Date: Fri 02-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Laslo-Briscoe-crime-fiction

Full Text:

From The Case Files Of Laslo Briscoe

By Andrea Zimmermann

Eunice Laverty professes many ideas her Bagelman customers might tuck away and

carry out with their morning coffee. The less sublime theories, however, are

often left behind on the counter to vanish irretrievably along with the

samples of blueberry scone. Eunice's favorite saying is "No man -- or woman or

dog -- should tackle anything of importance without first being warmed by good

food." Although Eunice is usually ahead of her time, Laslo Briscoe deduced

this more than 80 years ago when he found robbery should never be attempted on

an empty stomach.

No. 513 -- The Case Of The Hungry Burglars

Even burglars will have their cake. And the midnight invaders of Monday past,

who crept about the homes of respected citizens proved a hungry lot. Perhaps

blinded by the pains in their stomachs, they left untouched solid silver

spoons in plain view and absconded with four eggs, a can of baked beans, a

bottle of wine, cakes, and coffee.

But it is not food, alone, that offers clues to the size and mental capacity

of the burglars who tore through town on a ransacking spree December 11, 1911.

Of the two (it is assumed there was a pair), at least one was quite short. To

secure entrance through a pantry window of the Newtown Street house of Judge

of Probate William J. Beecher, the burglars needed to erect a ladder of sorts

-- they moved a barrel to the side of the house and placed a box on top of it,

leaving only 18 inches to the window sill.

Once inside, the burglars entered Judge Beecher's office, opened the safe and

scattered his papers about. The judge's trousers were in the upper hallway and

from them was extracted loose money that totalled $1.66. From the pantry the

intruders took food, 50 cents, about $1.25 worth of postage stamps, a silver

butter knife, and a dozen silver plated spoons marked "M.K.B."

It was also through the pantry they entered Former Selectman William Hubbell's

home. Thence they proceeded up to the room where Hubbell slept. They removed

his trousers from the chair and took three $1 bills, leaving what change there

was.

As if not having had their fill of food and mischief, the pair visited the

property of Cornelius B. Taylor. It is a wise man who keeps a dog as

protectorate of his home, as Taylor found the next morning. His lively and

energetic dog made such a racket the burglars hastened to depart without

entering the house.

From these clues I can deduce:

The men were inexperienced -- they did not take the most valuable items that

fell under their glances, and they left a trail by way of the barrel and box

under the window.

Little planning went into their burglaries, for the burglars would be mindful

Taylor had a dog to sound the alarm.

They had little fear because they stole from rooms where armed men slept.

Their wants are few and they are easily satisfied because at the second house

they left loose change in the trousers.

They are not tidy, having strewn the papers and trousers about.

They are transients; no local resident would add to his sack four eggs that

could easily be had from a hen house, and risk their breaking open as an

escape was effected.

I believe we are looking for two hoboes -- one short and stout and both with

an appetite to satisfy. The police in Danbury, Bridgeport, New Haven and

Hartford have been given my description along with the list of items stolen.

No. 623 -- The Case Of The

Well-Heeled Tramps

I was the first to arrive at W.A. Honan's store in Hawleyville the morning of

May 1, 1914, after he discovered the second robbery perpetrated in a month. I

had no difficulty entering, as the burglars had broken in the woodwork about

the door and ripped out the lock. The goods on the shelves had been mussed up.

Almost the entire shoe stock was spread about on the floor, and I discovered

Honan standing in its midst. Although never one to be jovial, Honan was of

particularly ill-temper that dawn.

He told me four pairs of shoes were missing, as were two boxes of cigarettes

of 50 each, three boxes of cigars, and three gray sweaters. I suspected the

robbery to be the work of tramps, the likes of whom are known to make their

winter headquarters nearby where half a dozen old passenger cars stand on the

siding north of the store. I came upon a full box of cigarette packages on the

track just west of the station. Upon my recommendation, Honan has taken up the

matter with the state police.

No. 641 -- The Case Of The

Slow Slavonian

What possessed the former employee of M.F. Kahle to linger in the woods for

two days after robbing the residence is, perhaps, the only mystery in this

case left for me to solve. But Slavonian cunning is not easily understood and

it is satisfying enough to have escorted one more criminal under lock and key.

The man was paid off on May 16, 1914, but repaired to the woods until the next

day when he could take advantage of the absence of the Kahle family. He

ransacked the South Center home, taking four suits of clothes, two overcoats,

shoes, Mrs Kahle's bracelet, Mr Kahle's watch and chain, and a valise. He

retreated to the woods nearby where he spent two more nights, entering the

home again to secure what eatables he needed. Tuesday morning he boarded the 7

o'clock train to Bridgeport with the intent of making his escape to

Wilkesbarre, Pa., where his sister lives.

But Deputy Sheriff Hayes and I were waiting and handcuffed him just as he

stepped on the New York train. Not wanting to disappoint an avid traveler, we

secured for him a no-return ticket to the jail in Bridgeport.