The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-06-29
THIEVES BROKE INTO
I HOUSES YESTERDAY


making haul at each was the rec
ord OF band of thieves who operat-
ed yesterday afternoon while the oc-
cupants Of the houses entered were
away from home.
Inc houses entered were those of
D. B. Dickson, B H. Carter A.
Smith, G. W. Mershon, J. F. Sloan
and Mrs. ]. w. Cannon, at the lat
ter place the effects of Mrs. Cannon
and Mr.. Slaughter, whose family oc
cuples a part of the Cannon, resi-
dence, were plundered.
The Dickson residence was entered
through the rear door, the thief
tearing hole in the screen thus
gaining entrance to the house. The
dresser drawers, trunks, etc, were
opened and their contents strewn
over the floor. The articles taken
were six watches and a new pair Of
gold eye glasses. One of the watches
was that given Mrs. Dickson by her
husband at the time of their mar
riage and therefore greatly valued
by her; the remainder were valuable
but not so highly priced A neignbor
saw negro try to enter the front
yard of the Dickson home, later go
ing in the rear gate, but not sus
pecting anything, of course, did not
give an alarm
A negro went to Mr.. E. Fl. Youngs'
residence and mounted the front
steps, and was confronted by Mr.
Youngs who asked him what he
wanted. He asked for change for a
bill, but Mr.. Youngs ordered him off
the place. The negro came out of
Mr. B. H. Carriers yard just before
going into Mr.. Young's home and as
the Carter family reported their
home entered, it is quite likely that
the negro was going into the 1oungs'
home for change without contem-
plating the necessity of asking 70,
| it. Mr.. Youngs was seated behind
a fern and was not seen by the ne
gro until he was in the act Of enter
ing the front door
The Carter family reported that
S1.55 was stolen from them and also
an alligator card case. They were
away from home at the time.
Two houses on South Florida ave-
nue. were entered-the home of Mr..
Mershon and Mr.. Smith. At the
Mershon home nothing was reported
missing except pistol, but at
Smiths revolver and $3.50 in
money was secured.
The home of Mrs. Cannon was en-
tered and ransacked from top to bot
tom. Some money was secured from
Mrs. Cannon and also a gold watch
which was highly valued on account
of having been her late husbands.
From the second floor the thief evil
IDENTIFY went through the lower
rooms, occupied by the Slaughter
family, stealing suit of clothes anC
some money, the full amount from
both families being about S750'
The thief apparently had decided tt
take a suit case belonging to Mr.
Slaughter and later changed hi
mind. as Mr.. Cannon's watch was
found in the suitcase, which indicat
ed that after putting the articles il
| the grip he had taken them ou
again and forgot the watch. The de
light of the family on finding tn
treasured time piece can better b.
imagined than expressed.
The home of Mr.. j. F, Sloan, a
the corner of Missouri avenue ant
Lemon street, was entered about
o'clock, but, unknown to the thief
Mrs. Sloan was sitting on the from
porch. She heard the lid to he
trunk fall, and went into her room
just in time to get a glimpse of
negro running out of the house. II
had gotten too great a start to D
caught, but a negro answering hi
description was identified by her to
day and is now in jail.
The thieving is thought to be tn