Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-09-20
JOSEPH K%0FRANEK.
Who for the asst Eight Y ears has Held
Various Positions ofTrust In Yank-
ton Turns out to be a Midnight Mar
auder of HurgIarious Practices,

Various Positions ofTrust In Xank-
ton Turns out to be a Midnight Mar
auder OF HurgIarious Practices,
We have to-day to chronicle q piece
OF news that has astonished oil to whose
knowledge itihas come because OF the
excellent reputation which the person
principally concerned has heretofore
borne and because of the developments
nj the case. Joseph Kofranek. who has
been employed as clerk in the register
of deeds office OF this county for several
months past, was caught on Saturday
night last in an attempt so tusgiarize
Jacob Max's dry goods and boot and
shoe store IN Broadway. Martin Max
and Christian Steinbach, after the.iifL.s
had been eztinguishsd in the shoe store,
stood near the front door on the inside
talking, when they heard something
movirg about in the rear of
the room. Thinking Ii was q dog they
paid no further ate alton TO it until sud
denly they heard a match explode
Three matches were lightedtssin quicF
succession and by the light of the third
Mr.. Max ret ognized Joe Kofranek.
Lamps were lighted Immediately and
sfter q search Joe was found fiat on his
back on'the floor of the dry goods de
partment, behind a counter, feignins
sleep. Mr.. Max grasped him by the
collar and escorted him out into the air,
Joseph all the while rubbing his eyes.
An officer wa sept for and Joe spen:
Saturday night.in the county Jail. Yes.
terday morning he was released, but
late in the afternoon he was asked by
John Max If he would allow him
(Johp) to look into his trunk
Joe being willing, John Max, Chris
Meth and Joe Kofranek went to Christian
Hameister's residence, on Broadway,
where Joe has been rooming. When the
party reached the house Kofranek said
that his key was at the office, and be
left the house to get it. He remained
away longer than was necessary and the
searching party proceeded to open bis
trunk, inside Of which, they found q
divers collection of underwear, collars,
cuffs, iewelry, Shoes hosiery, handker.
chleis, neck ties, perfumery..and other
things, all bearing Jacob Max's mark
and worth in cash about $500. In some
straw CT hay on the premises, they found
some groceries, among which was o cast
of extract of beef. The hunters left
everything as they found il
and started out to hunt ur
the proprietor Of the trunk
They failed to catch HIM down town an6
returned to the house and found hin
there. He opened. his trunk this tim,
but he had previously emptied it Of it
contents, and further search revealed
them hidden away in his bed and ii
other places. Joseph was again takel
to the county Jail and has since beer
therein confined. He will remain Their,
until his father arrives from Lakeport
Yankton county, and until matters ar
Strengthened up. The total value of til,
goods found is about $4,000. Jacol
Max refuses to prosecute him if th'
damage is made good. Tho outlook i
rather gloomy, as his father is a stric
Bohemian ohurahman, and will be liabi
to let the boy take the consequences o
his own rascality.
Kofranek says he. first entered Max
store on the night Of July 4th, 1886
and that he has visited the place for tb'
purpose OF taking away goods once o
} twice sirlee. He says he obtained moth