Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-01
GEMS WORTH $4,000
Robbers Secure Diamonds and
Other Precious Stones From
a Chicago Window
STREET CROWDED AT THE TINE
One of the BoIdest Thefts Ever Com
mitted in chicaao-Five Men Con-
cerned in Robbery-Hole Bored hru
Brick Wall and Window Platform
The Thieves Make Their Escape.

Chicago, Aug. diamonds and
other precious stones valued at $10,-
600 were stolen from the show WIN
dow of Louis Weber & Co., Clark and
Harrison street, yesterday afternoon,
while hundreds of persons, We're pass
ing in the street The theft of the dia
monds is said to be the boldest of its
kind ever committed in the downtown
district
Entrance to the vacant saloon be-
meath the credit house was gained by
prying open a rear door and tearing
away enough OF fire wall so that a
man could crawl thru. The robber or
robbers in this way got under the win
Cow. in which there was a display of
$4,000 worth of diamonds. A hole was
bored thru the window platform large
enough to admit a mans arm, and
after this. it was an easy matter for
the burglars to get the gems. 1t is be-
iieved that the entire window would
have been emptied had the robbers not
been frightened away by one of the
employees who went to the window to
Show customer ring. Then the bold
robbery was discovered and several
men rushed to the basement In the
hopes of intercepting the thieves, but
they had escaped.
Central and Harrison street police
stations were Immediately notified by
telephone. and squad OF detectives
was hurried to the scene Of the rob
berry. Up to an early hour this morn
ing no trace of the thieves or diamonds
had been found by the police.
The exact number and value of the
precious stones stolen will not be
known until this afternoon, when a
thorough Invoice will be taken of the
jewelry window. Henry l.. Weber,
manager Of the firm, said last night
that he thought the loss would reach
$4,000.
Five packages Of unmounted stones
valued at $4,000 and two large sun
bursts worth $1,000 apiece were among
the gems taken by the robbers. The
other $1,000 worth of stones consisted
of diamond, ruby and sapphire rings
and earrings.
Detectives working on the case are
of the opinion that at least five men
We're concerned in the robbery. 1t is
thought two men went into the base
ment while the others stood in front
Of the window facing on Clark street to
obstruct the view OF the public while
their accomplices were at work
The robbery was committed between
5 and $50 o'clock. When David Schaf-
fer, one of the jeweiry clerks, perceived
the hole thru the window platform he
at first thought that rat had eaten
its way thru the flooring, but he soon
noticed that part of the diamond dds
play was gone. He rusred to the office
In the rear and notified the Weber
brothers of the robbery. Immediately
search of the basement was made,
but the burglars had made their escape
with the booty.
For several years there has been a
saloon beneath the credit house. but
about month ago the saloon keeper
moved out. and the basement was for
rent. On the Harrison street side of
the building there are two PASSAGE
ways, leading into vacant easements.
The robbers broke open the door near
the alley and entered a basement ad-
joining that under the Weber place.
In order to get into the next basement
it was necessary to break thru three
foot fire wall.
With a sledgehammer the work of
penetrating the wall was soon accom-
them the men could work at their leis-
AZ Id
that the holes thru the brick wall and
the window platform might have been
bored several nights ago, and the men
only waited for good opportunity to
secure the gems.
Covering the window platform was
a black velvet cloth, and it was an
easy matter to tear thru it, the dia-
monds We're scattered on the platform
and raised jewelry stand. The hole
thru which one robber pushed his arm
was just large enough for him to see
where the most precious stones lay.
1t is thought the robber got the prec-
ious stones with a long, slender stick,
at the end Of which was small hook.
AT the time the jewery was taken
Clark street was crowded. Policemen
pass there continually going to and
from the Harrison street station. Clark
street electric cars stop on an average
of every minute at that corner. But no
one could be found who noticed any
thing wrong in the window or saw any
one enter or leave the basement.
The detectives made a thorough
search of the basement, thinking that
the robbers might have dropped some
of the jewelry or left some clew in their
haste. The large ice box and the many
barrels in the vacant saloon We're look
ed over, but nothing was found.
1.-The scheme to rob Weber's jewelry
window had probably been planned for
months. and those who stole the stones
know how to get rid of them without
being detected" said one Of the detect
ives working on the case.
Lieutenant Andy "Rohan detailed
eight detectives on the case, and IN
structed them to arrest all crooks VINO
are known to do this kind of work.
Very Low Rates to California, Oregon,
Dat,