The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-10-19
SAFE CRACKED.
The Madison Postofios Entered by Burg
lar. and the Safe Robbed Of S2l5*
Stamps and Papers Destroyed
by Fire. and Water.

ABOUT nalI past SIX o CLOCK JulS moIn-
ing as Frank Fox's draymen were going
to their work, passing the p~ostotfce,
they noticed smoke issuing from the
postoffice building and Immediately gave
the fire alarm. A crowd hurriedly
gathered and the tiremen were soon on
the scene with the hose. A pane of
glass in the door was broken to gain en-
trance and it was 0 discovered that
water was not wanted in very great
quantities. The %postoffice safe had
been cracked and in the use of the ex-
p~losives or throwing away Of a match
the burglars had set fire to a pile Of old
receipts and papers stacked up between
| the large safe and the wall OF the build
ing. Before all were removed and the
fire put out the packages Of papers we're
badly burned and the wall of the build
ing, in che southeast corner where the
safe stood, considerably scorched.
The burglar, or burglars as the case
may be, had entered through the win
dow in the west end of the building, by
forcibly prying it up with q bar. A hole
scarce quarter an inch in diameter was
drilled through the safe door, packing
| and all, about six inches above the knob.
Through this had been injected the ex-
| plosives which blew one of the great
doors entirely off its hinges, bursting
the bolts and laying it back on the floor
in q warped and torn condition. Access
to the books and the money chest was
then comparativ ely easy.l So far, Post
master Tobin has discovered only three
registered letters missing, but wheth-
or stolen or burned up in the papers
consumed around the safe he cannot
tell. A quantity Of postage stamps,
mutilated by fire and water, have been
opinion that nc stamps we're taken by
the burglars. The money order vouch-
ers for the week are missing, besides
other office documents, and some valua-
BILE private papers which Mr.. Tobin had
temporarily deposited in the safe. The
indications are that the burglars were
after cash only, and they secured about
S215 from the money chest. Had the
fire not occurred stamps, vouchers and
other papers would probably have been
found intact.
The robbers made good their escape
by the main door and no clew to their
identity Is yet found. mo suspicious
characters have been noticed around the
Office or even in town for a day or two.
Mrs. Maloy, who lives in the adjoin:
ing building, heard and felt the shock OF
the explosion and it Jared bottles of
the shelves in her room, but a she has
been enfeebled by a weeks watching at
the bedside of a sick husband she gave
it little thought and less attention. The
robbery was doubtless committed soon
after the night watch wen home at 3
o'clock, and at a time when every one
was in the sonndest sleep.
Other evidences Of the burglars work
was discovered in two half-round files
and other piecs of iron which they had
taken from Tierney's blacksmith shop
and left on the postoffice table. The
ends of these had been used in prying
open something, probably the main door,
A cold chisel made into an extension bar
with a piece of gas pipe was also a very
convenient instrument with which they
opened the window. On the whole the
job has been very neatly and deftly done
and the officers and those interested
Rave a nut" instead of a safe to crack
in finding out who did it.
Another important announcement by
the Northern Pacific is the through tour
list car service between st. Paul, Mime.
apolis and Sacramento and San Francis
co, California. via Portland and the ia
nous Shasta route. The Northern Pa
citic overland train leaving St. Pau
every Wednesday carries these cars
For reservations and other Information
apply to Chas. S. Fee, general passengeI
agent N. p. r. r.