The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-07

feet from the front where the safe
had stood. One OF the caps with fuse
connection was also found. The force
of the explosion had been downward
demolishing the bottom of the safe,
curling the lower edge of the safe
door and blowing fragments of the
lower part of the steel shell through
the desk and all the glass in the
room. No evidence of any packing
whatever could be found which in
muff1e the report of the explosion
which, however. did not even awaken
the people next door
Hounds on Trail
Going to the rear of the building
where it was seen burglars had forced
the door. the bloodhounds We're re-
leased to pick up a trail. They both
agreed on one which was un-
distinguishabIe in the myriad of
tracks behind the store made by
wagons and delivery men and fol-
lowed the scent off to the east and
bridge where Euclid avenue crosses
a guIley near the Santa Fe tracks.
There the hounds stopped and the Of
ficers found the footprints of a
smooth plate shod horse and the
wheel marks of rubber tired buggy
near a post which was readily ac-
cepted to be the rig in waiting for the
robbers. Here the usefulness of the
hounds ended and the officers fol-
lowed the horse and wheel tracks
west on Euclid. James Sinner, living
at 1912 Van Buren street. reported
that he had heard a horse run past
his house south just after O'Clock
at breakneck speed and looking out
saw two men in buggy lashing
single horse, a lady living on the
same street says she heard the run
ming horse at the same time and the
men were talking in low voices. The
robbers were evidently driving for the
Burlingame road and sped across the
fair grounds for the rig was heard to
cross the Shunganunga creek bridge
on the Country club and Burlingame
road by Frank Humbert of the
Baughman ice cream factory who was
aroused by the running on the bridge
which he supposed was runaway
team There seems to be no doubt
that that was the route taken by the
burglars and that they Intended to
hide in the country for a short time or
else get a train at some of the little
stations out that way
Chief of police and the sheriff imme-
diately got the long distance and the
rural telephone lines and, called every
station along the line, and as. many
farmers as they could, warning them
to keep a lookout for the rig. Every
livery In the city was also. called and
questioned concerning any rigs let out
last night but none were found to have
been hired, hence 1t would seem that
the rig came from somewhere with the
robbers as none of the Small4 town ltv-
cries have claimed 1t to have been. one
of theirs That the rigeci,le Is a sound
one is further evidenced by discovery
by Detective Hutton of two impressions
as of two men lying on the east side
of the Santa Fe embankment just be-
hind the chicken houses of the grocery.
These impressions are in such posi-
tion that men lying in them would have
q good view of the store robbed with
out being seen and are but a short dis
tance from both the store and the
standing place of the rig.
Other Possible Clues.
There has been sofae trouble at this
grocery with the employees. The whole
force Went on a strike a week ago and
a new crew has been engaged. Some
suspicion was suggested on that account
but Mr. Eftinger refused to consider it,
Still it Is thought that the trick must
have been turned by some one who
knew the habits of the proprietor and
that there was money in the safe and
where the key to the inner box was
kept. On the other hand it is quite
doubtful if any other than an expert
enced hand could have done so neat and
successful a job of safe cracking. No
suspicious stranger can be remembered
by the proprietor to have been in the
store within the last few days. except
an agent for a. kind of glue who may
have seen into the safe. 1t is very un-
usual said Mr.. Effingham this morn
ing for him to have so much money
on hand. He had just collected a mum
Der of large accounts OF old soldiers
who had received their pensions and in
addition to that his business had beer
greatly increased by the Sunday Schoo
convention He also stated that he had
been running pretty close lately be-
tween collections and payments and hao
not kept an account in the uptown
| banks which accounted for his havins
| the whole amount in his own safe. With
such the case the loss will be heavily
| felt