Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-30
Unknown Man Kicks Hole in
Door of Store Room.
CULPRIT NOT ARRESTED
Disappeared Soon After Breaking a
Hole in Door at ottumwa Hardware
Co. Store and Could Not Be Found
Reason for Action Unknown.

Just after the crowds of people had be-
gun 10 come from both the local opera
houses, someone, evidently either a
poid Would-be thief or crazy man.
broke the glass in the front door of
the Ottumwa Hardware Co.'s store on
East Main street, evidently for the
purpose OF making an entrance to the
place. He was seen by two boys how
ever, and when they started toward
MIN ne ran west on Main street a dis
lance of about fifty feet, after which
ne walked along as if nothing unusual
mad occurred. The police are at a
loss to understand the motive of the
unknown destroyer of property, and
the very holiness of the act makes it
seem rather improbable that il was
performed for the purpose of burglary,
put rather through spite or as an an
NC OF some half drunken or irrespon-
sible person.
Heard the Crash.
Martin Anderson and A. Young, two
boys residing in the East End of the
CITY, We're walking east on Main street
on the way home last night, and when
near the st. Louis store they heard a
crash as of breaking glass directly
across the street. They ran over to
the Ottumwa Hardware Co. establish
ment and before arriving there they
saw man run away from the hard
ware store and west on Main street
until he had passed two or three
stores, when he slowed down to a
walk and proceeded west out of their
sight, walking along as if nothing had
occurred out of the ordinary.
Anderson and Young did not ATTEMPT
TO follow the man, although they secur-
ca good look at him. They say he
was dressed plainly and wore brown
overcoat and black felt hat, that he
was below the average height and look.
ed young. They are not sure, however.
that they could identify him If they
We're to see him again.
Police Notified.
The two boys notified the police. and
Chief Gray, who was just starting from
the police station to his home, hasten
ed to the hardware store, Captain Gal
lagher meanwhile making trip to the
rear OF the establishment. George
Haw, Jr., and his brother, Carl, the
propr!etors of the store, were called by
telephone and Chief Gray took charge
of the store until their arrival. Moth
ing was missing from the stock and it
/ is very evident that no one entered the
store until Chief Gray and Merchants
Police Ed Johnson crawled through
the hole in the door. No trace of the
marauders could be found in the rear
of the building.
The Second Time.
This Is the second time in two
weeks that this store has been broken
open. About two weeks ago unknown
parties entered through the front door
during the night and removed some
revolvers and knives from the show
cases in plain view from the street.
These parties made their escape and
are supposed to have been the same
who, about a week later, removed a
glass from the window in the rear of
the Harper & McIntire Co.
hardware store in the same
block and stole therefrom nine
revolvers. Last night nothing was
secured and less judgment though
more nerve, was displayed in effecting
an antrance than On the previous &C.
casions.
| Could Not Be Found.
Chef Gray and Captain Gallagher
made a search through the railroad
yards in the hopes of finding the man,
and throughout the night the police
men kept sharp lookout for him, but
no one answering to the description
given by the two boys who saw the
glass breaker could be located.
Brilliantly Liuhted.
The store was brilliantly lyighted
and is left so each night 1t is, in fact,
probably the most brilliantly lighted
store along the street during the
night, and why anyone should try to
break into jail by breaking the glass
in the door is more than can be easily
answered