The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-14

(COnt1rDed from rage OnS-J
through the glass partition in course
toward some shelves which were filled
with jars and other articles which
contained seed and other things. This
particle could not be located
Found Pieces OF Fuse.
AL Hopkins, who has seen a number of
safes which have been blown, also exam
\ ined the safe but was unable to discover
anything new. However, he was success
full in finding two pieces of the fuse
which was used, thereby removing any
doubt that nitroglyerin was used. One
piece was about four inches long and the
other was about two inches. he believes
that the two pieces were used as one
piece in causing the explosion and that 1t
was divided by the concussion- He also
believes that there was but one explosion.
He has seen every safe that has been
| blown in the city during the last twenty
years and asserts that this job was done
by a professional and one who was ia
miliar with the use of nitroglycerine.
It is an established fact that the ROD
bers made no attempt to drill the SAFE put
thought the course they used was better
because of it being but a small safe.
The robbers failed to leave any definite
that they know of persons IN the city
who have knowledge CT the affair." They
began working on the clews and de-
velopment may become known at any
time.
Officer Heard Nothing.
c. c. Smith, merchant policeman,
who is on duty at night, is one OF the
officers working on the Information
that has been secured he passed
through the alley and along Sixth ave-
nue. a number of times. His last trip
through the alley was about o'clock
but he did not notice anything 1rregu-
lar. The robbery may have been com
mitted before this time. The rear
door of the building is fifteen or TWEEN
ty feet from the gate which is on the
alley line and it would have been diff
cult to discover the broken window.
The robbers in getting through the
door cut the glass and set the broken
parts on the paving outside and lean
ed them against the building. Mr..
Smith was called Immediately after
the robbery was discovered and has
been assisting the police in the prog
ress that has been made. He believes
that two shots were fired.
Mr.. Smith has seen a number of
safes that have been blow open and
says that this job was the work of an
expert who was thoroughly acquaint-
ed with every particular concerning
the safe and the system of opening it,
including the amount of grease that
was necessary to open the door.
One Shot Fired-SuImmers
Detective Frank Summers, who
with Detective Anderson, was the first
officer to see the safe after it was
blown, believes that but one shot was
made. He explains that the concus-
sion of the shot wrecked the door and
the inner door.
He and Detective Anderson are now
looking for number of characters who
are known to be in the city, their eff
forts may result in an arrest Detec-
tive Anderson is working on the same
theory advocated by Detective Sum-
mers.
May Make Arrest Today.
Chief of Police Maurice Jenkins says
the work was done by experts. He has
collected information which will prob
ably bring out sensational develop
ments. A certain character in Topeka
with a police record may be arrested
sometime during the day.
d. o. COe and the members of the
firm and employees this morning made
a thorough search Of the store with
hope of securing additional informa-
ton which would assist the officers.
Mr.. Coe stated that the robbers secur-
ed about 800 in currency and checks.
He said this was a larger amount of
money than was usually kept in the
safe and that a number of collections
were made after banking hours which
made it necessary to leave the money
there.
He believes that these checks viii aid
the officers in solving the mystery. None !
of the checks could be found this morn |
ing He was unable to discover any |
damage done to the safe His son found 1
that the pennies in the cash register l
were gone. Neither were able to make 1
known the identity of any stranger or 4
suspicious person who had been seen 1
in the vicinity of the store recently.
The Prudential Bank.