Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1905-10-03
Clever Trick Is Turned By Myster-
ious Thief Who Gets Away With
$3.50 of Government Funds.
UNCLE SAM WILL INVESTIGATE
Post Office Officials Very RetiCent
and Refuse to Discuss the
Robbery.

Last Friday morning it leaked out
despite the efforts Of the authorities
to the contrary that the Lewistown
Post office had been robbed Of about
$3.50 in currency and silver by some
genious who was both daring and
clever.
The facts as near as we can ascer-
tain them are as follows: Some time
between $3.50 and 1920 o'clock Thurs
in the post office was absent, the party
committing the robbery entered the
building, which had not been locked
for the night. and climbing over the
partition proceeded directly to the safe
where in some manner. he solved the
combination to the safe and vault and
hurriedly helped himself to the funds
in sight, and equally as hurriedly, took
his departure by the same route he had
entered. This seems to be the only
possible theory that can be advanced
as to how the robbery was commit
ed. The rear doods were locked, the
windows are all protected by heavy
iron bars and not a glass was broken
nor a rod sprung. In fact, there was
not trace left indicating that the Of
flee had been visited save the fact that
the funds had disappeared. The rob.
Der was even considerate enough to
lock the safe prior to taking his de-
parture and when the clerk, who
sleeps In the office, returned to retire
for the night at about 10:30 p. m. there
was nothing to put him upon his guard
that a caller had been there during
his absence and he retired for the
night as unconcernedly as he has in
the past.
In the morning when the safe was
opened for the business of the day
the robbery was discovered. There
was a hurrid call for Sheriff Slater
and Marshall Burke who went over
the ground investigating everything
carefully, but not the slightest clue
was visible and the robbery today is
as profound a mystery as ever.
The authorities at Washington We're
at once notified and an effort was made
to keep the matter quiet in the hopes
lIldl SOIllelIlIlS III uGNGlOp OIl TIC
outside that would lead to who the per-
petraters of the crime might be, but the
matter got out in some manner and
towards evening was generally known
on the streets.
Post Master Pfaus is still inclined to
not discuss the affair any more than
to admit that the IDbbery occurred
and it is possible that he may have
some information that it is not desr-
able to give to the public at this time.
1t must be said in justice to Post
master Pfaus that he has for sorle
months urged and insisted upon the
representatives of the owner Of the
building to place screen around the
frame work of the boxes to the ceiling
in order that the front door of the Of
flee might be left open until a reason
able hour for the accommodation of the
patrons, and it was only upon notice
that he would refuse to pay any more
rent until this work was done that the
matter was taken up by the lessons.
When they did SO finally, they were
compelled to send east for the screen
necessary for the work, and in the
meantime the post office is robbed and
someone will be looser to the extent of
$780, The screen is now in position,
carpenters working all day Sunday to
complete the work, but it is a great
deal like locking the stable after the
horse has been stolen.