Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-08-03
BOLD WORK OF CROOKS
Most Systematic Burglary Ever
Committed In the City in the
Robbing Of Stsrn's store.
Vacant Rooms Above Entered, /.
Hole Cut Through the Floor and
Entrance Thus Gained.
Safe Broken Open and Money and
Jewelry Taken Mo Clue to
the Robbers.

the Robbers.
The smoothest and most systematic
burglary ever committed in the city oc-
CURED some time during the early morn
ling hours when the Stern clothing
store on East Main street was entered
in novel manner. the safe was broken
open and small amount OF money and
some jewelry were obtained.
When the store was opened this
morning the clerks were surprised to
find a square hole cut through the cell
ing, and on going to the safe the doors
Of the same were found to be wide open.
Further investigation showed that
rear window was left open and that
bar had been pried off, presumably to
allow hasty exit in that direction.
Over the store are the rooms formerly
occupied by the lodge Of Elks. The
rooms were vacated some time ago and
have since been unoccupied. The burg
lars had climbed the rear stairway and
back doors, thus gaining entrance to
the vacant rooms. They were supplied
with plenty OF tools, including a brace
and bit. Near the front Of the store the
brace and bit was brought into service.
and square hole was cut through the
floor of the second story and through
the ceiling by boring many times. The
hole thus made is about fourteen inches
~,
sumably one of the lines from a single
harness. the marauders lowered them
selves to the floor below.
The work is clearly that of men who
understood their illegitimate business,
for the safe was broken open without
the use of explosives A half inch hole
was bored into the lock and in some
manner which is yet unexplained the
bolts were thrown back. There is no
indication that an explosive was used,
as there were no marks of smoke and
no damage was done to the safe farther
than the drilling Of the hole. From a
financial standpoint the robbery was
not worth the effort and ingenuity en-
tailed, because there was little money In
the safe. Members OF the firm do not
know just the amount taken, but 1t will
not exceed $45. Collections had been
made on Wednesday, but were largely
in the form of checks. The thieves
wanted money and realized that the
checks would be of no value to them, SO
these were undisturbed.
From the safe the robbers also took
two gold watches, some rings and other
Ijewelry. One watch was valued at about
s35, but the other, which was the prop
erty of the late p A. Stern, was worth
SIS and more highly valued as keep
sake.
The safe is located behind the jog
made in the wall by the outside stair
way. which gave the men a good place
to work, unobserved.
From indications the robbers tried to
open the rear door for use as means
of exit, but could not without making
considerable noise. so they climbed onto
a shelf, pried an iron bar from one OF
the rear windows and made their escape
in that manner. 1t would have required
an athlete to have climbed the strap
and escaped through the small hole in
the Aoor. None Of the goods in the
store were taken. and the coverings
which are placed on them at night were
apparently undisturbed.
The thieves left all their tools with
the exception of the steel drill That is
their stock in trade and they need 1t in
their business. Amonk the stuff left
were brace and bit, a sledge hammer,
key-hole saw, a new railroad spike
and screw driver, besides the strap
used In getting to the first floor from
above. This was left hanging from the
ceiling, and was solidly fastened by
passing 1T through a hole bored near the
big hole.
1t is evident that two or three men
were engaged in the robbery. The sher-
IFS officers and the poliuce were noti
fled as soon as the robbery was discov-
cred but have no clue on which to work
exoept'a general description of some
men who had been loafng about town
for two days prior to the robbery.
During the day it was learned that the
tools were secured from the new resi-
dence being erected by W. G. Burleigh
on South Fifth avenue. They belong to
a carpenter In the employ of II. r.
Jones.
1t is supposed that the work was done
during the storm that prevailed short
ly after O'Clock a. m. The night Off
GERS were in the vicinity several times
during the early hours. but saw no one
that they could suspect.