The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-04-26
PARTLY GOOD BUT
MUCH MORE IS BAD
BOLD BURGLARS
CONTINUED From Page OneD

came from Lewiston. O'Conner, who
attempted to steal an overcoat from
the Chicago store is in the county Jail
awaiting hearing on the charge of lar
ceny, as is also Carroll, who was his
accomplice.
One of the boldest burglaries in the
history of Umatilla county, followed
by the burning of the building, was
perpetrated early yesterday morning
when the three men entered the gener-
al merchandise store of Sim j. Culley
in Weston, blowing open the safe and
riflling the same, and afterward, either
through intent or carelessneSs, setting
fire to the building, destroying about
$4,000 worth of goods, running the safe
and damaging the building, especially
the interior
At &C. ock yesterday morning T.
M. Stewart discovered the interior of
the Culley store to be in flames and
Immediately turned in an alarm to
which the residents of the little town
responded with alactricity. Two
streams of water were soon playing on
the fire. and by hard work the con-
Migration was brought under control
and prevented from spreading to ad-
joining buildings, although the loss on
Mr. Culley's building and stock will
reach approximately $4,000, with no in
surance The building was complete
ly Quilted. and the stock not damaged
by the flames is water soaked wreck
1t was at first thought the fire start
Il
cidental cause, but when an investiga-
ton was made. it was discovered that
burglars had been at work. The safe
was blown open, all of the account
books had been removed and placed
on top. resulting in an almost total
loss Of the bookkeeping records.
Thieves Disappointed.
AS far as can be learned, the burg
lars were not rewarded for their work
in any large sum- as there was not
mora than S. in cash in the safe. Mr..
Culey had been conducting closing
out sale, and it is supposed the burg
lars thought large sum was cotained
in the safe, as large sales had been
made after banking hours. However,
such was not the case, and either
piqued by their failure to secure what
cash they wanted, or through careless
ness, the men who entered the build
ing through a rear window, first riff
ing a blacksmith shop to secure the
necessary tools, set fire to the struct-
ure.
The building was owned by H. A.
Brandt, the upper floor having been oc-
copied by DR.. Short, who will suffer
of
reached his rooms The fire also had
gained considerable Roadway on the
upper floor, but was soon eXtinguished.
AS soon as the robbery was dis
covered, the wires was used, with the
result that the theft Of a handcar from
the O. r. & N. section house was COM
municated to the officers The men en-
ployed the hand car to get them out of
town the three men having been seen
at an early hour going toward the sta
ton house. one of them carrying
burlap sack, well filled. At the same
hour a horseman was seen galloping
madiy in a southerly direction, but
this is not believed by the officers to
have had any connection with the
crime.
With what clues available, the Off
GERS took the trail of the bad men, and
kept a sharp lookout both in Walla
Walla and in Pendleton. Wire mes
sages were sent in all directions, and
it was not considered probable the
burglars would make their getaway,
unless they succeeded in getting into
the mountains. Sheriff Till Taylor, of
Umatilla county, arrived on the scene
within a short time after the robbery
was discovered, and bent every effort
to apprehend the men.
Close Call for Town.
It is fortunate for the little town
that the fire occurred early in the
morning before the brisk breeze of
yesterday sprung up, otherwise moth
ing could have saved the block in
which the Culley store was located.
Surrounded on either side by one and
two story frame structures, the fire
would have gained such Roadway that
the volunteer department would have
been helpless.
Organized Gang.
The Walla Walla police co-operated
in the search for the men who turned
the trick at Weston yesterday morn
ing, as it is the belief that thew are
the men who were run out of Walla
Walla last week under suspicion of
having belonged to the gang that ope-
rated at the Chicago store last week.
They are we'll known to the local au-
thorities, and if they came to this city
IN the stolen handear. it is a safe
wager that they would have been ar
rested some time today. According to
meager descriptions. the trio seen hur-
rying through the Weston streets yes
terday tally with the men who were
given orders to leave Walla Walla. and
the police are convinced they are the