Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-20
Employee Of I. A. Brown Steals
$500 Worth Of Camera
Lenses
WHEREABOUTS NOW UNKNOWN
Burt Myers Unable to Stand Prospect.
ty-Taken by Mr.. Brown as Stu
dent-Works Smooth Game-Robs
Employer While He is Absent From
the City.

From all appearances Burt Myers
home was in Dayton, O., and that he is
a graduate of the Dayton high school,
is self-convicted thief. Myers has
been working since Monday in the pho-
tographic gallery of 7. A. Brown. He
did not show up Friday morning and
Friday night there We're missed from
. the gallery six valuable camera lenses.
The supposition is that Myers, knowing
their value, deliberately stole them
while Mr. Brown was out of the city
and has skipped for greener pastures,
where he can either repeat the game or
convert the stolen property into mon
ey. The lenses can not be replaced for
$500
Myers came to the city about a
month ago and for a time worked as q
counter boy at Sundells cafe. Last
Monday morning he came to Mr.. Brown,
told him who he was and that he was
anxious having some little experience
In Photographic work, to get located in
q. gallery, learn more of the business
and the methods that Mr.. Brown em-
ployed. The latter told what his charg-
rs were for students, that he exacted
800 tuition and one years time, and
this was satisfactory. Myers, howev-
.er, having had some experience, Mr..
Brown said that if he cared to come
into the gallery for six months, he
would require him to remain no longer
and would not ask him any fees Fur
man if he proved satisfactory he would
give him a permanent position.
Myers apparently was very grateful
for Che kindness and at once began to
make himself familiar with the place.
He was a hard worker and very willing.
Mr.. and Mrs. Brown rather felt sorry
for the fellow, who was poor, and evil
denly anxious to learn the business.
They even went so far as to give him
a room, with all conveaiences, at their
home.
Myers evidently wasn't looking for a
thorough knowledge of the photograph
business, but rather a thorough know
ledge Of this one particular gallery. He
ACQUAINTED himself with where the wall
u4bles were kept, and, knowing good
camera lenses to be good property,
helped himself. Mr.. Brown left the city
a few days ago and Friday morning
Mrs. Brown found that the student had
not been to the gallery. Furthermore,
he failed to show up all day.
Friday evening Mrs. Brown had oc-
casion to use a certain grouping lens
and was surprised not to find II In Its
accustomed place. she thought per-
haps her husband had put it away in
some other place. and thought but little
more of the matter. When Mr.. Brown
arrived home, at IL o'clock Friday
night, she asked him about the lens and
was surprised when he told her that it
had been moved to his knowledge. Even
at that late hour Mr.. and Mrs. Brown
came down town and to the gallery.
They made q hurried search and found
missing a No. 6 b Sut.r lens; as61axS14
Steinhill lens; an SKID Dallmeyer rec
tilinear lens! a No. 3 Sx10 Morrison
wide angle lens; 4x5 rectilinear and a
4x5 wide angle view lens. also the dia-
phfam shutter that went with the lat
ter two. It was a pretty expensive loss
and one not easily replaced. No at
tempt was maze TO take away TIE IIloSl
expensive Of the larger lenses. sup-
poseily because OF their size and
weight. Strange, also, to say, other
valuables in the studio were not
touched, nor was there any effort made
to raid the house, to which the young
man had access.
y Mr.. and Mrs. Brown are very much
chagrined as well as disappointed in
their protege. They had explicit conf
dence in him and there was no indica-
ton that he was anything but an hon-
est and upright young fellow.
The robbery was reported early this
morning to the sheriffs Office and every
effort viii be made to apprehend Myers.
He has had plenty Of time ito get far
away, aitho 1t is not supposed he had
very much money. He is described AS
being five feet four inches in height.
light complexioned, with blue eyes and
brown hair; and wore a cheap suit of
small checked gray material and soft
black felt hat.