Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-12
Burglar Seen to Run
troln a Burning
Building
,similar + Fires Seem to
Point to Like
Methods
Strenuous Efforts Will Be Made by
Officers to Locate the Offender
and Secure Prompt
Punishment

Burglars last night robbed the home
of Louis A. McCray, Harold way and
Lamona avenue, Hollywood. and then set
fire to the house in order to cover their
tracks. The house was a total loss and
only a small portion of the contents was
saved
Mr.. McCray IS in the north. while his
wife and family are visiting at their
summer residence at Redondo. Word of
the fire was sent them by The Herald
last night.
The burglars were seen in the house
by John Eggink and his wife of Holly
wood few minutes before the fire broke
out. Mr.. and Mrs. Eggink were en-
ployed by Mr. McCray to watch the
residence during his absence.
According to the story they told Mar
shall Fry of Hollywood soon after the
fire was reported, they were sitting in
the rear of the residence passing the
evening. Mrs. Eggink suddenly called
her husbands attention to shadow
which moved back and forth before q
window in the second story of the Nc
Cray residence Mr.. Eggink at once sus-
pected burglars and hurried toward the
house intending to investigate AS he
approached the house the front door was
heard to slam and moment later a
man was seen to run across the front
lawn and disappear down Lamona ave-
nue.. When Mrs. Eggink again turned
to look at the house the second story
was a mass of flames, and before she
had time to call to her husband the
entire house was ablaze.
Word was at once sent to Marshal
Fry, who, with several deputy sheriffs
and constables, was soon on the scene.
The fire department was also called and
within few moments the hose cart
arrived and several streams of water
were played on the fire.
In company with the deputy sheriffs
an earnest effort was made by the town
marshal to discover the burglar who had
set the house on fire. but no person
answering the description of the man
seen by Mr.. and Mrs. Eggink was found.
The sheriff's office in Los Angeles and
the police were notified and the officers
travelling beats bordering on Hollywood
were instructed to watch for and arrest
all suspicious appearing persons who
We're seen on their beats.
Several bucket brigades were organized
soon after the arrival of the fire de-
partment, and these, in company with
the members of the department who
were present at the fire, did all in their
power to extinguish the blaze. So nobly
did they work that for time 1t seemed
that the lower part of the house would
be saved but at last the flames drove
the men from their work and the entire
building was consumed.
my husband and myself were sitting
a short distance from the house when
first noticed a man in the second
story" said Mrs Eggink last night.
'T at once called my husbands attention
to him, and Mr. Eggink went toward the
building to see what he was doing there.
AS he did so we heard the front door
slam. I presume the man ran out that
way. My husband ran toward the front
OF the house, and just then | saw man
running toward Lamona avenue. The
next second I glanced toward the house
again and flames were bursting from the
second-story window. I cried out and
ran toward my husband When he
heard me scream he ceased chasing the
burglar and came back. 7 hurriedly told
him that the house was fire and he
rushed to a neighbours house and tele-
phoned the department and the marshal.
"The man who was in the house was
evidently young man. From what l
saw of him I judge he was about %
years of age. He was dressed in dark
clothing and wore a soft hat"
This is the second fire which has oc-
CURED in Hollywood within the last
week. On the night of July the resi-
dence of r. Ferry on Prospect avenue
was destroyed. This house was said to
nave been set on fire by a skyrocket
enterlng through an upper window.
the residence have informed Mr.. Ferry
tnat suspicious appearing characters
We're seen near the residence shortly
peIore the fire started, and it Is now
suspected by the city marshal and others
VINO nave Investigated that the house
was set on fire by burglars who wished
to cover their tracks
rms mas been. reported to the Los
Angeles detectives and the police of this
city are working in conjunction with the
Hollywood authorities in an effort to find
the persons responsible for the outrage
On the night of June 27 the residences
Of Captain j. c. Waterous, E. p. Roess-
Ter and vacant residence were de-
stroyed by fire, and officers who inves-
tigated were unable to find any cause
for the flames. Itis suspected that these
fires were all the work of burglars. who
were endeavoring to cover their tracks
'I have my men at work looking for
the man who was seen in the house bv
Mrs Eggink," said Marshal Fry last
to find any trace of him. We have been
furnished with an excellent description
and hope to land him before he can
leave Hollywood. In case we fail the
Los Angeles police have been notified
and are on the lookout for him.
"I have not believed up to this time
that 1t was possible for any man to COM
NIT these robberies and then set fire to
the houses and escape, but the fact that
Mrs. Eggink and her husband saw the
man in the house has impressed me so
seriously that / do not intend to cease
working until 1 have captured the man
who was there and placed him behind the
hars.'