The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-03-20
AGAIN
The CourtIand Proved a
Treasure Trove to a
Hard Up Porter
CIGAR STORE ROBBED

The cigar stand in the CORTLAND
Hotel, owned by ozier ana McCready
was robbed Tuesday night and S1741t
in cash was taken. Nothing else was
molested, the thief being satisfied
with the haul. At the time Of going
to press the thief had not been caught
but he was traced to Cleveland and
Manager George Wyatt Of the cigar
stand and George McCready, one OF
the owners, of Akron, went to Cleve-
land last night to try and locate him.
The person who is accused OF the
theft is John Dixon, who was former
iy employed about the hotel as por-
ter, but who was discharged some
weeks ago. He had information OF
where the money was kept and when
Il would be the largest haul II 1t could
be secured For the past few weeks
he had been employed as porter In
the Courtland Hotel pool room and
was at the hotel at all hours OF the
night. He had been told to leave
as soon as his work was over several
times by the clerk and only few
nights ago he was told to get out He
had a habit OF going to sleep in the
chairs and the settees in the lobby
Of the hotel. II is now thought that
be was awaiting his chance to do
what he finally accomplished.
Tuesday night after he had finished
his work in the pool room he was not
seen at the hotel until about o'clock
when the night porter, who was work.
ing around the cigar stand, heard a
noise and found Dixon, or as he was
known around the hotel "Snooks,'
there. He was feigning sleep and IL
Is thought that he was working on
the robbery then, for he Immediately
got up and went TO the barber shop
In the lobby, and soon left the hotel. !
The money taken was kept in tin
box In the bottom OF the cigar case !
and was the receipts OF several days |
Manager Wyatt was going TO bank |
the money the first thing "Wednesday
morning. The case is locked by n |
steel staple which secures the lower
sliding door of the case and is double
locked when the top door is locked
by a key. The thief cut a groove in
the lower case where the staple was
and bent IL to allow the lower door
20 slide. Then he took the box with
the money and made his escape.
The robbery was a bold one as the
clerk and bell boys, porters and others
we're in the lobby all night long. He
could work very quietly but as the
place Is not much secluded II took
nerve 70 do the Job at tnat time or
night with as many persons In the
lobby as there were. Not the slightest
suspicion was entertained by Clerk
Cook or any others.
The theft was discovered by Harold
when he opened the stand
yesterday morning. He notified the
police Immediately and also his en-
ployers but no trace was found OF
Inc missing man until In the evening
when the conductor who took the six
O'Clock car TO Cleveland was seen. He
'aid that a man answering the de-
,crlptiOn had boarded the car and
vent to Cleveland. II was discov-
,red that the man was corresponding
With a young lady in that city and Mr..
dcCready and Mr. wyatt left for that
,lace last night where they will search
or him with the aid OF the police.
The robbery Tuesday night was the
bird in as many months. The first
vas the theft of diamond sample
runk with contents said TO be worth
1000 and the other the tapping OF
he cash register in the bar when
bout $40 was taken.