Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-04
BURGLARS.

Monday night safe crackers seem to
have turned ont in full force, as the office
Of the Royal Spice Mills and E, H. Hills &,
Sons, would indicate. The proprietors of
the former, much TO their surprise, on en-
tering their establishment yesterday morn
ing, found the door of the safe lying on a
few boxes of tea, while the contents of the
safe had been removed. Looking around
the building, it was observed that the bur
| glars had attempted an entrance in the
back door, but being unable to accomplish
it, went to the north window. which also
refused them. Applying the crowbar to
! the south window it was raised, breaking
! some heaving spike nails. The attack
on the safe looked very much like the more
modern improved method, according to
| decision of detectives who examined il.
! The tea boxes used for catching the door
OF the safe had .been carried there from
near the center of the ware room. The
/ contents Of the safe consisted of over 800
in money and about 5000 of notes. Every
thing OF value had been taken.
The bookkeeper OF the firm left the Office
at SIS and put the blinds up, leaving the
gas burning At 9:l5 Mr. Farnum,
member OF the firm, passed the mills and
observed that the blinds of the Office
were downs and light extinguished. He
also observed two men walking south past
the front of the establishment as he over
took them coming from the north. He
passed them short distance south of the
mills, when they stopped a moment and
turned north. They were suspicious look
ing characters and he observed that they
walked short distance north of the build
ing and were joined by third and the two
stopped. 1t is his opinion that the ore do
ing the drilling WAS al work when he pass
ed and short time after the safe was
blown open. No one in the neighborhood
reports having heard the explosion
The work on the safe of L. II. Hill &
Sons is said to correspond with that at the
spice mills. and the experts who have ex-
amined both think il evident the work on
both was done by the same people" At
the second place some bags OF potatoes
were placed in such a way - TO catch the
door. The contents of the safe amounted
10 Sll0 in money and about twice that
amount in checks.
Parties living near by state that they
heard an explosion between and O'Clock
in the n rning, and it is thought the rob
berry occ FRED about that time
The tailoring establishment OF Green.
on North Main. was entered, ii
is thought between and > |
o'clock yesterday morning. Two suits
were taken and its said belonged to
a lad who is said to be a safe cracker from
away back. Some suggested that he |
wanted money to get out Of town and |
good suit to wear when he next pitched /
his tent
The residence of Mrs. DIR. johnson was
broken into Monday night and gold /
watch and other valusbles taken
When the news had been learned yester- |
day morning that some OF the crooks were \
taken in by the police, bUt 50 far nothing /
ike evidence for conviction has been
claimed. The police report ii 10 know the +
gang OF safe crackers. but to find" them 1
on good evidence Is the trouble
1t VIII he observed that Monday night /
was the best night of the for doing the /
work, as 1t gave them chance to the sun
day mails and Mondays collections. a Il
was impossi bic 70 do banking until Tues
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