More burglaries reported like the attempted burglary of Robert Hemingray's home

MOST DESPERATE

Are These Nervy and Bold

Window Hoisters.

SO ARE THEIR VICTIMS

Who Propoae a Good Plan to

Assist the Officers.

Police Working Without Sleep to

Lend the Trio Who Robbed

Several Houses Thursday

Night — Two Arrests

The blunder made by the three burglars at the Home of Robert Hemingray Thursday night at 12 o'clock, which pre­vented them in robbing this house, seems to not have discouraged them in completing the program of work mapped out for the night, and the trio was a busy set in their nefarious business the remainder of the night until morning, regardless of the eagle eyes of a half dozen or more policemen, and some of the best hauls of the season were made by the thieves.

Aa soon as the Attempt to rob the Hemingray home was reported Captain Seldomridge dispatched two of his men to look after the case and at once notified his other men of the work and to be on a sharp lookout, as the gang likely had mapped out a lot of work for the night. From that time on the officers worked hard, but it seems that the burg­lars were none the less busy, but as usual always in another part of the city from where the patrolmen were located. The officers did not stop work at the usual time in the morning for them to go home, for as day light appeared there came other reports of robberies and the entire day was occupied at work by the entire force, and late last night the dozen patrolmen were still on the hunt for the burglars, a majority of them be­ing in citizen's clothes.

As a result of the extraordinary efforts a couple good catches were made, and information discovered that will result in the capture of others if they continue their vocation in Muncie, as they are sure to be landed sooner or later, all that is necessary is the finding of certain articles on them.

It seems that after the trio left the Hemingray home on East Main street, they went east a short distance crossed over to Jackson street and went east to the home of Lee Corbly, No. 1619. The same tactics were used to gain an entrance here as at the Hemingray home, a window being hoisted in the rear of the house.

The family was not disturbed, and the house was completely ransacked. A silver watch, a ladies' cape, a pair of gold spectacles and about $2 in money was secured. Not satisfied with the haul made here the thieves went to the home of Councilman Will Meeker, where they hoisted a front window, but like at the Hemingray home made too much noise and Mr. Meeker was awakened and frightened them away.

The trio next visited the home of Henry Baker on North Plum street, and there made the best pick up of the eve­ning up to date. The same kind of an entrance was made as at the other places visited, through a front window. The house was ransacked and the family reports the loss of three watches, a pair of shoes, a ladies' wrap, and nearly $10 in money. Two other wraps were stolen but they were found near the house. The watches belonged to Mr. Baker and his son Rollin, and Joseph Settle. One of the cloaks stolen and recovered be­longed to Miss Bessie Long.

The scoundrels next went to the beau­tiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Burt H. Whiteley at Northview, and made a com­plete and undisturbed search of the house, securing as large a quantity of valuables as they could well carry away.

Mr. and Mrs. Whiteley are away from home, he being in Michigan quite sick, and Mrs. Whiteley is with him. In their absence Miss Bell Painter, Mrs. Whiteley's sister, is stopping at the home. Miss Painter has had as her guests each night some young lady friends from the city to keep her company, and on this night Misses Mayme Brotherton and Fannie Shipley were with her, but none were disturbed by the intruders who entered the house the same as at the other places, through a front window, and then opened the door to make a hasty retreat if necessary.

The thieves completely ransacked the house and it is estimated that they se­cured at least calculation $200 worth of valuables. The thieves ransacked bureau drawers and china closets, and took the most valuable articles, consisting of silverware, cut glassware and costly wearing apparel belonging to Mrs. Painter. It will be impossible to discover the entire loss until after the return of Mrs. Whiteley.

Kames Dalen, residing on Wysor street, and Amaracus Hamilton on East Jackson street, report that attempts were made to enter their homes also, but the robbers were scared away.

As result of the work of the police, Officers Ball and Turner arrested Stemmit Jervis and George Purcell who who bear suspicious reputations. A pair of spectacles were found in the pockets of Jer­vis and they were later identified as the ones stolen from the home of Mr. Corbley. The man claimed that he had purchased the glasses from an unknown person but three different times in police court he attempted to make way with the glasses. The officers would take them away from him, and give the man an opportunity to again get hold of them, and he went after the bait with wide open mouth each time. His place of residence was searched as was the home of Purcell but no stolen goods could be found. In the course of the examination of Jervis he confessed to having a watch that fits the description of the one stolen from the South Walnut street liveryman recently when he was held up, and told the officers that it was at his home, but it could not be found. At another house searched a couple of slung shots, such as are used by highwaymen, were found, and the man to whom they belonged is being searched for, with two others who know a great deal about the recent robberies.

Superintendent Baldwin and his men are determined to atop the depredations if they have to jail every suspicious character in the city, and the officers will work night and day in citizens clothes to accomplish their purpose if necessary.

A WAY TO STOP IT.

The news of the robberies spread rapidly yesterday morning and was soon nearly the sole topic of conversation, and people who own homes that have been victimized, or those most likely to be attacked were indignant and willing to assist in any extreme to stop the work.

One well known business man in con­versation with a reporter suggested that a mass meeting of business men should be called, and that a good plan to render the police needed assistance would be for each to agree to pay one or two dol­lars per week into a fund and use the money in employing men to watch houses. He said: "There are a hun­dred men in Muncie, who are restless each night, fearful that their homes will be attacked, and not alone only from fear of losing a quantity of valuables, but the thieves might be discovered, and in the altercation that would result murder might occur. We could employ a dozen or twenty men, for a nominal sum each night, and each man could watch the houses in a certain block, and if the robbers continue to work, they are sure to run into some of these concealed de­tectives and get shot down. If it resulted in stopping the burglaries the purpose would be accomplished."

The idea seems to be a good one, and the police fore [sic] force would gladly assist in the work.

MAY BELONG HERE.

Word has been received from Crawfordsville that they had two men in jail there, having in their possession a satchel full of silver knives and forks. They gave their names as Chas. Morris and Arthur Williams. They are about 24 years old and each weighs about 160 pounds. Morris is smooth faced Wil­liams has a black moustache. Morris is said to be a partner of Tommy Keef, the safe blower. If you have lost any silver ware speak up.