The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-16
The Up to Date Methods of Chi
cagO Thugs.
They Drive Up to a Store In a
BarOuches
Rob THE GROCERS.
7ry to Put One In the Refrig-
orator.
Then Get In Their Carriage
and Drive Off.

Chicago, Nov. 16.-Driving UP to a vic
TINS store in carriage and departing
in the same aristocratic style is the
latest in robbers methods. This strict
" up-to-date scheme was introduced
Saturday by three bandits who made
free with the person and cash Of Harry
Gift a greengrocer at 707 West Taylor
street. The carriage that brought them
about 6 o'clock in the morning to the
corner of Marshheld avenue. which is
about 100 feet east of the little store,
was drawn by gray nag of somewhat
ancient style. The conveyance was a
three thugs had no difficulty in placing
themselves inside They took Mr.. Cliff s
$25, attempted to freeze him in his ice
box then ran to the bafOuche, leaped in
and in a tWinkling the old horse was
scurrying up Marshheld avenue through
the fOggy morning air
The men were the refrigerator rob
bers." the most active of the numerous
successors OF the long man and the
short man" They are known to bar
tenders and grocers in all parts of the
city because Of their penchant for lock-
ing men in refrigeratOrs in order that
no outcry may be made when the rob-
bers leave the store. Once OF twice men
who have been locked in the ice box by
these gentry have had to stay there
hours before release came. The re
frigeratOr robbers are dreaded by all
the grocers, restaurant men and saloon
men in the city MI Gin considers it
fortunate that the smanness of his ice
box made his Incarceration therein i'm
possible.
Harry and David Gift are. partners in
the grocery enterprise. At o'clock
Saturday morning Harry was alone
in the store preparing to go to South
Water street for the days supply Of
green things As he stood behind the
counter transferring SO from the cash
drawer to his pocket three men entered
Gift noticed they were rather rough
looking and that a man with a heavy
mustache. taller and much older than
the brothers, was the leader. His com
panions were youths. Thereafter Gift,
who is a nervous, weak and not es-
pecially courageous man, was SD over
come by various emotions that he was
unable to notice anything about the fell
lows
The big man went promptly to work
Hold up your hands, he said, as he
pushed a big revolver over the counter
The hands went up and young Gift was
made to walk from behind the counter.
The older man trained his artillery on
the grocer and his accomplices went
through the latter's pockets "a wallet
holding SIS was hauled out and the
leader with the pistol told Gift gruffiy
that the amount was mot enOgh."
Il CUES we had better put him in the
ice box to cool off" was quickly added.
The refrigera tor stood near and Gift
shrank back. He had read of the bar
keepers who had been upt on ice But
the grOcer's modest retreat was of no
value to him. assistant rObber open
ed the lower left hand door of the tall
box The compartment was about three
feet each way and as the second assist
ant doubled Gift up to squeeze him into
the space the leader said that there
would not be room enough for the gro
Ger to get air and he was locked in the
compartment
Put him behind the ice box he or
dered. and then, before the trembling
grocer could be hustled around the box
the robber asked the location of the till.
Gift told him, saying, Please don't kill
me-take the money" The three plac-
ed Gift safely out of sight in the rear of
the refrigerator and then took the 80
cents ia the till. after which they de-
eamped. In their scuff1e with the gro
Ger they dropped $3.50 that Gift later
picked up.
When the men left the store they hur-
ried to the waiting carriage through an
early morning mist that prevented any
general attention being drawn to them.
A few neighbOrs saw them leap inside
and lash the horse to q, fast trOt Dur
ing the most interesting portion Of the
proceedings in the store Mr.. Gift saw
pedestrian peering through the some
what frosty window He raised his
voice as high as possible in answering
one of the big man questions. but the
pedestrian made no effort to help the
grocer. The big man understood the
cause Of the raised voice and with
menacing motion of his revolver eau
toned Gift TO be still