Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-09-03

Taken--.How tt Was Done-.-PoIice
Doings.
The Moline postoffice was burglarized
last night, apparently by professional
cracksmen who made successful exit
from the scene of their exploit with. as
nearly as 1t can be estimated, 81. 100 In
cash and postage stamps. IL was what
might be termed clever and artistic
job. something pretty fine in their line of
doing business. They entered the build
Ing through an open transom over door
on the Sixteenth street side OF the build
ing. after ststioning one of their number
on a stairway leading to the barber shop
in the basement, where was found this
morning a long piece of electric light wire
on the end of which was wrapped piece
of cloth with which the guard" located
there no doubt, reached up and tapped
gently on the window to his pals at work
above when anyone approached. There
were. from indications, three in the gang.
and when the signal of warning was
heard, the two on the postofiice floor re-
treated to closet near the safe until the
coast was clear" again.
Now as to how they operated: They
drilled hole through the outer door of
the vault close to the combination, an
evidently lengthy task but the cracksmen
had the brilliant rays from an electric
light to assist them in their work. while
they had stuffed the papers they found
IN the newsstand. into the glass mail
boxes to prevent detection from the out-
side. Into the drilled hole. an instru-
ment, like chissel was inserted. and
we'll directed blow from sledgehammer
broke the lock. Then the same process
was applied to the inner door, and then
all the intruders had to do was to help
themselves, and they took:
S2ss In money belonging to Post
master Gould.
Fltoob lu posthbt Stamps.
1859 % from registered letter directed
to Barnard. Lees X Co.
S47 from a registered letter directed to
u stranger.
$40 from registered letter directed to
John Larson.
And other smaller registered letter
packages bringing the total amount
missed up to about 81. 100.
On the floor were S25 in pennies which
were Of no use to the visitors, evidently,
and several dollars in small silver
The men escaped by the same way
they entered. There are no clues except
the description Of two men who have
been about Riverside cemetery for
few days. and one Of whom purchased
monkey.wrench at hardware store Mon
day. This and sledge hammer and
drill were found on the floor of the post
office this morning. A rig belonging to
u Moline livery firm is reported to have
been stolen from Sylvan Island early in
the evening. and the superstition is that
the burglars made their escape in 1t,
planning their Job too, when the police
Of Moline were all down at the Island.
The loss falls on Postmaster Gould.
who can only be reimbursed by special
act OF congress.
The Moline Postoffice was robbed be-
fore, on August IL. 1875, in daylight. 1t
was robbed Of $3.50 in cash and in U s
postage stamps 800. by Walter Benson
and VIM. II. Moon, foreign crooks, who
came into Rock Island with Forepaugh's
circus. Walter Benson was arrested be.
fore he could escape and had hearing
before Ellsworth Mapes. ]. p. in Moline.
He was defended by Mai. j. NJ. Beardsley
and bound over to the Sept. 1876, term
of the circuit court in the sum of $500
aud rd--eei~NN, -s~, 10 sail. AUG. 2s
1875. Hugh Z. Muldoon an unknown
quality from Chicago was accepted a.
bondsman in the sum of 5000 by justices
Samuel F. Cooke and Z G. Cropper and
Benson was released from custody and
skipped and has never since been heard
from. subsequently the case against BEN
son was nolle pressed by the state 5 attor-
ney. None of the bail money ever reach-
ed the county treasury
POLICE POINTS
There were several disturbances on
Sylvan island last night, and one of the
Moline police, Officer Carney. got so
badly ratified that he struck Officer Sex
ton a terrific blow with his club. After
ward. G.. Mckee. of Davenport. assaulted
Officer Sexton, and Officer Kramer ar b.
rested him. Oscar Brumston was also
arrested for resisting an officer by Officer
Sexton, and this morning Magistrate
Wivill fined each $40 and costs. Peter
Larkin, of this city. had his head nearly
split open, but no arrests were made for
1t.
Henry Newcomb. James Medridge and
Stephen Olson were each fined 81 and
costs.