The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-10-09
A VILLAINOUS PLOT.
Partially Successful Attempt TO Destroy
the Real Estate Records Of La
Sale County.
Proceedings Of the Special Session Of the Board
Of Supervisors Called to Consider the
Subject Of Destroyed Records.
The Deed.


dastaldly attempt was made on last satqr-
day night TO destroy the real estate records OF La
Sale county as contained in the vault OF
the Office of the recorder OF deeds. The
attempt was carefully planned ingeniously and
skilfully developed, and only failed of complete
success after entailing on the county loss
which in actual money will not be less, probably,
than $4,000.
The vault was locked up as usual on Saturday
night Deputy Recorder Wilson and Chas. H..
Hook, in the employ of p W. Olmstead, were
the last to leave the Office after having put all
the books and papers in their places, and the
vault key in its usual place in the drawer. No
one was in the office after tea
Along about O'Clock Sunday morning Jacob
Gleim and another man discovered smoke issuing
from the window Of the vault on Court street.
They at once awoke Tailor Mecay and gave the
alarm to the fire department. That body re-
sponded promptly. The vaults iron shutters
were removed and the vault, densely filled with
smoke, was entered, and the work of removing
books begun. From the other end, the vault
was reached through the office via window.
TO the surprise of all, the vaults iron door was
found to be unlocked. The door, however,
would open but partially, something behind
holding it fast. stream OF water was turned
IN on the floor eXtinguishing the tlames.
When the smoke had cleared away the discoy-
cry was made of the origin of the tirc-a most
diabocal plot.
The flames were conAned to the southwest
corner of the vault, where were kept the indexes
and papers. Charcoal had been used, and also
kerosene. Four small cans, like fruit cans,
holding two quarts, were found, two OF them
containing kerosene and two empty, the bottoms
having melting OFT, letting the oil flow out over
the floor. These cans were covered with felt
CLOTH as used on nitro glyccrine cans, giving
rise to the theory current for time ON the
street that that was the substance they contain
ed, mixed with the Oil. This theory of nitro
glycerine and of the intent to blow up the build
ing by it was made the more plausible by the
hiding of what is believed to be n torpedo "A
concern" of tar rope wrapped with wire with
cane for fuse at one end about ID. inches long,
a. inches in diameter, and IA inches in circuln-
ference. What it contains is guess work, but it
g called torpedo A fuse led to it, but it was
apparently wrapped to tight to burn.
Surrounding these explosives and intlammabc
matter was a wind.row Of record books. Some
stood on end with the covers spread out that the
leaves could burn more readily, some stood with
lacks up similarly spread out, many Of which
were burned to crisp Others scorch' 4 aud dam
aged by water.
ceedings of the Board OF Supervisors below, will
be found the statement of damage done.
At what hour the deed was DONE is qucs-
ton. The county clerk, passing the building at
late hour, thought he smelled burning paper,
and examined his own Office and vault without
finding anything. The police also were similarly
affected, but found nothing up to $50 A. NJ. sun
day when they went home.
The deed was the cause OF intense excitement
on Sunday and was the universal theme of con
versaton. Aud long as access to the office was
allowed it was thronged by the curious and the
deeply interested public Recorder Arnold was
absent from town attending political meetings,
but arrived in the evening, when watchmen
were stationed inside the office, fire built and
the wet books placed around it to dry out, where
they remained all week, business being entirely
suspended.
The motive for the crime is the great mystery.
knowing ones" Messrs. "They say" have, of
course, detected the criminal and in their minds
eye already have him convicted. Perhaps some
day all the world will know the truth, the board
having employed skilled detectives; but at pres.
cnt all speculation is but speculation.
On Monday special meeting of the Board of
Supervisors was called, the official proceedings
OF which are given below