The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-18
ROBBERS AT WORK
Cash Box In DIR. Keith's Drug
Store Robbed.
Thieves Entered Store During
the Republican Parade.
GOT OVER 5000 CASH.
Broke the Lock of Back Door
of Store.
Judge Hazen's Son One of the
Victims.

The biggest haul of actual cash that
has been made in the city by robbers for
a long time was that made Wednesday
evening at DR.. H. H. Keith's drug store,
422 Kansas avenue, where the burglars
got $601-95. All OF the money was cash
excepting two checks, one for So and one
for $40.
The money was in the safe which
stands at the end of the counter on
the south side of the store. There were
three drawers in the safe, just as there
are in most safes used in stores. In one
of the drawers was $3.50, which was the
private property of l.. D. Hazen, a part
ner in the store and a son of Judge Z. II.
Hazen; in another was $50, private
money of Dr. Keith's; in the third an
iron drawer, was the balance of the
money, which belonged to the firm.
Both DR. Keith and Mr.. Hazen had
left the store in charge of the clerk Otis
Grubbs, and had gone to the political
meeting. When the procession passed
the store the clerk, with two or three
friends, had stepped to the street in or
der to watch it. They went almost to
the center of the street, on account of
the fence which is built around the ad-
dition to the government building, just
south of the store. The safe was left
with only the day lock on. This is easy
to open, as it requires only one turn of
the tumbler They heard nothing while
watching the parade and saw no one
enter the store
When the political meeting was over.
DR.. Keith and Mr. HaZen both returned
to the store, and went to the safe to
get the cash to balance the days busi-
ness. They found that the drawers con-
tanning the money were gone, and at
once commenced an investigation, and
notified the police. 1t was found that
the glass in the door on the south side
of the store had been broken and that
the bolt locking it had been withdrawn
Near the door were the two drawers
WI
but nothing was found of the iron drawer
containing the firm money This drawer
was Of iron and was locked, so the
burglars probably carried 1t away and
took their time to break it open.
The checks that were in the drawer
were one payable to j. G. GOingS, for 50,
and one signed by J. S. Norris, for SO.
Both checks were on the Citizens bank
The banks were notified this morning,
but it is hardly likely that any one
would present the checks at a bank, al
though they might be presented at some
store.
DR.. Keith said this morning that they
We're not in the habit of carrying such
a large sum Of money in the safe, but
that they had failed to deposit yesterday
on account of a rush OF business and
that the amount on hand was unusually
large on account of the day being Santa
F'e pay day. The private money that
was on hand was money they had in
tended betting on the election.
1t is very evident that who ever COM
rnitted the robbery was well acquainted
with the surroundings, and knew that
the proprietors were away. They also
knew that the safe was left without the
combination being turned, for without
this knowledge the robbery would hard
Iy have been attempted.
In the drawer which was used by Mr..
Hazen were a. lot of old coins, but these
were not taken, as they would be easily
detected.
The police have no clue to the robbers,
but think it was done by a different
gang than the robbers who entered the
Mills dry goods store