BURGLARS AS GUESTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81904, 17 December 1906, Page 4

BURGLARS AS GUESTS.

New York, November 2. Four burglars with a sense of humor secured a large amount of jewellery, gems, and silverware under extraordinary Ifircumstances at TJrenton, New Jersey, last night. Miss Etta Carson, the daughter of a merchant, gave a Hallowe'en masquerade party, at which prizes were offered for the most original costumes. When the drawing-room was well filled with guests in fantastic attire, one of the windows was suddenly opened, and four masked men, attired like Western brigands, climbed through one after the other. The brigands carried dark lanterns, [revolvers and kits of burglars' tools, and two of them had bags swung over their shoulders. The guests shrieked wit* merriment, and the hostess shook hands with the brigands, saying "I suppose you want all our jewellery!" "Yes, please," said one of the men gruffly. Thereupon Miss Carson took off a diamond brooch and three rings and dropped them into one of the bags. The other guests followed her example. Five gold watches were contributed by the men, and jewels to the value of £IOOO by the women. The "bandits" then cleared the supper rooms of silver, and ransacked the other rooms, making believe to force open drawers and cabinets. After completing their tour of the house they lelurned to the drawing room with their booty and left byway of the window.

The guests awaited their return through the front door, curious to learn the idc: tity i.f (he clever maskers. Ilaif a:, ii.,;.- parsed and then the hostess ei'll-.i lor tte police. The burgl..; «ere real burglars, and the police "iiave no clue."