The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-06-07
CAUGHT IN 4 WOLF TRAP
A Juvenile Burglar Caught in a Trap
That Was Set for Supposedly
Larger Game


For several weeks the butcher
shops OF Reihsen & Klinkhamlner
and Morgan & Carlson has been the
prey for some petty thieves, who
have broken into the Establishments
frequently and extracted small sums
OF money from the drawer Of the
cash register. The police have been
on the watch for the culprits but up
to the present time they have been
unable to apprehend the offenders.
Wednesday night the officers
thought they would try a new plan
and they secured four wolf traps
which they placed in the rear of the
Morgan market, with the expect
alton that thev would be able to land
the robber Or robbers.
Walter Vandenburg, a young lad
about IL years old, was the person
caught in the trap, and 1T develops
that he is the one who has been
making the successful raids on the
meat markets.
Wednesday night q little after 10
O'Clock young Vandenburg intended
to make a haul on the Morgan meat
market. and in the darkness he was
caught in the trap. which closed
over his hand with a snap that held
tighter than he could loosen. The
boy went over to the Waverly hotel
ana with the assistance of Landlord
Evans and several Others they finally
loosened the trap sufficiently to re-
lease his hand, which was caught at
the end OF nis fingers. The boy
showed a lot Of nerve under the pain
that must have followed with his
fingers in the trap, and never finched
when the men removed the iron laws.
The sharp teeth cut into the flesh
and his fingers were swelled to some
extent.
The lad went to his home and
when he appeared at breakfast this
morning his mother asked him what
was tile trouble with his hand, and
ne replied that another boy hit him
over The hand with a stick.
The police officers went to the
house to arrest the Lad but his
mother said that he had started off
for school.
Young Vandenpure evidently
thought that things would blow over
in a short time, and kept in hiding
all the morning until about noon,
when Policeman Tremaine saw him
sauntering along the street down
town. and placed him under arrest.
There does lot seem to be any
question but what Vandenbu1g is
the one who has broken into the
various establishments during the
past two weeks. He had a regular
system, it seems, and when he
wanted any money he visited the
butcher shops and helped himself to
the money that was left over night.
1t was reported by the officers that
he broke into the Morgan shop three
nights IN succession, and made his
fourth attempt Wednesday night,
when the wolf traps we're set. He
started in at Morgna's Sunday morn
ing early and went again the follow
ing two nights. He also went into
Goscbe's hardware store Tuesday
night, only getting into the repair
department, from which he carried
off a steel two-foot rule. The same
night he broke into VanA lstine's
implement warehouse and carried
off a number Of knives and left there
the two-foot steel rule. Wednesday
he displayed quite an array of knives
to his school mates and in a generous
spirit he gave nearly all of them
away. The boy has been a regular
visitor at the meat market of Reih-
sen s. Klinkhammer, getting a small
sum Of money on each occasion, and
one time he was fortunate enough
to find IS in the cash register Some
time ago lie narrowly escaped arrest
for breaking into the %postofice boxes
and extracting mail from them, but
he was given a chance to do better.
That he is a candidate for the re-
form School at Plankinton there is
no question and he will in all proba.
blIity be sent there after his hearing
is held.