The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-23
SAFE BLOWER WOUNDED
THREE MEN DISCOVERED IN +. L.
WILSON'S GROCERY.
a Fusillade of Shot and Blood Found
on Porch Afterwards-Only
$40 Secured.

The safe in the grocery stoi y meat
market of f. L. Wilson. at tn iIer OF
Jefferson avenue and Ohio ST {. was
blown open about o'clock yesterday
morning and $40 in gold was secured The
three safecrackers were discovered at their
work by Burt Wilson. who lives across the
street from the grocery, but is no relation
to the grocer, and he opened fire on them
with his revolver. but they escaped.
Saturday morning grocer Wilson coll
lected $3.50. which he intended using on
Monday and it is supposed that the fact
became known to some one in the neigh
borhood. who took it for granted that he
would put the money in his safe over
Sunday. The trio forced back door and
gained entrance to the store, and two went
inside while the third went around in front
to keep watch. That the safecrackers
were novices was shown in the fact that
they drilled large hole down through the
top Of the safe instead of by the side of
the lock. as is always done by experts at
that kind Of business. An unusually large
quantity of powder was poured into the
hole and touched off. An explosion fol-
lowed that shook the house and blew the
safe door from its hinges.
Burt Wilson, living across the street.
was awakened by the noise and looked
out ,of his window. He saw a man in front
of the store. and back in the store he
could see a moving dark lantern. Instant
ly it flashed across his mind that the store
being robbed He seized his revolver
and taking aim, fired shot at the robber
sentinel. The two on the inside heard the
shot and came rushing out. Again Wilson
fired. They returned the fire and regular
fusillade on both sides was kept up for a
few minutes. Then the robbers ran. Neigh
bors began swarming out Of their houses
and a search was at once instituted. On
the porch OF man named Robinson, liv-
ing near by, was found quantity of blood
and 1T is supposed that one of the robbers
had been shot during the fusillade and the
three had stopped on the porch to bind
his wound and hide for time that they
might not encounter people running in the
iured by their shots. but the side Of the
house was filled with bullet holes.
Grocer Wilson was soon on the ground
lected that he had not put the $3.50 in the
safe at ALL but had secreted ii some place
else for safekeeping. He had used part OF
was two $40 gold pieces, which he had kept
for long time as pocket pieces" The
robbers need not have blown the safe tc
The grocer said he never kept any money
in the safe. only his books. and simply
closed the door without locking 1t, thai
robbers might not blow 1t. A significant
| fact which points toward local talent In
| the affair is that grocer Wilson has for
long time kept watchdog at the store
| This dog has never allowed anybody L
| go near the store at night after it wa.
| closed. warning them away by growlins
and barking. Yesterday morning. however
| the dog did not make the slightest SOUND
and ii is supposed that the robbers ant
| the dog were on friendly terms The polio,
| have a description of the robbers, Furnished
| bv Burt Wilson, and are searching fo
| them.