The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-01-09
SAFE BLOWN To
AID DOUCHERTY
|cRACkSMEN BURN THE EVl.
DENcE USED AGAINST FORM
Err SUPERINTENDENT.
BONDSMEN PROTECTED
Shortaee-Deed May Cost the
City iIions--Prosecuto
Offered Brbe.

Peoria, H., Jan. S.-Rccords and pa
pers used to convict N c. Dougherty
former superintendent of schools. ant
on which his bondsmen could be sued
have been stolen and burned. Dyna
mite was used this morning to blow
rooms in which they were stored
Once the strong box was opened the
papers were seized and burned In i
furnace in the building where thc
board had its quarters.
| The sensation produced by the de
struction of the Dougherty evidence
was made greater by the statement OF
Stato's Attorney Scholes, who says
that he was offered bribe to drop the
Dougherty case, He was asked not
only to allow the other cases against
Dougherty upon which he could be
convicted again as soon as he was
released from the penitentiary, to
drop but also TO refrain from suing
his bondsmen. Mr. Scholes spured the
bribe. but did not tell of its offer until
today.
Then he issued his statement. In
II he offers immunity to the men who
cracked the school board safe If they
will tell the names of the men who
hired them. He also makes the direct
charge that the men VINO robbed the
safe were hired either by Dougherty,
the convict, Dougherty's friends his
bondsmen or their friends.
May Cost City Millions.
The destruction of the evidence
rsed against Dougherty may cost the
city of Peoria millions of dollars. BE.
fore 1t was burned it had been intend
ed TO file suits against Doughorty's
thendsmen TO compel them to make
good on the shortage With the ro.
cords and papers gone 1t may be if1
possible TO prosecute these suits sue.
cessfully.
The only hope that Peoria now has
to get back what Doughcrty stole Is
that the work of the craftsmen was
not as complete as they thought II.
Some papers and documents escaped
destruction and are still in the hands
Of the authorities. Whether they fur
nish sufficient evidence to press the
other charges against Dougherty
when he Is released and sue his bonds
men is a question.
The blowing up Of the safe contain.
ing the Dougherty evidence took place
between 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon
and s o'clock this morning. Between
these hours the school board roms
were untenanted. The robbers, there
fore, had plenty of time in which to
do their work an I ESCAPE before dis
covered
Police Have no clews.
The police who are working on the
case have not learned exactly when
the safe was blown. They have abso-
lutely no clews. but are certain that
the cracksmcn were hired At pres
ent they are looking for "Nosey"
Moore and Gene" Gillhausen. local
crooks. who are regarded as safe
blowing experts.
The police feel that States Attor-
ncy Scholcs may lend them important
aid in their work by telling the name
of tho man who offered him a bride
This name has been withheld by the
.tate's attorney. who contented him.
self with making the charge that he
had been approached and asked TO
name his price for dropping the
Dougherty case. In connection with
the safeblowing Mr. Scholes made the
statement which follows:
Il will offer immunity from punish
ment 10 the men who cracked the safe
II hey will disclose the identity Of
the men who hired them 10 do the
work. ! am satisfied that the plan TO
rob the safe did not originate with the
actual robbers have two theories.
They were hired either by DOughcriy.
his friends or by other interested
parties You know who they arc.
The Dmgherty bondsmcu. against
whom the school board proposed % in
stituto suits tO recover the amounts
stolen by Dougherty. are all promi-
nent Peorians. They are. O J Bal
ley l.. F Houghton. r. A. Cutter. W
~ Benton. W. II. Miller. 3 F. Bios
ON. r " KemPsheil. Matthias HoH-
man and the estate of Calvin c. Lines
Aianv Of hem are bankers
One reason whv DuBgherty might
desire the papers destroyed is the fact
that they contained positive proof
that more property than that sched-
uled by him ard offered the school
board exists and thai he transferred
il to his sons and family
Robbery Not Motive.
The local police have not as yet
enough evidence on which TO accuse
A.. -.