The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-14
YOUNG SOLDIER ROBBED
MICHAEL HECHLINGER LOSE
s215.37 AND A GOLD WATCH.
Hhe Thief Entered His Room on Fri
day Night-SOme Mysterious
Features.

Michael Hechinger, who lives with his
brother, Joe Hechinger, at 1904 South Mis-
souri, street. was robbed of $215.S and
gold watch some time Friday night. En-
trance to his room was effected by picking
the lock to his door. The money was in
his trunk. The lock was pried open and
the money was taken out. and the watch
was taken from his trousers pocket and un-
snapped from the chain
The case was not reported to the police
until yesterday. A great deal of mystery
surrounds the robbery and a clew is re-
mote. II rs evident that who ever burglar
lied the room was familiar with the prem
ises, Hechingers habits and where he kept
his money. The Hechinger home Is up
stairs In a brick building. Towards the
rear of the hallway, which divides the
building. is a door leading into blind
hall. At the end of this hall is the door
10 Hechingers room. II was necessary for
the robber to enter the door of the main
hall and pass two doors in the blind hall
before reaching Hechingers room. Joe
Hechinger and his wife slept in room ad-
joining Michael, and they were not aroused
by the burglar.
Joe Hechinger said last night that a key
was always left hanging on a nail to the
main hall door and that his brother carried
the key to his room. Saturday morning
when Mrs. Hechinger got up she found the
key TO the outer hall door lying on the floor.
Michael called for breakfast. after
much difficulty in awakening him. When
he entered the dining room he held up his
watch chain and nickel. and said. That's
all I've got left" He then explained that
he had been robbed When he dressed he
went 10 get his watch from the pocket of
another suit. which he had worn the night
before. and found IL gone. He then looked
at his trunk. Several boxes were piled on
f. and they had apparently been untouched
He examined the lock and found that it
had been pried open. He raised the lid
and found that his money. which he had
lett in the hat box, was gone.
The key TO his room was found lying on
a rug in front OF the door. if il had been
pushed out after the door had been
fastened on the inside. The door was
locked IL had apparently been opened
and again locked with a skeleton key
Why a burglar would trouble himself to
lock the door after rifiing a room is a
problem.
district says he noticed a strange man
hanging about the premises for three
successive nights prior TO the robbery
Others. including Mrs. Hechinger. also saw
him. He questioned once by George
Miller. who lives near there when Mrs
Hechinger asked some one TO see what he
wanted. saying she had watched the man
he was waiting for his daughter to come
home. explaining that she worked for a
downtown firm. He was seen about II
o'clock on the night OF the robbery. Hech-
niger says he got in at Ills. Mrs. Hech-
niger says she heard some walking
in the hail about O'Clock Saturday morn
ing. but thought IL was her brother-in-law.
Michael Hechinger Is twenty-One years
old. He returned from the Philippine
islands a few months ago, after three
years service. Last Tuesday he drew his
money out Of the bank with the intention
OF going TO Niagara Falls but deferred the
trip His brother says he did not know
he had the money in the house until after
the robbery or he would have made him
take IL back 90 the bank Joe says he
feels confident that his brother was either
robbed by an acquaintance or by some one
who had been watching him and knew ne
had the money.