Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-06-05
BURGLAR is BUSY.
Puts in an industrious Night in
Rock Island.
BAKER L NHEuL ARE ROBBED
Hundred Dollars worth Of Stock Taken
Trapped n . Third Avenue Rssidsnce-
Heard From 1t Other Places.

Trapped h . Third Avenue Rssidence-
Heard From ct Other Places.
Goods representing between one
and two hundred dollars were stolen
from Baker & McNeill's hardware
store. at the northeast corner of
Second avenue and Nineteenth street,
sometime last night.
The burglars operated on two
doors before they succeeded in gain
ing an entrance. They worked from
the rear of the store, where there are
two doors-one leading to 3 closet
and another to the repair room which
leads to the store proper. The parties
doing the job were not craftsmen
from all appearances, but ones
with an abundance of nerve. From
Nineteenth street there leads drive.
way into q yard at the rear Of the
building which is an unusually
gloomy locality by night. and such q
place where robbers would not be
easily detected. It is evident that a
jack-knife constituted the operating
machinery of the dark lantern men.
With this they hacked panel out of
the east door, the idea being to in
this manner get access to the night
lock which could then be easily
opened. But the burglars found that
they had gotten into q closet which
had no outlet to the storeroom.
They were not easily discouraged
and turned their attention to another
door to the west. The same mode of
procedure was employed here. And
the mex: scene found the burglars in
the front part of the store, which is
illuminated all night BY an electric
light located at the corner. This
instead of frightening them, aided
them in looking over the stock.
Knives and spoons and such articles
were scraped up. Then the money
drawer was broken into, but it was
empty. The safe was open, but
the burglars knew it not. and in
working with the combination locked
it, but it contained no money. Then
they decamped without disturbing
the police or neighbors. although
Mrs. j. c. Jacobs. who lives on the
second floor of the building, says she
was awakened by noises around
the place between l and 9 O'Clock
this morning.
sneak Thief Causes . Chase.
About 10 o'clock last evening a
sneak thief entered the home of
A. BOro at the corner of Nine
tenth street and Third avenue.
Miss Rose Boro was seated in the
parlor at the time reading and
was at first attracted by the repeated
slamming of the screen door. Going
to the hall she was confronted by q
man who was slipping noiselessly
through in his stocking feet
Promptly demanding an explanation
OF the intrusion, Miss Boro received
from the stranger the explanation
that he was in search of something to
eat. Going through into the dining
room Mrs. Boro was met, and she
asked the unceremoniousg guest where
his shoes were, to which he replied
that he had left them in q box car.
Miss Boro quickly formed her con-
lecture as TO the mans true mission
and slipping out while her mother
was engaging him in conversation.
went over to Frick & Kautz's livery
stable and sent message to the
police station. In the meantime the
man had taken his cue and had
started out. At the gate he was
detained by John Boro and Frank
Haley, who had learned OF the facts
OF the case. but as the patrol dashed
up the street the scamp made a dash
for liberty up Third avenue. Henry
Prick saw him pass his stable and
gave chase, overhauled the fellow,
and Selling him by the arms at
tempted to hold him, but the man
was desperate and wrenc hed himself
loose only to fall into the arms of
Mr.. Tricks partner, Frank w. Kautz
He broke away again and there was
. running struggle nearly to Twen-
tieth street, Mr.. Frick regaining his
hold on the fugitive, and in seizing
him around the neck, his fin
ger was badly bitten by the
enraged man who fought Ike
a trapped animal. The patrol
wagon arrived in the midst of the
fun and Capt. Bender placed the
cause Of the rumpus under arrest.
As the fellow started to run. Miss
Louise Boro pointed to his pal who
was standing near the fence with
the remark to the bystanders: "You
had better take this fellow, too. -
Whereupon the scoundrel struck Miss
Boro in the face, dashed through the
crowd and turned down Nineteenth
and disappeared in the darkness, and
thus escaped with the loss of his
hat. The arrested man gave his
name as James Parker, and appears
to have served term in the reform
school at Pontiac, judging from
papers found ON his person.
Other Polisb Affairs.
Conrad Schneider. 1909 Fourth
avenue. had an ice box rifed Of its
contents last night.
Frank Me,zgar, q Davenport ex-
pressman. was fined IS and costs for
doing business ON this side without
. license.
A trio registering - John Hotz,