The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-07
BLEW UP A STORE
Robbers Work Havoc at Frank
Effinger's on South Side.
Wreck Place of Business in
Cracking Safe.
WELL PAID FOR PAINS
Four Hundred Dollars in Money
Is Secured.
BlOOhounds Trace Cracksmen to
Where Got Into Buggy.

Burglars blew the safe in the groc-
cry store of Frank Effinger at 1928
Kansas avenue with charge of nitro
giycerine, at 4 o'clock this morning,
tearing the door completely off the
safe and hurting scraps of steel
through show cases and plate glass
windows leaving the building strewn
with pieces of steel, glass and broken
wood from the near furniture. Nearly
$400 in gold and paper money was
secured by the robbers who made their
escape before persons hearing the ex-
plosion could get to the building or
summon the police
The store is several blocks south of
the last regular beat of the police. the
district is patroled only by an officer
who covers a large territory in the
southwest part of the city and the men
had a long start of any pursuit. The
first person to learn of the safe blow
ing was Dad Reed, who lives just
across the street. At $3.50 o'clock he
looked out and saw the light burning
in the store, scarcely half hour later
he heard a terrific explosion and run
ming to a window saw that the curtain
had been drawn at the store and also
saw a man running from the rear of
the store. He Immediately called Eff
finger on the telephone with apologies
for disturbing him fearing that there
might be nothing wrong at the store.
The proprietor who lives less than two
blocks away on Van Buren street,
hurried to his place of business to find
the whole front of plate glass broken
out and the inside of the building in
confusion of wrecked safe and fur
niture.
safe Found Wrecked.
THE first object to greet my eyes
once inside said Mr.. Effinger. was
L. .l-x-
in the middle of the room. Of course,
turned to the safe first thing; the
entire front was torn off and a guam
tity of silver coin was scattered over
the floor in front of it while some still
remained in the bottom of the safe.
This silver had been placed in the
safe in the till as is my custom. The
till was split in the middle. the silver
scattered and apparently disregarded
But one of the small compartments
of the safe where the bulk of money
was kept was additionally protected
by locked door the key of which 1
kept in the cash register. This was
unlocked by my own key, which they
| evidently knew where to find and all
| the paper and gold taken. Another
| small drawer contained $50 IL gold.
| They took $40 of that and left $40
! which is past explanation, unless they
| Just plunged a hand in, graSped and
fled. I have figured up as close as
possible and find that the sum missing
! is $500. Only last evening I paid a
big bill with endorsed checks If ]
had only used the cash, l would have
| saved lot.''
Police and Bloodhounds Arrive
The police station was phoned abou
| 4:15 o'clock Sergeant Ross climbed
on the wagon with Driver Leach anC
they hurriedly dragged Sheriff Wilker
son and his bloodhounds out of theil
| beds, then made a run to the wes
part of the city for Chief Eaton anC
| arrived at the wrecked grocery shortl,
| after ) o'clock. An examination o
the debris from the safe showed
where the "soup' had been applied
to the top edge of the door ant
"cased'' to retain the liquid explosiv
in the crack. Two lines of fuse hat
been attached and led toward tn
rear of the room where fragments o
the unburned fuse were found fifteel