Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-28
CROOKS ARE A1 WORK
Light Fingered Gentry Picking
Pockets and Plying Their
Nefarious Profession.
Merritt Greene Relieved Of .
Valuable Diamond Stud--
Farmer Robbed.
Has His Pockets Picked Of sos
and Certificates-.Several
Other Thefts.

-
AS is usual with all large gatherings,
the city has its gang of crooks on hand.
and from the way the light-ingered
grafters are starting out they will reap
a rich harvest
The first theft reported to the police
was in a telegram from Mr.. Merritt
Greene, of this city, who wired from a
point east, While a passenger on the
Colorado special, that he had been re-
lieved of his two-carat diamond stud
just as he was getting on the train at
the depot -Four passengers on the train,
who We're known by the conductor to be
from Council Bluffs, were suspected of
the crooked work. Mr.. Green wired
back to watch all returning trains and
arrest four suspicious-looking stran-d
gers, all middle-aged men. The four
suspicioned of the crime are thought by |
the police to be the same four men who |
arrived in the city from Council Bluffs
on Monday night at 11:25,s and We're
thought at the time to be crooks COM |
ing in advance of the tournament. The
diamond was worth between $3.50 and
$500 and was an exceptionally fine white |
stone.
GET $105 IN A LUMP.
Another bold piece of work was COM
mitted at about noon on the court house
steps by an organized gang of five men.
Mr.. August Meier, a we'll known Logan
township farmer, residing one mile east
of Melbourne visited the city for the
purpose of paying his taxes and to pur-
chase some wearing apparel. He went
to the City National Bank and drew out
sos, 500 of which was in SO bills. He
also took certificate of deposit for $500
and put this With the sos in pocket
book placing it in an inside pocket He
had evidently been watched by membersl
OF the gang when he left the bank and
followed to the court house, and While
Walking up the steps one of the men
brushed against him and relieved him
of the wallet. He felt the mans hand,
but it was too late, and the moment that
the fellow had the pocketbook the other
-four surrounded him and prevented him
getting good start after the fleeing
crook, who ran thru the court house
basement south. Mr.. Meier followed the
man for some distance, but he escaped
in the crowd. He notified the sheriff
office, but could give no description OF
the thief The certificate of deposit will
do the thieves no good, but the $3.50 is
good coin of the realm and will help out
a days winnings for the pickpockets.
STODDART HOUSE BURGLARIZED.
Between and 2 o'clock this morning
thieves entered the Stoddart House and
hurriedly ransacked two rooms rooms
occupied by e. G. Gleason, Of Richland
who stopped over here while en- route to
Dies Moines, and ]. ID. Blue of Belle
Plaine. From Mr.. Gleason's trousers
they secured IS in silver and from the
l3pantaloons of Mr.. Blue So. Watches be-
longing to the gentlemen We're un-
touched, and left lying on the floor as
We're also some valuable papers and
roll of bills in Mr.. Blues vest pocket.
Entrance was gained by picking the
| locks of both rooms.
| OTHER THEFTS.
| Rev. William Pierson, of Red Oak,
who was in the city Tuesday night to
deliver an address in the Swedish Mis-
| sion church, and who was at the depot
this morning to take the c. & N. w.
train to Boone, had his hip pocket
| picked of a purse containing between 81
and IS in silver. just as he was getting
on to the train. The money was taken
by one of tire or four men who crowd
| ed about him as he was boarding the
car steps.
| A gentleman from Des Moines who
did not give his name to the police, was
touched for $40 that he had in purse in
his hip pocket The theft occurred. at
about Z o'clock, just as the C.. G.. w.
train was leaving for the west.
A drunken stranger who was arrested
by Officer Clark for intoxication last
might, reported this morning the theft
of s12, which he had had on his person
before he got under the influence of IL
auor. y