Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-01-19
ROBBERS Handle
GROCER ROUGHLY.
CHARLES RENNEH HELD UP
THEN FASTENED IN ICE CHEST
IS Relieved OF S25
DO the Rcst--Is In cold Stor-
age Quarter Of an Hour,

Unusual activity was evident among
tho members of the local police depart
ment Yesterday in their efforts 10 dig
up "A clue which would result Ia the
arrest ana conviction OF the two high
waymcn who entered the star Groc-
en Peoria street and Katy tracks,
Tuesday evening Several parties were
arrested during the day On suspicion,
but later released when the proprietor
Charles Rcnnor, was unable to Identify
them as the men who held him up In
his place Of business for the contents
Of the cash register.
About o'clock Tuesday evening, a
Well dressed woman came into the
Rcnncr store and purchased a pack
age of smoking tJoacco The pecul-
lar actions of the customer aroused
the suspicion Of the proprietor, as he
was at loss TO know what she would
do with the weed She remarked on
leaving that the tobacco was for her
partner with whom she was going to
dance.
A few moments after the woman left
The store, two Young men moderately
well dressed hurriedly entered. Adj
vancing In the direction Of the pro-
prletor the younger Of the demanded
that he hold up his hands The other
was close at his side to examine the
storekecper's pockets, FOR which he
was rewarded to the extent Of several
dollars In small change. While Renncr
was stlll hopelessly staring into the
muzzle Of 3s cannon. the second
party Of the pair was ascertaining the
hiding place OF the cash lie al last
found the drawer in the meat market
part Of the establishment and emptled
It's contents Of s25 into his pockets.
Renner who Is a small and helpless
looking individual. was handled rather
roughly by his aggressors when he
refused TO obey orders, one Of the
robbers placed a half Nelson" on the
storekeeper and led him towards a
huge Ice box, used for storing meats
ilc was crammed In AT the side door
which was held fast by a number Of
barrels and boxes piled against the
chest
Ronnor said yesterday that he was
imprisoned IN the chest FOR about flf-
teen minutes, but on gaining freedom
the robbers had made good their cs-
cape The chest IS Of such construc-
tion that Rcnner would have been
find an opening for escape. He found
his way out by removing several large
cuts of beef from the display part OF
the chest and unlocking the front door.
Renner was so frightened from his
experience that on gaining freedom he
hardly knew what to do first. Rushing
to the front door Of his place he looked
ont only to see the darkness OF the
unlghted streets and three silhouetted
forms walking rapidly In the direction
NJ the street car lmo three blocks north
of his store. lie Immediately ran TO his
living rooms above the store. informed
his wife OF what had happened, aud
telephoned his experience TO the po-
lice
Seargent Fields at the police station
notified the Officers Of different beats
when they gave their hourly report at
o'clock, but no arrests were made
during the night officer Adams
came In contact with n party Of three
near the corner Of Main and First
streets n half hour after the robbery,
whose actions seemed peculiar. As
soon as they caught sight Of the officer
they engaged in a whispered conyersa-
tlon and walked rapidly down Main
street, entering restaurant to throw
the officer Off his track Adams fol-
lowed the trio several blocks but gave
up the chase, as at this time he had
not been informed " the robbery The
persons bore n close description 10 the
ones who pulled or the robbery.
The report as first given on the
streets was that the groceryman had
remained In his ice chest during the
whole night. This idea however was
prepostorious, as the rerrlgerators for
keeping meats are air tight, and per-
son would be unable TO live In the
cramped quarters for more than few
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