The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-05-17
FAIRLY RICH HAUL REWARDS THEM
Diamonds, Money and Checks Taken from Billings
Brewery-Steam Laundry Also Forced to
Contribute Some.

1.-TWO safes were blown open and
robbed Sunday night, one in the Office
of the Billings Brewing company and
the other in the office OF Erickson
& Scott's steam laundry From the
latter the cracksmen obtained COM
paratively little to reward them for
their trouble and the risk they ran,
while in the case OF the other they
were some better rewarded. That
both jobs were done by the same men
is almost certain, as is shown by
the manner in which the safes were
opened.
Robbed Brewery First.
The brewery safe was the first one
robbed, although the robbery was not
discovered until yesterday morning,
when the bookkeeper arrived and
opened the office His attention was
arrested by a quantity OF plaster lying
on the floor, which upon investigation
was shown to have come from the
doors of the safe, one OF which stood
wide open, with huge, gaping tear
in the shee OF metal forming the outer
plate. On the floor lay the dial and
knob of the combination lock. The
inner doors of the safe had not been
!! locked and consequently were not mo-
Tested by the thieves, as they were
opened by simply turning the handle.
| The steel drawer forming one OF the
| compartments of the safe was MISS
| ing, having been carried off to be
opened at leisure.
The appearance of the safe showed
plainly that nitro .glycerine was the
| explosive used in forcing the door. AT
ter the dial of the combination lock
was broken off the fluid was poured
into the hole and a fuse attached,
which was lighted and the rest was
easy. The force of the resulting ex-
plosion not only opened the door, but
also blew out the tumblers of the
lock and tore an az" shaped hole into
the outer plate, about foot long in
each direction. Small pieces of metal
flew directly across the room and
struck the desk and window casing,
out of each of which particles were
broken.
In the drawer taken were a diamond
ring and an Eagle badge set with
diamonds. The combined value of the
two pieces is given as between $500
and $400. In addition to the jewels
cash somewhere between $50 and $40
was taken, together with all the pa.
pers, consisting of notes, insurance
policies and other instruments be
longing to the company. Among the
papers were five checks, one for 500,
one for $11, one for SIS, one for $57
and another for $685. All were made
payable to the order of the company,
consequently will not be of value to
any one, as the banks have been mott.
fed and payment on them has been
'tstopped.
Did Their Work Early.
1t is believed that the brewery was
robbed between 9 and 10 O'Clock.
Charles Koch and Will Girwood were
passing by the residence of Phil Grein
who is manager of and lives imme.
diately behind the brewery in Twenty
fourth street, at about 9:30 o'clock
They saw man leisurely walking
UP and down as though waiting for
some one. In passing him, Mr.. Koch
secured an excellent view of the man,
whom he describes as being of about
ordinary height and weighing probably
100 or 10 pounds. He had a heavy
sandy moustache, closely cropped and
wore grey hat creased military fash
ion Mr.. Koch is confident of his
ability to recognize the man again
were he to see him.
Charles Ashbaugh says he
heard an explosion which sound
ed as though coming from