The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-19

Burglars broke into the ssweiry store OF
W. u. Smith, at Kent, Thursday Right.
and after springtng an enormous steel bear
trap under window In the rear Of the
building and musil2fing the safe, left with
Dut their pains for their trouble.
The sale contained nearly $a.9f9 worth o.
5eseiry, including o lot of solid golG ar
iicies which, melted into bullion. would
have rapidly pilad into hundreds OF dol
lars. After drilling half-inch hole clear
/ through the door and blowing OFF big
charge Of gunpo~der, which only made a
noise and cloud OF smoke, the would be
crackssnen left in disgust.
This ID the second time within two weeks
that an attempt Eas been made TO rob the
jewssry dealer. Two weeks ago last Sun
day night the store was entered presum-
abiy oy the same knen. and an attempt
was made to blow open the safe. The
door was drilled and . charge of powder
SET on. The amount OF explosive was
either too small or else the Job was
ctumsiiy done. for the door was not even
sprung.
Before repeating the attemp; to get at
some OF Jeweler Smiths fancy wares the
burglars broke OF a board on Johnson s
blacksmith shop and stole a brace and a
steel chiset. With the chisel they forced
me coor OF the jewslry store and used
the brace In boring into the safe The
combination was knocked of the door
Win a sledge and a swedge and a half
inch hole drilled through the door
me safe is an oid-fashiouei one and
there Is room TO throw away between the
door aud the rear of the safe and In the
spaee between the door and the sill sur
rounding IT, A good charge OF giant DOW
Ger would probably have accomplished the
result desired by the robbers. but their In
experience led them into the mistake of
employing gunpowder. The force of the
explosion was entirely inadequate to stir
the door loose from its fastenings.
AT the rear of the building Is a small
snsd, Just of window into the main
room. Mindful Of his experience with the
burglars two weeks ago, Mr. Smith pur-
chased a big bear trap with hideous teeth
nearly three inches long The teeth were
subjected to filing process and the trap.
nicely set In anticipation of a BURGLARS
foot. was placed just outside the window
in the shed and fine sawdust sprinkied
over IL TO hide II from view. When the
robbery was discovered yesterday morn
ing Mr. Smith and hiS neighbors made
thorough examination OF the premises.
discovering that the trap had been
sprung The window had been partly
raised. Near the trap was found a stout
board OF FIR. which bore marks of having
been used on il. The people OF Kent be-
lieye that the robber got hts foot In the
trap. but in such n manner as 10 escape
severe punishment.
From footprints around the building il
is believed that TWO men were engaged
In the Job. The authorities here believe
that the men who turned the laundry
trick few nights ago are responsible
for tho Kent affair. They are not cracks
men In any sense of the word. their work
being OF the kind described as '.open
work" II Is believed that they have gone
to Tacoma.
Deputy Sheriff A. G. Lane was detailed
on the case yesterday. He visited Kent
and arrived back last night at o'clock
with several exhibits" IN his possession.
He made a thorough examination OF the
premises Although the officers have no
tangible clues. efforts will be made to
land the robbers in the laws embrace.