Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-05-11

Qlcate tnaC something was wrong. he
also released Testing, but by that time
John SPAIN, who lives on the opposite
side of the street, and several others,
who had been aroused by the blowing
of the whistle, were in the building
and assisting the frightened employees
TO inform the police and ascertain what
damage had beP done. The burglars
got away so quickly, however, that
nobody appears to have seen them ex-
cept the mon IN the brewery. Officers
Mullin and Jabloski, who were at
Fourth and Broome, three squares
away, heard the whistle blowing and
ran to the brewery, but by the time
they arrived the burglars had gone and
there was nothing to indicate in which
direction they had fled. A message
was quickly sent to the police station
and several officers at once began a
search of the city, special attention
being gwen to the railroad stations and
roads leading to other places. 1t has
since been learned that the men went
in the direction Of Schuetzen Park,
and it is believed that they drove out
the Kennett turnpike, but where they
went is yet a mystery.
After the robbery had been COM
mitted and people went to the brewery
to ascertain what was wrong, it was
discovered that the intruders had taken
the precaution to extinguish all of the
lights in the yard. The gates were
locked when they entered, and it ls
thought they scaled the fence. After
the arrival of Mayer, however, the
gates were left unlocked, which facili-
tated the escape of the men. Once
inside the gates, it was an easy matter
to gain access to the building, and
it was not necessary to pry open any
doors or break any door locks. They
found all OF the keys they wanted ON
the men who were tackled.
1t is apparent, from the manner in
which the job was done, that one or
more in the party knew something
about the brewery, as it appeared to be
an easy matter to locate everything
about the place that was desired.
The police believe the job to be the
work of professional bank robbers, and
think the men belong to the gang
known as the railroad safe crackers.
who operate in the vicinity Of rail
roads. The brewery safe was blown
open by inserting an explosive through
hole in the top. The hole, which is
about quarter of an inch in diameter,
was evidently drilled by an expert,
who used great care and knew just
where to drill. The explosive was
dropped in the compartment containing
money and checks, and, as a piece of
insulated wire about two feet long was
found nearby, it is thought, the charge
was set of by means of an electric
spark. The money drawer was blown
out, the main door blown open and
the safe shaken SO violently that one
of the wheels upoE which it rests was
broken of, and it was left canted on the
floor. The books were also blown out
and scorched. ]. M. Primrose, an
expert on safe construction, who was
at the brewery on Tuesday, said he
did not believe the job was the work
of professionals, who would have bored
| the hole through the door. He is of
| the opinion, however, that the same
people attempted to blow open Owen
j. Hession's safe about year ago, the
work being about the same, only not
so successful, the burglars evidently
being frightened off.
John Eisenminger, president of the
| brewing company, and others interested,
were apprised of the robbery soon after
| it happened and did what they could
| to assist the police, who were then
securing the city and adjacent country.
| Ii was reported that the men had
driven towards Elsmere and several
officers went in the direction in one
Of the brewing company's carriages,
but no traces of the crooks were found.
While a search was being made for
the robbers, about 10 O'Clock, Ser
geant Black and Officer Meat teer found
three of the drawers which had been
taken from the safe and the deed and
other papers, including three small
| checks, in lot just west of Schuetzen
Park. The articles which had been
recovered were sent Immediately to the
police station to await the return Of
| President Eisenminger, who went to
Philadelphia with Detective McVey,
it having been reported that six sus.
| picious characters boarded the early
boat for that city. The recovery of the
papers reduces the loss to about 81, 200
and is exceedingly gratifying to the
| management of the brewery.
The police have telegraphed the
authorities in all of the cities in this
part of the country, giving a descrip-
| tion of the men, so far as it could be
furnished by the men who were held
up. The description given by the
police is to the effect that all of the
robbers were between % and 80 years
of age. One was tall and had u light
mustache, another small and slender.
another short and stout and had red
face, another short and slender, another
tall and stout. They wore dark cloth
| ing and derby hats, two having on
brown hats. At the time OF going to
press no arrests had been made. 1t is
believed the men are somewhere in
Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Several people were seen in the
vicinity of the brewery Monday who
were supposed to be strangers. Two
were at the office on an advertising
mission. Another man visited John
Spahn's saloon, on the opposite corner,
but did not tarry long.
John Craven, who keeps saloon at
i Ninth and du Pont streets, four blocks
away, stated ON Tuesday that shortly
after noon Monday six well-dressed
strangers visited his place and had
/ drinks. They came from the direction
| of Delaware avenue ana had evidently
alighted from a b. & D. railroad train
a short time before They did not have
| much to say to Mr.. Craven, but he
scrutinized them and is of the opinion
4 that he could recognize three of them,
at least, il he should see them again
and has volunteered his services if he
is needed as means of identifying
| anybody who may be arrested on sus-
picion. After thoy left his saloon they
went south on du Pont street, in the
| direction of the brewery. He did not
see them again. He describes one of
the men as being short and stout and