Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-03-13

telegraph operator, Nelson Atwater,
was the first to discover that the
burglars were at work, and he
promptly telephoned to the central
Office and that office got busy and
notified several Of the residents of
what was taking place. Among the
number was Mr.. Frusher, the sta
ton agent of the Ill. Central, who
promptly dressed and went and
aroused a number Of the residents
before the thieves had finished their
Job. While he was doing so re-
volver was fired at Mr.. Atwater the
ball passing through the south
window Of the station, and out of
another window. After completing
their work the burglars-there were
three Of them departed, and later
Sheriff Hennessey and his deputy, j.
i Pentony, were notified, and i'm
mediately drove toward Nashville.
When the officers were about
mile and a quarter east of Mason
vile they noticed what seemed to
be an unusual looking paper lying
in the road. Closer investigation
showed the paper to be a small pack
ages of bills agglegating the sum oil
six hundred and thirty dollars. Be-
fore leaving Manchester they had
been apprised of the stealing by the
robbers Of a buggy and black horse
The farm from which these were
stolen is about twenty rods east OF
the bridge near where the money
was found. Evidently the burglars in
their excitement and endeavor to
escape, lost this amount.
On reaching Nashville they found
much excitement and many theories
but no more definite clues or infor-
nation than they already had.
The finding Of the money con-
vinced the officers that the culprits
had gone towards this city, and they
continued their search in that d.
rection.
A slight snow, sufficient to retain
tracks, fell soon after the thieves
left Masonville. The officers scan
ned the road carefully on both sides
as they proceeded, and jus. as they
reached the old Denton farm, part
Of which is within the limits of this
city, they noticed black horse
grazing in cornfeld. A buggy
was also found near by. and little
further down the road were distinct
tracks of three men correspon ling
with those previously discovered and
these they followed along the road
through field, across the river on
the ice, and up Union street short
distance where they were lost, ow-
ing to the side walks being cleaned.
5heriff Hennessey went back for his
horse while deputy sheriff Pentony
searched for further traces. Some
sidewalks farther on not having
been cleaned, the tracks were again
observable and SO the officers traced
them for several blocks on Union
street, losing the trail at intervals
only to find it later on. The rob-
bers had evidently decided as they
went along that barn we'll filled
with hay would be good place OF
refuge, and as day break was doubt
lees near, such retreat was advis-
able.
One of them left the others and
entered Calvin Yoran's barn and be
evidently reported that there was
only small quantity of hay there.
The footprints led to several differ
ent barns and out again then to Geo.
Links barn which was locked.
They apparently held a consulta-
ton in the shade of the evergreens
near the Link residence. The trees
kept the snow from melting and
this enabled the officers to get some
very good measurements of the foot
prints.
From there on only two tracks
could be found and these we're easily
followed across the fields to the fair
grounds, into the barn and different
sheds there, and then in north
westerly direction across nearby
fieldadjoining Mr.. Starbird's barn on
Franklin street. By this time, half
past three or four, the snow had par
TALLY melted ir some places and,
although many Of their tracks were
clearly defined, no trace of their