The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-01
A DARING ROBBERY.
GERALD VOLK CHL0R0F0MED AND
ROBBED LAST NIGHT.
Money and Diamonds to the Extent
of at Least $1,000 Stolen.
The strangulation Sounds of MIR VolKe
Attract ths Attention Of the Janltor
Who Releases Him,

One of the most daring robberles ever
| committed in this city, not excepting the
recent express robbery. occurred about
$50 o'clock last night.
Gerald Volk, manager OF the heiiog@
Newspaper Union whose office is On tie
| first floor Of the Fletcher block, corner OF
Second and Main streets, was sitting al
| his desk the time stated, when some robber
or robbers stole up behind him and with
out making a single noise, chiorotormea
| him aud then proceeded TO steal every
thing 40 sight.
| Mr. Volk, at the time he was chloro-
| formed. was counting UP the cash taken
| ia during the day. looking over the GRATIS
| of remttances from country customers.
and preparing bills for the regular col
| lections today. All the money on hauds,
the exact amount of which was not
| known when an EAGLE reporter called,
was stolen. and, in addition to this, Mr..
Volk lost his own pocketbook, which con-
tanned somewhere in the neighborhood OF
500. The fine $3.50 diamond pin which he
!
the finest in town, followed suit, and SO
did his handsome diamond ring, valued at
handsome sum.
Whether his gold watch was stolen was
not learned, but that probably was saved,
as he did not wear his vest at the time.
aud in the exciteuent last night it was
mislaid.
The robbery was committed at about
$50 D. M, but was not discovered for
nearly an hour afterwards, when
sounds Of strangulation eminated
from his Office and fell Oh
the ears of the elevator man, who lmme-
diately proceeded to Mr.. Volk's office and
found him. He was evidently under the
influence of chloroform. and in addition to
that his hands were tied behind his back to
his chair, Il hitch of the rope being taken
about his neck, which caused the strangu-
alton sounds that led to the discovery.
Some have a theory that, instead of being
J chloroformed, he was first knocked insensl-
BILE by a blow of some kind, and in support
of this theory, they point to mailec that
had been found wrapped with towel.
which would stun and not wound. The
mallet was a common printers malIet.
used for locking and planning forms, and
il was recognized as the Que used in the
composing room of the Kellogg concern.
If that is the case the robbers must have
, come in through the mechanical
! hn, fn,rp I'll
there was also piece of carpet found
thrown over Mr. Volk's head evidently for
the purpose of preventing his revivine
from the effects of the drug or blow, toe
sooD Mr.. Volk's wrists. where they had
been tied by the cord, were badly blistered
and the rope had also injurious effects OIL
his neck.
The police are hard at work on the case
but have no clue so far. 1t would not d.
= improbable if the robbers had taken The
Missouri Pacific train few minutes after
the robbery took place.
An EAGLE reporter saw Mr.. Volk abou
ii o'clock last night, but the crowd In tn
I office was so large that one could hardi,
get through them. He was standing th'
2 ordeal well and was not any more excited
than those who were plying him VIII
, questions. In speaking of the matte
he said that he was looking owe
the cash balances ana all a
= once everything seemed a bianI
and then he became entirely unconscious
| 81 he in
that he was trying TO escape from the pom
;, derous wheels or paddles of some boat tina
p seemed to be passing over him. All kinds
of absurd things crowded into his min
and the frs. reality he remembers wa
hearing the footsteps of some one runnin
across the floor He then experienced
terrible oppressive feeling, aud not TIL Il
: WAS released did be regain consciousness;