The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-05
THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 5, 1906.
BURGLARS REAP
IN NOISE OF 4TH
Downtown Office Buildings Are
Raided and Safes Cracked
During Celebration.

Taking advantage ofsthe noise of the
Fourth of July celebrations. and making
patriotic celebrators unknowing accom-
plices, a gang of daring thieves entered
two downtown office buildings last
night while the giant crackers were
many desks. The burglars broke into
the Northwestern building, on Hennepin
avenue, and the Railway building, at
Nicoliet avenue and Third street, some
time last night and after running sew
eral safes and desks, escaped with their
booty. ~ 81
Nearly a dozen offices were looted by
gang which must have made as much
noise as boiler shop, for safes were
chiseled and smashed and desks were
opened with hammers and bars.
The robbery was first discovered in
the Railway building when the en-
ployees in the offices went to work to-
day. Doors were open and papers were
strewn about the floors.
In the offices Of the Hail and Cy-
clone Insurance company the safe was
opened and papers strewn about, but
the thieves got no booty there, for G.
B. Steelman, manager. had banked the
cash on hand, $4,000, che day before.
Here, as in the other places, the rob-
bers knocked off the combination locks
work with chisel.
Missed Out on $4,000.
The office of the Western Passenger
association was also entered. The safe
was cracked, but not cent taken, the
thieves failing to open the strong box,
in which was $500 cash. They also
overlooked stamped tickets worth $780,
900, which, if stolen, would have made
complete loss for the company. The
private desk Of George l.. Rhodes in this
office was pried open and box Of Gig
ars taken. g1&5 :
Desks were opened in the offices of
Hanson and Martinson and a few post
age stamps taken. II A dollar watch and
vest were stolen From the Offices Of
the Askin Marine Clothing company,
but an attempt to knock the locks from
the safe was fruitless:s
i A safe in the offices .of Reed &
Smith and desks in the Folsom Realty
company were opened,e2but nothing of
value was taken. The same results re-
Offices Of the San Francisco, Idaho &
Montana Railway company and the
Northwestern Fuel company on the
ground floor. >s q IL. r. "
In Northwestern Building.
Ihe OffceS IN the Northwestern Dull0-
ing were evidently broken into by the
same men, who were little better re-
warded for their work. From the safe
in G.. w. Thompson 'ssoff fee, on the
fourth floor the 'bhssl ars obtained $50
Tdn cash and some stamps. The Smyth
Jewelry companyF was robbed Of a
small amount Of iewelry. The safe was
not opened. - - .
IN the office Of J.. Thompson, on the
seventh floor, the thieves entered the
large vault, and once inside, they
opened three smaller safes. The locks
were ruined and everything was over:
hauled, but no money was obtained
by the thieves. .,-,~.
According to the police, the work
| was done last night when the boom.
ing of the explosives was loudest. The
blow Of hammer or the cracking OF
a desk would not be noticed at that
time. especially: when the officers were
| on the lookout for careless boys. The
only clue left by the looters was a
small pocket knife found: on the floor
in the office? Of Northwestern Fuel
company.