Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-22
THIEF MAKES BIG
HAUL NEAR C|EN0NS
Steals Team Of Horses, Buggy and
Harness, and Makes Away
With Other yaluables
J. D. SPENCE THE VICTIM
o. SPENCE THE VICTIM
John Monroe, spenoo's Farm Mand,
Strongly Suspected, and Warrant Is
Issued For His Arrest-Monroe Dis
appears With the Stolen Goods
While tho Family is Away.

A wholesale robbery, where the THIEF
took his time and helped himself TO
all the yaluables he could lay his hands
on. was reported to the sherlff's office
this morning by j. d. Spence, TAR
mer living two miles southwest OF
Clemens. John Monroe, who has been
IN Mr. Spences employ as farm hand
for three weeks, is strongly suspected,
and n warrant for his arrest has been
issued by Justice w. NJ. Clark. The
theft will aggregate q total Of at least
$3.50, and among the articles missing
are a valuable team OF mares, a buggy
and harness.
Mr.. and Mrs. Spence We're away from
home wednesday, when the robbery
occurred. joining in family reunion
at the home of Mr.. Spence's brother,
]. A. Spence, two miles north Of St
Anthony. The children were at school,
and as q consequence Monroe was lett
all alone. This gave him ample time
to make careful inspection of the
premises, and help himself to what
struck his fancy. At 4:30, when the
children returned, Monroe was not at
home, and the horses, buggy and har-
ness were gore.
The children did not suspect any
thing wrong, however, until evening.
thinking that their father had given
the hired man permission to use the
4 70 1nhpn Monroe
did not return, and the team was still
out of the barn, the children began
to be alarmed. They did not expect
their parents home until later IN the
evening and decided to go to bed. Up
on going upstairs the sight that greet
ed their eyes told even their young
minds that robbery had been com
nitted. Articles in their parents room
were strewn I'LL about the floor. an axe
stood near the trunk, which had been
broken open by repeated blows. The
trunk, which the children knew con-
tained articles Of value, was rif1ed OF
its contents. There was no sleep after
that for the little folks, who remained
I'D until their father and mother re-
turned.
Mr.. Spence, Of course, Immediately
suspected Monroe, and as soon as he
could this morning started out to
track the man If possible. He followed
the tracks CT the buggy half mile
west, where turn to the north was
made. Here he lost the trail, for there
were too many other tracks.
The articles stolen from the house
consisted Of four gold rings, gold
bracelet, gold neck chain and q Ger
man silver case watch, pair of goiq
cuff buttons and some silver, and sew
eral silk handkerchiefs. Most of these
articles belonged to Mrs. Spence, and
were especially valued because of the
fact that they were heirlooms and
keepsakes. A revolver and suit OF
clothes, the latter valued at $40, be-
longing to Mir. Spence, were also TAX
en-. Mrs. s'pence's pocketbook, con-
tanning 50 in silver and a Clemens
Creamery Company check for 81, is
also missing.
The horses that are stolen are span
Of mares weighing about 1000 pounds.
One Ma ray and the other brown.
The bugs b not a good one, but is
valued at ar. Spence estimates
Me value of 1ssg. horses at $225, and the
HARNESS at $15, making loss IN tne
rig alone OF $3.50. The articles taken
from the house are conservatively es-
timated by Mr.. Spence at 500.
John Monroe, the young man who Is
suspected OF the crime, and for whom
a warrant charging larceny has been
issued, is about % years Of age. He
came to Mr.. Spence's home three weeks
apo Wednesday, and had contracted to
remain thru March. He was well rec
commended by a friend of Mr.. Spence,
who had known him while an employe
Of the Bromley Tile Works, two years
ago. Monroe is very dark complex
toned. and might be taken, both from
his complexion and his features, Tor
a light mulatto. His lips are quite
thick. and his nose flat and inclined to
pug. He has worn no beard of any
kind until last Sunday, when he did not
shave his upper lip. Monroe claimed
to live in Kansas.