Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-12
FAILS IN BIC JOB
Burglar Surprised at Arndt Cigar
Store on Twentieth
Street.
GOODS READY TO HAUL AWAY
Thief Steps Out Front Door as Pro-
prietor Walks to Rear Of
Room.

When Edgar E. Lawyer, one of the
proprietors, entered the s. NJ. Arndt
company's store on Twentieth street
Sunday morning at an early, hour in
order to deposit the days receipts
from the various stores operated by
the company, he interrupted a burglar
in his work, and probably saved the
company from a loss of the most val
liable stock of goods in the store.
Mr. Lawyer had checked up the re-
ceipts of the St. James stand in Dav-
export, and Of the Second avenue store
in this city, and had the cash with him,
intending to deposit it in the safe at
the Office on Twentieth street before
going to his home. 1t was nearly
O'Clock when he entered the store.
Out of Front Door.
He opened the door, and switched
on the lights. He went to the rear
of the store, and as he did so noticed
that several insurance policies and
like papers generally left in the safe
were lying on a desk. He did not
pay any particular attention to this,
supposing that they might have been
carelessly left outside. Just as he
reached the desk he head a click from
the front of the store, and turned in
time to see a man hurried leaving by
the front door, which was fastened by
spring lock. The man was stoop-
ing forward, and Mr.. Lawyer could
not get a view of him sufficient to iden-
tify the man. When he saw the
stranger leaving he did not at first
realize the nature of the visit which
had been paid the store, but ran after
the fellow, thinking that perhaps he
was the victim of joke.
Goods Packed.
When he returned to the store, he
was surprised to find in the rear of
the store large packages. These on
investigation proved to contain all of
the highest priced brands of cigars
in the store, something like $500 Gig
ars in all. and there were other
boxes piled up ready for tieing into
packages. One bundle contained a
large number of high priced pipes, and
cigar holders, only the most expensive
ones having been selected. Mr.. Law
yer at once went to the safe, which
had been left unlocked. He found
that the burglar had pried open the
private drawers but had found moth
ing of value The cash register stood
on the other side of the room, but had
not been touched. There was about
$40 in the register. In his haste the
burglar departed without his hat or
shoes, which are now at the police sta
ton. The owner may have them by
proving their identity. An investiga-
ton showed that nothing had been
stolen, though a wagon load of goods
had been prepared for removal.
Enters Through Skylisht.
An investigation by the police re-
vealed that the burglar had entered
the store by means of a skylight. The
entrance was difficult. and in lowering
himself to the floor. the man had
broken the gas fixture slightly.
Mr.. Lawyer describes the burglar
as a man of medium stature and build,
and partially bald.
The supposition is that the man had
the raid of one side of the,
store when he was surprised by the
entrance of Mr.. Lawyer. He was I'M
doubtedly in the front of the room.
and when Mr.. Lawyer went to the
rear part of the building, he was given
a good chance to escape without being
or at least without being
captured.
Escaped In Rig.
1t is supposed that the burglar es-
capped in a rig which he must have
provided himself with in order to re-
move the goods which he had gather
ed together. He had provided himself
With heavy Irvine enough to have tied
up the entire stock of the store, and
had undoubtedly intended TO remove
he more valuable goods from all of