Year: 1879

MYSTERIOUS MIDNIGHT RAIDS THAT PUZZLED


THE DwELLERs IN SUBURBAN VILLAGE
DISCOVERY AND FLIGHT OF THE EVIL poERs-


Mount Kisco is quiet. sleepy. well-to-do village
on the Harlem Railroad much frequented in sum-
msr by class of boarders who like to enjoy the
pleasures of rural life ut moderate expense and with
out drifting far from their sheet anchor in New
York. Of all places under the sun it is the least
eventful, and the repose of its every day life
would be unbroken.. for the shrill whistle
of the passing trains bound to and from the great
metropolis. In such community q small disturb
ance creates ripple Of excitement that seems to de-
veiop with time rather than get lost. would be
the case in great city. During the present
things went smoothly enough with the villagers un
til Corbin sent forth his famous decree against the
Hebrew race, and the children Of Israel were
more dispersed from their chosen resting place.
Fleeing from Manhattan Beach some of tho pro-
scribed race found refuge and abiding place at
Mount Kisco. Their arrival. however, though no
doubt pleasing to the hotel keepers. viewed
with some alarm by the Gentle population in
general. some of whose members had studied the
Book of Esther during the long winter evenings
and were convinced that time had made change
in the Israeito heart expounded in the Holy Book.
It was therefore generally held by the gossips
matter beyond question or doubt that the
rivals with hearts filled with anger. and that
they would seek to avenge the insult offered to
their at Manhattan on the quiet and
defenceless Gentiles Of Mount Kisco. These
dark forebodings were laughed at by the stouter
hearts of the community. but serious midnight
demonstrations began to attract attention and create
alarm. Franks were played on the villagers under
cover Of the night. No trace could be found Of the
perpetrators AS the carryings were Of . COM
paratvely harmless nature little attention paid
nv ma
the indifference OF the people would check the ui-
sance without any necessity arising to invoke the
rigors Of the law. Besides. like all suburban re-
sorts Mount Kisco had reputation to preserve. and
was loath to have it forth to the world that the
community held In its midst band Of evil spirits


WHILE THE sLRPT.


This liberation had however, directly contrary
time the disturbers of the midnight peace resolved
grand coup which should startie the villagers
and tho village magnates from their happy repose.
Sallying out between the hours of midnight and
three in the morning, when all the respectable
pie of the region were fast locked in the arms of
Morpheus the band OF evl-doers appeared on Maple
avenue which IL the aristocratic quarter of Mount
Kisco, and beginning at the end of that avenue.
removed the garden gard gates OF every . nesting 1
removing them from their posts they carried them
off and distributed them in the gardens and fields
trace could they find OF their missing property.
Not content with this exploit they marched toward
be laid down they cast the stones into the roadway.
breaking them in several instances and doing other
damage. Had they stopped then perhaps
but the midnight marauders had determined
to SO mix things up in the village
the morning. With this dire intent they entered
the business street. and set themselves to work to
alter the signs the various establishments. The
dentists sign boarI. which promised relief from
the worst Of human woes. was placed over the
doughty blacksmith shop, and the sign OF the man
Of LII uscle was placed where village madcns
wont seek for gay ribbons to bedeck their fresh
faces. The confectioner was surprised to find
hD0< ax,A abe
that he was skiful in the mending OF wagons.
What other susprises in store for the in
lecture, for at this moment the steps Of a private
watchman heard and the disturbers OF the
village quiet beat hasty retreat. not however.
before the watchfu eye of the private guardian had
taken note of their appearance.


INDIGNATION OF THE POPULATION.


Next morning Mount Kisco excited, alarmed
and indignant. The authorities were appealed to
and an investigation was ordered, which developed
suspicion TO the effect that the offenders were two
summer boarders from New York residing at the
Hy att House, building Jackson Hill, which once
had been establishment of learning but gradually
taken in.


Tho Indignation of the population increased when
it became known that the offenders were strangers.
who had had the bad taste to violate the laws OF hos
pitality, and the President OF the village himself
worthy New Yorker. ordered the Chief OF Police to
further investigate the matter. The two suspected
boarders were Frank Hopkins and Manfred Giraud.
but these young men, when charged with the COM
mission OF the "outrages." stoutly denied the truth
of the charge alleging that the watchman must have
been mistaken as to their identity In this they
BY sas sSas Ss 0y ns hy
night in question, and that the doors
OF the house had been securely locked. In view OF
the contradictory testimony the President OF the
village. Mr.. o. Miller. resolved to press the
charge against them; but. as warning to others
that such pranks could not be safely played. no
ordered number of posters to be printed and set
up offering reward Of $50 for the apprehension of
the offenders.


Had the young men been satisfied with scoring


first victory it il probable that the affair would have
ended here, but instead of settling down to the re-
spectacle enjoyment of rural happiness they re-
solved 70 continue. their riotous course at the ex
pense oil their nciglibors.


HOW THEY WE'RE DISCOVERED.


Unfortunately tor them, on the night OF their
famous raid on the village boarder named Edward
Il. Pray. living on the same floor, had noticed their
return. but, hoping they would profit by thcr cx-
periencc kept his knowledge to himself Having an
invalid wife, Mr Pray was considerably troubled by
certain disorderly proceedings in the rooms OF tho
young men. which might justly be called midnight
reves, and some rernonstrances brought down on
him and his family tho wrath OF the frsky pair On
Tuesday night last this eliminated in an occur
renee which might have had serious consequences
Mr.. Pray is accompanied by his sister. and on the
night in question the young men are stated to have
attached bottle TO this lady 3 door and arranged
could make it rattle against the woodwork. This
clever invention worked like charm, and In the
middle OF the night tho lady suddenly aroused
by what seemed to her an attempt to break into her
room. Her first thought was naturally OF burglars
aud frightened out OF her wits she rose and rushed
to hold the door. III the meanwhile the
invalid wife woke up her husband and called
his attention to the presence OF one at
his sisters door. Going out into the passage way
he discovered tho bottle and the string. Az soon
the lady whom this joke had been perpetrated
heard her brothers voice she opened the door. and
rushing frightened into her room tell
in ny stcrcs IRON the fright. Mr.. Pray ut once gave
information 20 the authorities to his wlcdgo OF
the former misdceds OF the pair. aud the Chief OF
Police was ordered to arrest them.


THIN ESCAPE.


Mr.. Hopkins, Sr., who is trustee in Dr. Hep
WOrth'e cnnrcn aud director OF the Murray Hill
Bank, learning what was In store for his son, II IN
alleged, took measures to aid him and his compan-
ions escape from the clutches or the law A horse
ana wagon were 1t is stated. procured, and the two
young driven to tho station ut katonah,
where they procured tickets Tor Brewster. and thence
were conveyed to Putnam county; where friends Of
the family reside. Warrants for their arrest. how
ever, were procured. and ~ the Chief OF Police
put himself their track 10 il said to
hnra Lnnn lennnd a1lui.ahia hu thair fr,nnlis