+ ance ~ the body Of one of the villains
Then his daughter was set 10 catch
the thief She was 70 seize him by
the arm. yelling furlously when Id
should reveal himself. The younc
man heard Of the plot. however. ans
circumvented It. He took with hin
m arm cut from the corpse. and wher
she seized him he placed Il IN hei
hand and escaped.
This last incident made the kin.
think some. lie wisely concluded tina
a clever thief like this would he :
better ally than an enemy. 50 b,
issued proclamation Offering the rob
Der pardon and his daughter for
wife II he would reveal himself. Thi
oner was shortly after accepted. an,
the robOer became The kings son
Such IS the story Of the first know,
burglary Of history.-Cincinnad En-
j Quirer.