The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-03-27

before Judge McCarty and a jury and
a packed house, Friday afternoon, a bit
Of history was touched upon. 1t was
nothing less than the attempted burg
larry of the bank of Isaac Harter and
Sons, on the night of August 21, 1897.
1t will be recalled that Merchant Police
man Charles Heminger was making his
rounds that night and had tried the
front door Of the bank to see if it were
locked. He found everything all right
and then passed up the stairway to the
landing above. From there he had in
tended passing down a rear stairway
to examine a door that led out into the
rear hallway, from the bank. AS he
was descending the rear stairs a man
suddenly appeared at the foot of the
stairway and commenced firing at him
with revolver. Hemminger drew his
weapon and opened fire on the man
that was shooting at him. At the same
time he blew his police whistle Justify
for help. After emptying his revolver
he again reloaded it and pluckily stood
his ground. He fired another shot and
the man dropped. At the time three
other men ran from hte basement of the
building and were seen to climb the
rear fence and drop into Court street
Officers Ryan and Dickerhof, who
were on duty on the square, were at
tracted to the scene by the blowing Of
the whistle and the shots. Officer Ryan
ran to Seventh street and then to Court
street, while officer Dickerhof entered
Court street by way of Tuscarawas
street But the burglars had made their
escape. The officers then returned and
the man that Heminger had winged
was fOun6 living az 40 foot re he Won -
stairs and he was placed on a stretcher,
and taken to the police station where
DR.. A. c. Brant was called to attend
him. 1t was found that a bullet had
entered his right side and he was re-
moved to Aultman hospital in Shilling's
ambulance. He fingered between life
and death until the forenoon of the next
day, at lilo o'clock, when he died. The
remains were taken to Shilling's un-
dertaking rooms and a crowd of people
gathered and wanted to look at the
body. The police believed that were they
allowed to see the dead man there might
be possibility of his being identified,
as none Of the Canton officers seemed
to know him. So the doors were open
ed and in 212 hours $500 persons had
passed through. At least 600 women
were in the party and it was one of the
hveliest Sundays Canton has had. Early
next morning the doors were opened
again and all day citizens and visitors
passed in and satisfied their curiosity
Yet in all the thousands there was not
one who gave a sign that the dead man
was recognized. If anyone recognized
him no disposition to disclose his iden-
tity was manifested. A handkerchief in
his pocket and the shirt he wore had
the Laundry mark TX, Y, H." Further
than that no marks were found.
The remains were photographed and
pictures sent broadcast.
There was no doubt that the man
had been about Canton for several
weeks, but just who he was and what
his business was a puzzler.
He had been ia the habit Of calling at
Karrers restaurant, in Piedmont street
and was positively identified by Mr..
Karrer as the man who had frequently
visited his place. 1t was his habit to
drink ale and he invariably requested
that piece of ice be placed in it. He
was also identified by a young lady at
the Conrad Schweitzer residence as a
man to whom she had given food. Upon
that occasion he seemed to be anxious
to examine the house but was not given
the opportunity.
1t was evident to the police that the
four burglars had arrived in the rear
of the Harter bank a short time prior
to the arrival of the merchant police
man. At that time entrance to the
cellar OF the bank was easy, as the out
side door was open. Stationing a senti-
mel on the outside, IL was figured out,
three men entered the cellar and pro-
ceeded to make an assault on the heavy
floor of the vault above them. A hole
was first bored through the wall of the
cellar and a string extended from the
workers within to the man on guard
without. Heavy bars of iron and a pick
were being used on the floor of the vault,
but little impression had been made
on the Is inches Of brick and concrete
when the firing between the man on
guard and Hemminger, notified them Of
danger and they fled, leaving their
comrade, mortally wounded. behind
them.
When the cellar was examined nearly
cart load of burglar tools and appli-
ances of all kinds. was found. They
were gathered up and taken to the
police station, where, after being in
spected, they were locked in a cell.
Among the things found were two mar
ket baskets filled with quart bottles,
evidently filled with acids, to destroy the
temper of the steel. There were sticks
of dynamite, sledges, brace and bit
several very finely tempered instru-
ments known TO safe makers as trim
mers and sheeters.' There were several
pairs of overalls. satchel and telescope
full OF chisels and bits and heavy blan.
kets for deadening the sound of ar
explosion. Most OF the tools were new
and evidently had been made by skill
ful hands. They We're pronounced th'
ilnAai Lot OF hnrnlar.a lnnla ihnA hna nua,