Year: 1878

AN EIGHTH AVENUE JEwELRY STORE AT THE


MERCY OF THIEvEs-THE SHOW WINDOW FIRST


CUT WITH DIAMOND AND THEN SMASHED


wITE A PAVING STONE.


One OF the boldest and most audscious robberies
ever committed in this city perpetrated on
Wednesday upon Mr.. A. Bernhard. matchmaker and
jeweller at No 34 Eighth avenue. between Fiftyffth
and Fifty sixth streets Indeed distinct robberies
we're committed-one in the forenoon and another In
the evening Of the day The police have kept the
matter quiet in the hope OF capturing the thieves by
finding and tracing some Of the stolen property when
they should attempt to dispose ofit yet. however
no arrests have been made Mr. Bernhard's store has
large show window. the front of which ia Of plate
glass with narrow sides of somewhat thinner kind.
About noon on Wednesday. he the sidewalk
in front of his store when he noticed that hole hsd
been cut with diamond in the window at the lower
portion OF the narrow side pane furthest from the
door. The piece had been replaced in the orfce so
that the fracture would not be noticed unless
looked sharply at it, The window was perfectly
sound at eight O'Clock that morning and at di-
vning that he had been robbed. Mr.. Bernhard made
hasty examination Of his stock and found that a
watch and number Of gold, amethyst and pearl
rings to the value OF $500 had been removed. He
ported the matter at the Forty street police
station and Sergeant Little despatched several detec
tives to the scene Nothing In the nature of q clew
was found The officers departed ~ wise as they
came. while Mr.. Bernhard placed . board inside his
window to stop the hole and went with his business


THE OTHER ROBBERY.


About twenty minutes after seven O'Clock the same
evening, while he in the rear Of his store, he
heard dreadful crash in front. Running out he saw
that the large plate glass front Of the window four
I'VE feet square, shattered into fragments and he
caught flying glimpse of . man running away with
tray full of jewelry. without knowing exactly
what had happened, Mr. Bernhard attempted to start
in pursuit but lost nearly . minute In getting his
front door open, the robber having in way OBJ
structed it. The jewellers assistant, youth who
worked at bench placed on the side Of the store op
posite the show window and counter. heard the
crash Of the breaking glass and rushed into the street
simultaneously with his employer. These raised
cry and started in pursuit Of the thief. An
officer on tho beat also Joined in the chase. The
thief made his way up Eighth avenue to the corner
to Broadway down that thoroughfare to Fifty fifth
street and eastward again to Seventh At this
Mr. Bernhard fearing to leave his store unprotected
had turned back after running only short distance.
In the chase the ocer fred shot at the fugitive, but
the latter paid no attention to except to increase his
speed.


An immense crowd surrounded the scene Of the rob
berry in few minutes The greatest excitement pre-
vailed, and dozen different stories were placed in
circulation. An examination Of the premises showed
that the heavy glass windows had been shattered by
that not only passed through the window but trav
ersed an intervening space OF 1--WE feet and passed
through the thin glass inner doors like bullet The
stone found lying the floor behind the counter.


THE PLUMBER.


Seven gold hunting case watches and one gold open
face watch had been carried OF The audacity Of the
robbery astonished everybody the thoroughfare
which II was committed Is usually crowded at that
hour Of the evening. gentleman doing business on
the opposite side OF the street says that he
man throw the stone while another clutched the tray
through the aperture made by it. Mr.. Bernhards
sistant, whose bench Is not than six feet from
the window. says that he looked up instantly hear
ing the crash and that the fellows hands were
then cluching the tray. he had himself thrown
the stone from distance sufficient to give ii the
necessary momentum he could not have reached the
window so quickly. The young man. who had good
view OF him. states that the thief youth. appar
emily. of nineteen. slim, with long neck and thin.
clean shaven face. and dressed in suit Of light gray
tweed. The crash of the broken glass was No loud
that the people the block above supposed that
explosion had occurred Inspector Thorne visited the
scene Of the robbery yesterday morning and made
careful examination of the premises. What it viii
suit in remains 10 be Meanwhile the thieves
are free and Mr. Bernhard has to pay bill Of Sos for
repars to his window.