The daily sentinel., 1905-05-23
Thief Entered Store

Last might burglars entered the
grocery store of VI. J. Walsh, on
the corner of Second street and
Colorado avenue, and attempted
to break open and rob the big
safe in the rear of the store; but
were interrupted in their work
and made good their escape.
About half past l o'clock, Mr..
Smith, who runs a hat store in the
room adjoining the Walsh grocery
was awakened by a noise in the
Walsh store. After listening a few
minutes he was convinced that bur
glars were in the store. Hastily
dressing, he went out on the street
to look up an officer. He met Maj.
Wharton, the night watch. near the
BuclSius meat market. coming toward
the Walsh store. Smith told Whar-
ton that he believed someone was in
the store.
Just then Chris O'Neil. the night
marshal. who was coming from the
depot. came up. and he and Whar-
ton walked to the rear of the store
Peering through one of the windows
they saw that an oil lamp was burn
ing low in the rear of the store, but
could see no men. The windows in
the rear were darkened by coats
hung over the panes.
The back door was found open.
II was very dark in the alley. The
two officers entered the room and
turned on an electric light. No one
was to be seen. Maj. Wharton stood
guard at the back door while Mar
shal O'Neil made the rounds of the
building. 1t was evident that the
men had made their escape.
The big safe standing in the rear
of the room was then examined. The
outer doors of the safe had been
evidently been at work on the inner
doors when alarmed. They left their
tools near the safe. a large sledge
hammer. evidently taken from
blacksmith shop, had been used in
knocking off the doors. The knobs
and combination had been knocked
Off. There was monkey wrench,
chisel. blacksmith tongs and a
punch found. The punch had been
driven into the keyhole of the inner
doors and there broken off An i'm
provised dark lantern was found,
This consisted of "A cigar box with
candle set inside.
The back door of the store had
been pried open with a chisel. No
thing else about the store had been
touched
Mr. Walsh was quickly notified.
and the officers left the building to
make a search.
Mr.. O'Neil states that as he and
Wharton entered the rear alley he
heard some one running down the
alley in the rear of the Buckius meal
market. Thinking, however, thai
some of the burglars were still in
the store, he thought that it would
be best to enter the building instead
of following the man or men he
heard running.
Evidently when the officers met in
front of the store the burglars saw
them through the front windows, as
the arc light was burning brightly
and made their escape.
The driver of the mail wagon states
that he saw three men running in
the alley near the postoffice about
the time the officers We're in tho
store. The driver was bringing the
mail to the postoffice from the mid
night train.
On arriving at the store Mr.. Walsh
The burglars had gone to work on
the safe as soon as they entered the
building
The officers patrolled the town,
keeping a sharp lookout. Mai. Whar-
ton ran in three Mexicans whom he
caught in the railroad yards trying
to beat their way on a train. These
men were locked up on suspicion.
The cigar box used for dark Ian
tern had the brand of the "Nut
Shell Cigar" upon 1t. As far as is
known, no local dealer handles this
brand.