The San Francisco call., 1908-03-23
WOMAN AIDS
BOLD BURGLAR
IN BERKELEY
Lures Watchnlan Away While
Attempt Is Made to Rob
Titus Home
Series of Raids on Residence OF
Deserted Wife Alarms
the Household
Early Appearance of a Man
Wrapped in a Sheet
Increases Mystery

BERKELEY, March 22.-Since
the burglary last Monday night.
when money and jewelry OF the value
OF more than $500 were stolen from
the home of Mrs. Louis Titus, wife
OF the president of the Peoples wa
ter company, at $500 Bancroft way.
two other mysterious attempts have
been made on the house, and the po-
lice are baffied by the peculiar tactics
OF the intruders. On the second of
these two attempts, which occurred
this morning, man shrouded IN a
sheet appeared at the door, while the
actions of a woman a block away from
the residence of Mrs. Titus served to
lure away Special Policeman William
Thompson, whe had been retained as
guard A man gained entrance into the
house for the second time yesterday
morning and paraded from the rear to
the front seeking an exit when he
found his presence had been detected.
There was nothing stolen from the
sAOAoC OA4 ills ONEdSiOH.
ALARMED BY BURGLARIES
The police in their investigation OF
the three appearances of burglars all
within a week. have taken note of the
differences existing between Louis Titus
and his wife. She and their two chill
dren are living at $500 Bancroft way
In the Titus home, which is one OF the
finest in the city. Titus is staying at
zs7 CEestwood street. Piedmont, and at
the same time Mrs. Titus was robbed Of
her money. jewels and private papers
she and the two little ones were In the
house without the protection of man.
Since that burglary Mrs. Titus has
become alarmed, being at times in a
condition almost Of nervous prostra-
tion. and when the second entrance
was made into her home at 1:3o O'Clock
yesterday morning Charles Tharp and
wife of North Berkeley were with Mrs.
Titus.
WRAPPED IN SHEET
Mrs. Titus retained Special Police
man Thompson to guard the place, and
DR.. Kate Childs Hill of 2sSs Pine ter
race was with her in the house. Early
in the morning they heard the bell
ringing and made their way to the
door. Peering through a window they
caught sight of man standing al the
entrance with sheet draped around
his form, the ends of the white wrap
ping blowing in the wind.
What DO you want?' called Mrs. I'll
tus. without opening the door
The man outside shouted back that he
thought the place was a fraternity
house and ram Then Thompson was
summoned, and it was learned that a
woman at Dwight way and Telegraph
avenue had drawn his attention to that
spot while the man rang the front door
bell at the Titus place.
PRIVATE PAPERS TAKEN
The burglar who stole the jewels and
money last Monday left more valuables
than he had taken, and in one of the
boxes carried away were nothing but
private documents. All of these papers
were found last Tuesday in the hills
back of the deaf and dumb and blind
institute. Among the private papers
was said to be an agreement signed by
Louis Titus to pay his wife a certain
sum of money regularly for her sup
port.
Mrs. Titus said that her husband had
not been in the house since last Christ
mas
The police tonight arrested two sus-
poets, but decided later to release the
men, as the suspicious against them
seemed III grounded.