The Detroit times., 1910-01-31
FOR CONCENTRATED
NERVE THIS THIEF
TAKES THE BUN
With Lights Turned On He Makes
Eleven Trips From Eppinger's
Store, Logging Away Bundle of
Furs Each Time.
Claim Agent for Insurance Company
Receivers Loot in Robbers Room
After Police Fall Down" on Job.

Chief OF Detectives Mcdonnell an
nounced, Monday morning, that 81 800
worth OF furs. out of the $4,000 worth
stolen. last Wednesday from Lou ].
Eppinger's store, No. 301 Gratiot-ave.,
had ben recovered.
The furs were recovered, Saturday
morning. They were found In a room
on Adams-ave. east. by an insurance
claim agent, after detectives had pre-
viously called at the house, and been
assured that the man whom they were
seeking was not there. and that his
room was locked. The furs were later
found In the room.
The Eppinger fur robbery would
furnish material for a roaring police
burlesque.
Between 8:45 and 1915 o'clock,
last Wednesday night, a bow-legged
man made IL trips into the Eppinger
store, through the front door. Mr..
Eppinger left the store at $3.50. A
policeman discovered that the front
door was unlocked, at 10:30. Ere
long, the police realized that a bur
glary had occurred.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Kate Boettcher,
No. 277 Gratiot-ave., watched the bow
legged man emerge from the Epping-
er front door. IL times. each time
with a big bundle. Nine OF the bun
dies were wrapped in paper, the other
two were fur rugs, rolled around other
furs.
Mrs. Boettcher. recently bereaved
OF her husband, felt lonely. and sat
In her front window. looking at pas
sersby on the street. She never sus-
pected burglary rs she saw the bow
legged man Juggling away Eppinger's
furs. She noticed that the store was
lighted; saw no nervousness or hesi-
tation about the man, and made up
her mind that Eppinger was moving
At 1915 o'clock. she saw the POI
liceman on the beat. but the bow-leg-
ged man had made his last trip short
ly before. Later In the night, Mrs.
Boettcher heard OF the burglary. She
told Detective Baker. who called to
Investigate, that the man had turned
up Hastings-st.. and had returned in
so short a time that he could not have
walked farther than Elizabeth-st.
Detectives Baker and Fenton, with
Mrs. Boettcher's clear description Of
the burglar, started on a search OF
the rooming houses in the vicinity OF
Elizabeth and Hastings-sts. On
Adams-ave. east, near Hastings-st.,
they found the wanted mans room.
The landlady told them that a man
answering the description had rented
room from her at o'clock We'd
nesday night, but she said she hadn't
seen him since. His room was locked,
and he had the key, she said.
Having decided that the man had
left, the detectives also left.
Saturday morning, Mark A. Ship
ley, chief claim agent for the Fidelity
Il Casualty Co, which insures Ep-
pinger against burglary, came here to
He visited Mrs. Boettch-
err took up the same trail that the
detectives had followed so successful
ly, and, he, too, wound up In the room
ing house. He was also told that the
room was locked, and that the mis-
sing roomer had the key.
Shipley called up Detective Baker
and told him to bring a locksmith.
Thep opened the locked room. In
a corner was a closet. That was
ODeHeu, lOO, anu plsOVO WI III VI AP
pinger's furs rolled out.
That was Saturday morning. After
the story had been CLEANED from Mr..
Eppinger Monday morning, the sub
feet was mentioned to some officers
aroundN police headquarters. Shortly
afterward, Chief Mcdonnell announc-
ed that he had some news.
THE Eppinger furs have been re-
covered" he said.
Eppinger's store was plundered
about a year ago, by a young man
who worked for him. Those furs
were not recovered, though the thief
was arrested.
The police are looking for the bow
legged man. He Is about 80 years
old. feet 8 inches tall. and wore a
short. dark coat, brown trousers, and
derby hat. He was a blonde, with
a blonde mustache.