Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-01-16
Elma Postofflce Burelarized.

Elma Postofflce Burelarized.
When Postmaster Frank Turnkey
came to the postoffice Saturday morn
Ing, q surprising sight met his gaze,
and it did. not take him long to grasp
the fact that he had been the victim
Of robbers. The front door had been
sprung, with the aid Of a chisel, SO
that it might be opened. This was
the first evidence he faced, and on en-
terlng the room he was soon convinced
that the thieves had been successful
and accomplished their purpose. The
large safe, which was modern one,
of the Cary make, had been blown
open with dynamite or some similar
explosive and the interior completely
demolished. The door, while yet
hanging by its hinges, was q sad look
ing sight, being torn to atoms, 50 to
speak. The outer covering of the
door wasrall that remained, the bal
ance lay about the room in pieces.
From appearances, it is inferred
that the robbers had, with the aid OF
q sledge, broken the knob from the
door, thus getting chance to place
their charge behind the outer cover.
ing, and the first charge had evidently
done all that was expected Of it, for,
as above stated, the door, lock, and
interior of the safe were completely
demolished. The ssiron box" or safe
ty chest from the interior was carried
TO an empty box car in the railway
yards and there broken open and
Efified, or at least it was found there
later.
No clue as to whom the robbers may
be has yet been found, but all agree
that 1T was the work of professionals,
who knew how to do the j ID to q
nicely, and they were we'll repaid for
their nights work, for, as reported by
Mr.. Trunkey and the inspector who
is here, they secured s653.26, in cash
and stamps, over half In the former.
The postmaster mansged to scrape
up enough to do busines, and the SER
vice was unchecked.
The postflice building stands by
itself and no one rooms Ia the same,
thus the robbers G, uld work with lit
tie fear Of detection Some Of the
nearestresidents report having been
aH akened by some unusual noise
about two O'Clock, but as 1t was not
repeated, they were som sleeping
again and forgot the incident until
hearing Of the robbery next morning
While the government stands th,
loss Of the money and stamps, the los
of the safe falls on the postmaster
and it Is quite a loss to him.
Thugs and robbers seem 20 have
Elma spotted as an "sasy mark" and
the success with which they operate
is evidence that they lave 1t sized ur
about right. This mikes the fourth
robbery In the last eighteen months,
and In no case were the thieves cap.
tured exoept one, when the New
Hampton Ulcers picked them up or
|suspicion of another crime, and /,
was accidently discovered that they
were the pillagers OF Z=iner 5 store al
| this place. .-Elma Vidette.
L Z =
A somewhat grimly amusing Incl
dent in the present coal situation &C
curred Jan. 10th at Arc,,la, Ill. Th.
st. Paul Press dispatch reads: car
cola, which during the past two weeks
has suffered q fuel famine, to-nigh,
has coal to burn. To-day an lllinoi.
Central train, loaded with fifteen car.
uf coal, stopped here to repair the 10
connective. The coal was Immediately
contiscsted by body of citizens. Eff
forts to buy the coal from the railway
company were fruitless, and tht
crowd, which had Increased to 500 ol
600 people, set to work to unload the
coal. Many prrminentcitiz ms assist
ed in the raid. Then followed a list
OF bank pr sidents, pastors Of church
les, merchants, etc. Farmers VIII,
we're in town turned their wagons in
to drays and hauled coal to the dy
| A weigher was secured and . astrictac
count kept 50 as to make settlemen
with the c, mpany owning the GOAL.
eREscc MARKET.
Correetad twice week.l
Wheat. ...... ............. 600
Barley ...... .... .....35d4
Oats ................ ......2692
Shelled Corn. .............. $50
Timothy seed per cwt. ..... 2. .75(a o.