Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-02
JEWELS VALUED AT $4,000
Burglars Enter the House While
Mistress Was at Theater.
NOT HEARD BY THE SERVANTS
Entrance Probably Gained From Ad-
joining Building-Thieves Knew
Where Valuables Were Hidden.

stOlen iaSt nlSnI from the nome OF Mrs.
Hornsby. widow Of Isham H.
dornsby, 1715 1 street northwest. and the
.obbery bids fair to prove a great puzzle
% the police. It was evidently very
planned. and the only clue which
he authorities have secured is that two
u more men were concerned in the af-
,air. The crime was daring in Its incep-
ion and equally daring In its execution.
five servants were In the Hornsby house,
yet not one of them heard an unusual
noise between the hours of S and 1870
j clock. during which time the theft was
committed. notwithstanding several win
lows were opened and at least one heavy
premises.
It was obvious that one or more of the
burglars must have watched Mrs. Horns
by secreting the jewelry in her room, be-
cause when they went to their work they
evidently showed not the slightest hesita-
ton in locating the hiding place of the
valuables. The house next door at lib
/ street is vacant and one Of its windows
completely commands Mrs. Hornsby' S
apartments. She had long made a habit
of concealing her jewels in a heavy ma
hogany shoe box. She was at the
theater last night and when she returned
she discovered that the shoe box was
missing.
Police Get to Work.
The police were notified Immediately
and Detectives Weldon and Kleindienst
and patrolmen from the third precinct
were assigned to the case. but SO bafning
did it prove that Inspector Boardman.
chief of detectives. took personal charge
In directing the investigation. It was not
until this morning. however. that the
mahosany box was found in one OF the
rooms OF the vacant house next door. with
its lid wrenched OF and all OF the jew
elry missing.
The box was 50 heavy that 1t could not
possibly have been handled by one man.
and Its bulk made it a matter of astonish-
ment that 1t could have been transported
across the areaway and to the top Of a
1utting bay-window in the vacant house
without causing such a disturbance that
the servants IN the Hornsby house would
have been alarmed.
Until they discovered that one of the
windows In the adjacent house was OPEN
ed the police were prone to believe that
entrance to the Hornsby house must
have been secured by the use Of dupli-
cate key. Mrs Hornsby's room is on
the second floor OF her home, and the
open window was on the same floor at
the house 11s street. while the con-
venient bay window gave just sufficient
foothold for the burglars to enter the
Hornsby residence without recourse to
the basement doors or windows.
Footprints found in the vacant house
gave the detectives an idea that the
burglars entered through that building.
they regarded it as possible that
they were made by prospective purchas-
ers of the property. How the burglars
knew that the jewelry was kept in the
shoe box Is a question which is puzzling
the police, though It is realized this
gained il one Of the marauders had not
watched the Hornsby house long and
There was nothing found In
the house to indicate that any room other
than that in which the box was kept was
visited by the intruders, nor does 1t ap-
pear that any other article of furniture
In the room was ransacked.
List OF Stolen Jewels.
Printed lists of the stolen property were
prepared at headquarters and sent to the
several police precincts, copies of them
having also been sent to the police de-
partments Of other cities.
The articles stolen included the follow
ing:
Crescent pin set with about 100 small
two chain pendants each set
with large diamond, 5000.
Pearl and diamond collar. blue and
white enamel, with diamond In center.
So, 500.
Diamond necklaces. stones graduating,
s.. 800.
Gold comb. set with diamonds. $500.
Lady's gold hunting case watch, initials
M F. B." or m. B." engraved on
case, $50.
Three black enamel bracelets. set with
gold wreath on top and name "R. b.
Skunk engraved on inside.
Two gold carved bracelets, gold links.
Silver bracelet. Japanese design. set
with green stones.
Geneva bracelet with silver balls.
Amethyst and gold necklace.
Statement by Capt. Boardman.
II do not yet know just how the robbery
was perpetrated'' Inspector Boardman
.old Star reporter. after he had visited
he house. 1T may have been committed
by some person who climbed to the win
low or who gained access to the house
through the vacant building. 1t is also
possible that duplicate key was used.
We are investigating every phase of the
Ease and hope to be able to land the per-
,etrators of the robbery
Mrs. Hornsby and her husband, who
lived at 1922 Rhode Island avenue a num-
per of years. were prominent socially dur
ng his lifetime and had host OF friends,
Is has Mrs. Hornsby now. Mr.. H0rnsby
lied about ten years ago. Col. Robert
Kennon- Evans, Z. s. A., a son-in-law,
recently received a transfer and is said
20 be with his wife in Yucatan. Mrs.
Hornsby is a daughter of the late Jere-
niah Black, who was Governor of Penn
,ylvania years ago. She is q native of
he Keystone state. She takes her loss
although she is naturally
anxious that the police should make q
success of the investigation they are
making.
Mrs. Hornsby says she is thankful that
The robbers did not take other jewelry
she had in her possession. The police
we're told that several thousand dollars
worth of diamonds were secreted in the
room besides those In the shoe cabinet