A RICH WIDOW’S BURGLAR GUEST.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3790, 30 May 1885, Page 3

A RICH WIDOW’S BURGLAR GUEST.

It has leaked oat that a noted New York burglar, who stopped in Beading on March 10, but who left there next morning, was the party who blew open the safe in the mansion of Mrs Emmeline App, a rich widow living in South Whitehall township, Lehigh County, the night before. The stranger had cvidently been employed to do the job, as the safe was supposed to contain £2OOO in cash and other valuables. Mrs App bad sold some real estate and received cash payment, a circumstance that soon became known. The stranger was a tall angular man, and wore a wig of long brown, hair and an ulster, He rang the bell of the App mansion on the evening of the 10th, and was shown into the parlor. When Mrs App appeared he said his name was Lawrence, and that ho desired to see Mr App. Ho appeared greatly surprised and deeply mortified when told that Mr App bad died four yeara ago, The gtranger then related certain facts of how he and Mr App had been close friends in the oil regions some years ago ; how he had purchased an oil well for £6OOO from Mr App, who had paid £2OOO for it, and a number of other incidents which Mm App had heard from her deceased busband, but had no means of knowing whether the stranger was the correct

party. He then went on to say farther that five years ago in the oil regions they had promised eaoh other that when either party was near the other’s home they would bunt up their residence and make a visit ; that be had been to Nc ▼ York on a business trip and was ju*t. going West, and that ho stopped over to see his old friend App, but was sorry be was dead. He shed a few tears, and the widow also wept. She believed the man’s story because the incidents he related were facts. The servants were ordered to prepared a bountiful supper, and as there was no more trains to pass the station that night, he was invited to remain as their guest until morning, which invitation he accepted. After supper he entertained the widow with many interesting stories. He was subsequently shown to an upper bed-chamber in which was a large iron safe which usually contained the cash and valuables of the family. The safe was locked. Shortly after midnight the sleeping inmates were awakened. The building was shaken as if a powder explosion had taken place near by. No examination of the premises was made, however, and in a short time the widow and the servants were asleep ■gain, they having thought that the noise might have been earned by the wind. Next morning a servant went to eall the stranger for breakfast, bat there was no response. After waiting an hour another effort was made, and then the chamber door was found to be open. The safe bad been blown open, and the floor was covered with private papers taken from the drawers, which had been ransacked from top to bottom. The stranger had mysteriously disappeared, evidently in deep disgust, because be had learned to his sorrow that the £2OOO supposed to be in the safe had been taken to Allentown the day before and deposited in the bank. The robber obtained but a few dollars for hia trouble. He had evidently been given the necessary “ points" of the deceased Mr App by someone who knew all about him.