Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-12-13
Tricky BURGLARS
Quick OF Wit and Full OF Resource
In Time OF Danger.
DARING IN EvADING CAPTURE,

breakers, When Detected In the Act
Of Robbery, TO Battle Their Pursuers
and Escape the Clutches OF the Law.
The wise burglar considers not only
how he may enter. hut also how he
may escape lie has the whole thing
planned out before emharking on his
venture and nothing is lett TO chance.
When he Is at work in n room he
usually locks the door on the inside. or
IL there is no lock he simply props a
chair with It's back hard under the
door handle. thus making II quite i'm
possible for any one 10 come in upon
him Unexpectedly
Sometimes his ordinary precautions
fail. and he is driven TO take others on
the spur OF the moment. These are Of
ten OF the most extraordinary charac-
ter and may end In doing serious dam.
age 10 life and property
An instance In point occurred not
long ago ut Hopwood. near Redditch.
A bridesmaids wife was alone In the
house nj night when she was aroused
by a crcaking sound Opening her
eyes, she saw rough looking man in
the room. Evidently he knew his way
about. for he tiptocd TO a chest Of
drawers aud took ont small cash box
which held sum OF about SIS With
great presence OF mind the lady re
Trained from screaming She waited
until the man was out 81 the room.
then sprang up and hastily put on n
dressing gown
Then she ran out. but on gaining the
top of the stairs was met 10y a blaze
OF flame The thief who had evident
ly heard her get out OF bed. had snatch
ed up Il pile OF newspapers IN the pas
sage below and. heapng them on the
stairs. set fire 10 them
II was impossible TO pass the barrier
OF fire. and though fortunately help
came In time to put the danes ont the
burglar got clean away
Even more cunning WAS the ruse OF
a thief who raidcd house on Woburn
street. London The tenant hearing
noise outside his bedroom door. jump
ed up ard dis covered that his watch
and chain were missing without wait
ing to put on slippers. he bolted down.
stairs and was just In time 10 see the
chief rush out of the front door. Hex
gave chase. The thief glanced around.
saw that his pursucr was barefooted
and. taking bottle from his pocket.
dung 1t forcibly down upon the pave
ment IN front OF the other.
The householder naturally pulled UP
short. just in time TO save his feet,
while the burglar turning sharply
down side alley. disappeared from
view.
The latter case calls 10 mind one
which happened in Davenport or. rath.
er, In Stoke. which Is the residential
suburb OF that town. A naval officer
was aroused about 3 a. IN. on winter
morning by hearing n slight clatter
downstairs. He picked up sword
and went down and located the sound
as having come from the dining room.
There was good deal OF silver
there, and he nj once made up his
mind that burglars We're after it. lie
tried the door. but found il fastened
from the inside. SO went out of the
front door and rushed around to the
window.
But the thieves had foreseen this
maneuver As he reached II one OF
them flung n handful OF pepper into his
face. and rs he reeled back. choked
and half blinded. they both jumped out
and took TO their heels.
One of the smartest tricks ever play
ed by burglar was In a house In the
suburbs of Worcester The man broke
in at night and. after packing up some
silver below. ventured upstairs TO see
what he could find The master OF the
house spotted him and called his son.
They located Mr. Sykes In first
floor front room. His shadow was
plainly visible on the blind. outlined
apparently by q candle or lantern.
The father kept watch outside in the
front. while the son went for a police
man. When he returned with the of
iiccr the shadow was still plainly visi-
bile. But when they went up and en-
tered the room. behold there was moth.
Ing but an efligy made with pillows
and suit OF clothes,
The intruder. seeing that he had been
discovered. had rapidly constructed
this TO pcrsonate himself and had then
cleared on by means Of rope hanging
from u back bedroom window Pear
sons Weekly.
Grattan's Parliament.