The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-08-27
VISITATION FROM THE
BURGLARS

The burglars, who are doing their
ldepredat!Ons in this city are evident.
ly readers of the daily newspapers.
and believe the stories contained
therein tina; the Florida editors. are
gathering in the shekels the same as
if they grew on trees.
Friday night was editors night, and
they made very early calls. II was
the regular night. also. for the hand
concert, and everybody was supposed
ito be down town listening 10 the de-
lightful music, so the burglars sought
this propitious hour to make their Wis
itation.
At the home of the editor of this pa
per every precautionary measure was
taken to safeguard g. Every door
and window was carefully closed aud
fastened: yet before the hour Of ten.
and while the lights were sin ON up
stairs, the burglars effected an en-
trance on the lower floor by breaking
one of the catches to one OF the win
dOws and Immediately entered upon
a systematic search for the currency
of the realm in every NOOK and Gran
ny where it was thought possible that
the same could be stored. Every Ia
bic, desk, and library drawer was
opened, and the contents OF the same
examined. every paper in the pigeon
holes were gone over, the lid Of every
piece of bric-a-brac was uplifted and
a general rifling ensued All this was
done, too. while a member OF the fam
lily was upstairs. and heard the noise. |
but thought that it was made by some |
other member of the family who had !
returned home.
When the other members 81 the |
family did arrive and were told that
some one had certainly entered the
house and had been down stairs for
some time, q search was made for |
them, but they could nowhere be
found. The burglares evidently con /
cealed Themselves behind some doors \
and when the searckers went 90 the
back part OF the house the burglars \
made their exit from the windows \
through which they affected an en-
trance
The next morning their tracks were 1
in evidence. They not only left be
hind them the rifled desk and table
drawers, bu, at least one hundred on
more half-burned matches. which aid
ed them in their search. using what
our cook calls 'rogue's matches" the
noiseless variety
After leaving the residence Of the
owner of this paper. they next called
at the residence Of Brother Bittinger.
who is absent in California. but whose
wife and daughter are at home.
The burglars had no doubt real the
stories OF tine glittering heaps OF gold
described by Editor Bittinger in his
relatives bank in Los Angeles. and
hought, perhaps, that he has given
him several bags of il and he ha I ex-
pressed them home.
Mrs. Bittinger was reading and her
laughter, Miss Adele, was asleep.
both being upstairs Mrs BittingerI
hearing the burglars trying To effect
IN entrance at one of the down stairs
windows, called TO Mr. Jim PyIes. who
ives just across the street Mr..
'yles, however, was putting in a good
lights rest before the Saturday rush
It the o. K. Grocery, and did not hear
Mrs. Bittinser when she called. but :
lr. Sim Lummus, who was sleeping I
n the next room, and who had just Z
etired, heard it. Sim jumped up /
nd went TO- his "thirty-eight." and :
cached his window just in time to 7
ee the sparks from Mr. L. S. Beck's r
evolver. Mr. Beck had also heard q
he alarm, and Immediately began I
lead in the direction of the {
One of them jumped the !
Sittinger ferce and ran toward the ]
jumping station, and this one Mr..
.ummus picked out with careful aim.
red and-missed, but it was no fault =
f his. Il would have been a matter a
f general rejoicing if Re could have 7
winged him, so at least as to make -,
is identity known. ,
Before the night was ended the bur d
lars visited the home Of Mr.. John O
I. Brooks and several other places. Z
ut they got very little booty for their
aims
1t is OILY a question Of time before &
hey are caught and will be serving
n the chain gazing :
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