Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-28
ARItH sAm
George Hessea's Drug store
Robbed Of el7e IS last
Might.

The drug store Of George Hsssen, cor
ner OF Poplar street and Carroll avenue,
was entered BY thieves between 2 oicloek
and sunrise this nyrning. and the safe
rsbbsd Of tl60 and the cash drawer Of
Sl645. NJ. Hessen discovered his loss
about s o'clock this morning, and At once
telephoned police headquarters Of the oe-
currence. Chief Davis, Captain 0'Haver
and Detective Pryde Immediately went
out and made REORGANIZATION Of the prem
ises. From statements made the follow
ing particulars were CLEANED: Last even
ing Mr.. Hessen visited the theater and
left the establishment in charge of his
clerk, Samuel Bamberger, who closed at
the usual hour. Mr.. Bsmberger
states in positive terms that he locked the
safe and threw the combination off, and
likewise made secure the day cash drawer
which also has combination. The sew
eral doorways leading TO the store were
also placed under lock and key. Mr..
Hessen retired about o'clock, but was
called up 10 Gil prescription for colored
man at . O'Clock. A dollar bill was ten
dered for the same and in making change
Mr.. Hessen used the cash drawer, and be
is certain his daily receipts were all right
at that time. After the man had received
the medicine he inquired what II was tor,
and Mr.. Hessen responded that he SUP
posed it was for a child threatened with
spasms, after which the store
was closed and Mr.. Hessen
again retired. 1t might be well here to
note that Mr.. Hessen and family occupy
the rooms over the store. This morning,
between and 7 o'clock, William Fowlks,
the colored porter, opened the store, but
nothing unusual was noted until Mr..
Hessen came down about 8 O clock, when
he went to count his receipts Of the day
prior and found the cash drawer empty.
Thinking Mr. Bamberger had placed the
money in the safe. be inquired TO that
effect, but Mr. Bamberger replied that he
had left itin the drawer. Knowing the cash
was all right at 2 o'clock, Mr.. Hessen at
once surmised that he had been visited by
cracksmen, and his suspicion was con
frmed an instant later when he discovered
the iron drawer Of his safe behind the
prescription counter, battered and broken
open. The safe was examined and il was
found that q small wooden drawer had
been rifled of two $50 bills, one $40 gold
piece, three ten dollar bills and two five
dollar bills. Several books and some pa
pers placed in the safe on the night pre-
vious were found On adjoining shelves.
The day cash drawer in the forward part
of the store, contained sl6 45, making a
total loss of SIG 45.
Chief Davis and his associates made O
thorough examination OF both the safe
and day cash drawer, but failed to dis
cover the slightest traces ofviolence having
| kaoa ~ atkLnr unff
or drawer. except the iron drawer taken
from the safe, which had evidently been
battered open with Ratchet, and would
have made sufficient noise to have beer
heard hundred feet OF more. Mr.. HesseT
heard nothing, but says his wife though
she detected unusual sounds during thu
night. Entrance was effected by the me
dunn Of a rear door on the Carroll avenu,
side of the building. This door has
frame for four panes OF glass from midway
up Two Of the glasses were broken, ant
it was only necessary for the operator I,
reach downon the inside and draw tn
bolt which fastened the door. The mer
smashing of the glass would also max
considerable noise.
To the police the affair is somewha
mysterious, owing TO the prominent loca
ton of the store and the gas lamp whicl
was illuminated in front all night, ais
the racket that must have ensued from tn
breaking open of the iron drawer, an
the smashing Of the glass, also the tota
absence Of any trace OF violence 10 eithe
the exterior Of the safe or cash drawer
. Beyond the money mentioned nothin
else was missed. The Job was eyidentl
done by inexperienced cracksmen, 80 theo
g rize the police, as the glass in the doc
could have been removed with a knife, O
: the panes are puttied from the OUTSIDE
and after once securing the iron drawer {
the safe, an old timer would have vaci
! ted the premises and Investigated b
booty at a safer distance