Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-11-30
QUICK WORK.
Capture of the M0ntfort Burglars by Grant County
officials within Thirty six Hours after
the RAhhery.

~ A1C NNl'ADAA3 ~ - ~ ~ NCt1k
birds, whose acquaintance with drill
and blasting fuse was much more extern
siYe than their knowledge of the use of
tools which they could earn IN honest
living. Wednesday night a safe IN a
lumber office al Dodgeville was blown
open but with barren results as it was
guiltless of funds. The officers of Iowa
county got on the track of the supposed
thieves and followed them up towards
Montfort, one of the officers coming on
to that town, but apparently did not get
sight of his game. The game was
sharper than the official and while he
was sleeping the sleep of the just they
proceeded to blow open the safe in the
postoffice and decamp with the proceeds.
The entrance was effected BY burst
ing open the rear door of the store after
which they settled to business in quiet
ude and comfort. A hole was drilled
into the door Of the safe just below the
lock and powder enough inserted 50 that
when the explosion took place the door
was not only blown open but the safe
was d;slodged and one of its wheels
broke down through the floor. The
chimney near by was also blown out
some two inches. Strange as it may
seem the noise aroused no one, although
several persons were sleeping near BY.
Two or three heard the sound but were
not thoroughly awakened and dropped
oft sleep again.
The thieves then had things all their
own way. Messrs. Coats & Wall have
u jewelry store in the same building,
with the p~ostoffice and the safe was
used i'll common by both parties. From
after appearances it seemed that the
burglars gathered what came easiest TO
hand, including postage stamps, watches
jewelry and revolyers, and decamped,
shaking the dust of the town off their
feet as rapidly as possible. AS near as
could be judged the raid was made
about TIRES O'Clock in the morning and
the loss amounted to something over
five hundred dollars about evenly divi-
ded between the occupants of the store.
The news of the robbery was brought
to this city Friday moor by Mr.. John
Thomas, the postmaster at Montfort.
There was but a bare and imperfect
description of the suspected parties to
60 on and a rumor that they had been
seen about four o'clock in the morning
by a young man who was mp nursing a
sore hand, coming in the direction of
Animation.
The sheriff and his deputies at once
took the case up and with this meagre
clew started out on what appeared to be
rather hopeless case. During the after
noon a rumor was prevalent that a sus-
picious character had been seer in the
city answering to the description of the
smaller of the two burglars. In the
evening 1t was said that he had forced
the door of Mr.. j. @. Bartlett's store
while the latter was away at supper.
These rumors caused 9 cold chill to ca
wort up and down the spinal columns Of
the business men of the city and a ''who
neXt?'' expression Of startling intensity
to crop into their faces. As the night
wore o1s many anxious consultations
were noticed with the city police force
and numerous volunteers were added to
the list Of night watchmen. So pre-
yalent became the fever of vigilance that
it is asserted by those of unimpeachable
v~cracity that one hotel man, of stature
imposing enough to frighten away a
whole army of thieves, took dog and
lantern and dutifully made the rounds
until satisfied either that the thieves had
vanished or that home was a better place
to be in. The night however passed
without incident, which is rather strange
when it is remembered how a certain
young gentleman was on guard with a
choice assortment of fire arms with
which it was feared he was not very
well acquainted. But this may be merely
rumor. Nothing was discovered and
with the morning light people breathed
easier.
Ia the meantime deputy Ora Richards
who had taken John Thomas and started
on nm exploring expedition over towards
Animation, finding game scarce in that
direction dropped his partner at Sitter
and swung around TO the northward,
thinking possibly the bold craftsmen
might have doubled on their tracks and
madefor cooler climates.
Picking up Sam. Turner on the way,
Richards struck down towards the Green
river, and luckily got traces Of his
quarry At a house where they had stop
ped the night before, quite late, asking
for lodging. Another bit of scent was
picked up later ut a second place, where
they had stopped for something to eat.
From here all signs were lost until
Woodman was reached. Driving into
that village, Richards was informed that
two parties answering the description
had been in there a short time before
and bought some beer, in fact they were
even then to be discerned about half a
mile away, making for the river bottom.
The officer asked if any one had a shot
gun, and one being handed out well
loaded with buckshot, he jumped into
the buggy and started for the rapidly
disappearing figures. At that time they
were about one hundred or one hundred
and fifty yards from the woods, where
it was evident they were going to lay
low for = chance to get out Of the u
try. Apparently the fellows did not
hear or did not heed the approach of the
team. and the first intimation they had
of their danger was \ sharp command
70 Halt, and throw up your hands.'
A glance owe their shoulder disclosed
the gaping mouths of 4 well-aimed gun,
which mouths mU-' to the surprised
thieves, have hat .ue appearance Of
young eaverEs. There was no use, any
hesitancy was liable to bring on a sud
den attack Of the chills in that malaria