The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-21
WHY SHOULD She
ROB The CHURCH,.
FEMALE .sRATFLEsn rs "A PUZZLE
TO POLICE.
Caught in the Act of Burglary,
Equipped with Cracksman's Tools,
Strange Woman Laughs at Patrolman
and Asks 'Whta He Is Going to Do"
-Arraigned in Court.

Is there mystery for the sleuths in
the bold attempt Of Mary Strong to
church early this mornings
Detectives say the case is mysteri-
GUS, yet only partial solution has been
offered. The woman was not after
money or valuables, some of them say,
for church money is never kept in the
building.
There must have been something
else there that the woman wanted and
said one of the officers today. She is
evidently Of a good family, she would
not risk a long term Of imprisonment
for the sake of few pennies that might
have been left in church study. She
knew the church well, for she lost no
time in getting to the study and beating
have not yet been examined, but a clue
to the mystery may be found among
them
Detectives are working on the mys-
terry, and as the woman was caught in
the act by the officer, they expect her
to. tell all she knows in order to get a
minimum sentence. She will be given
an examination in police court tomor-
row and at that time the facts Of the
case will probably come out.
Mystery Deepens.
Raffles the amateur has been outdone
and by frail little woman, whose dar-
ing attempt to rob the Highland Park
Presbyterian church, Emerson and
Twenty-second avenues N, has thrown
police headquarters into turmoil.
Mary Strong was the name given "
the woman when she was arrested In tho
act of burglarizing the church early this
morning. M
Her work was characterized by all
the daring and GOODNESS of the old bur-
glar. Frying open the basement win
dow with 'tiimmy' she lowered her
self into the basement taking with her
al burglar 8 outfit. She easily made her
way to the main body of the church,
where she attacked the heavy, double
doors leading to the trustees room.
She first hacked a large piece Of the
door out with the /" Jimmy but failed
to expose the bolt. Then stepping back
few feet she hurled her body against
the door with all her might. With a
loud crash the lock snapped and the
| doors swung open.
Undaunted by the noise and not even
fearing the church mouse, the woman
4 dropped on knees and began on the lock
of the roll-top desk. This, too, gave
away under her attack.
Patrolman Enters.
AS she was fumbling among the pa
pers she heard the floor creak behind
her and turned around to face Patrol
man O. G. Hall. Of the North Side sta
ton, whom pedestrians had told thai
someone was in the church. The bur
glar was not even startled.
"Well, now that you've caught me
what are you going to do about it?'
she asked sauci1y, as she picked up he
grip and prepared to follow him.
She was locked up at the North sta
tion and this morning was arraigned Il
police court on a charge Of burglary
!: y - Refuses Inf ormation. y
The woman refuses absolutely to tel
the police anything about herself. Sh
is stranger to them and prefers to re
main so. In her little grip wer
found a Jimmy knife, screwdrive
and two bars Of brown soap, such as i
used by cracksmen to hold nitro glyce1
in in safe doors. There was also tn
indispensable handkerchief, and abou
$6 in small change. Only the bottle o
nitro glycerin was lacking to make tn
outfit complete for safe blowing
The woman has jet black hair, is Q
slender build and is about 80 years OLE
She is we'll dressed, talks intelligent
and has the air Of refinement. He
home is in an eastern city, she say
and declares that no one was impl
Gated in the burglary with her. H..
The detectives are searching the ret
ords to learn her past as they are po
tive that this is not her first attemI
at burglary.