BURGLAR’S FRIGHT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 154, 15 June 1911, Page 11

BURGLAR’S FRIGHT.

Paris, May 10. If terror is communicable, a burglar who broke into a house at Corbeil is particularly subject to it. He had actually entered a house at night, seized the owner,, an old lady of 85, by the arms and throat, and was about to throttle her, when he was frightened out of his wits by the terrified look of an- 1 other woman in the same room.. The house is owned and inhabited by a Madame Delagrange, the widow of an inspector of the waterworks. She enjoys a pension, and has the reputation of possessing some means. Her husband died a few years ago, and before his death the house was broken into and a"* sum of several thousand francs was stolen. He did not care to hare an inquiry, for fear jof tempting: . other burglars by the report that valuable things were kept in the house. After his death, however, the son-in-law of Madame Delagrange persuaded her to confide her money, and securities to a bank to avoid further visits from robbers. But nobody knew, that she had taken this step. The time will come, perhaps, when people will have to circulate notices and publish advertisements in the newspapers to the effect that no—thing to tempt burglars is kept in the house. Madame Delagrange engaged woman, aged 60 years, as a servant a little more than a year ago, and as her eyesight and hearing were failing she made the servant sleep in an iron, bedstead in the same room as herself. The two < .women yvere in a profound sleep when Madame Delagrange suddenly felt the grip of a hand round her throat. A strong man. had seized . her with one hand, and was holding her wrists with the other. She had just time to give one piercing scream. It was so loud that her servant, who had remained in a deep sleep, was startled and sat up in bed. She was so paralysed with fear that she lay perfectly motionless, staring at the burglar and unable to utter a word. He, in turn, had not known, of the presence of this second - occur* pant of the room. The sight of her so terrified him that he suddenly made a bound out of the* room and disappeared. The two women were in. mortal terror for hours, not daring to move or event call for help until daylight came. Then, one of them opened a window and called the neighbours. The burglar had left a thick cord and' a towel at the foot of the bed, with which he probably intended to gag l and strangle the aged woman. The intruder seems to have studied the house well, or at least to have been, thoroughly acquainted ■ with it. Only a dim night lamp was burning in the room, and the two women can hardly give a clear description of the man’s appearance. Both are now fully recovered, and Madame Delagrange, in spite of her 85 years, does not seem to be the worse for the fright. ' '