The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-11-09
ROBBERY AND EXCHANGE OF SHOTS
Daring Of PostoGfice Thieves at Swan
ton Thursday.

To the Editor of The Republican,:
Just think of it. Mr.. Editor, some bad
fellows have dared to invade the peaceful
precincts OF Swanton-cu cute, demure,
shy-faced, pretty little Swanton, hold
ing her gracefully poised head as lily
in the mountains was entered by
naughty men. we hope from afar.
Prominent among the more recent of
Swanton's public buildings is new
postofice, fresh from the architects
hands, hugging the south side of Mer-
chant Goods more pretentious building
and with that building faces on the rail-
road platform.
This newly finished Office was a neat
little structure Of two looms, generous
lY answering all the requirements Of the
Office, with the public in one apartment
~and the United States officials conduct
ing the affairs Of the Government in the
other division. Merchant Good with
Mrs. Good occupied rooms over the
store. These rooms are reached by two
long flights Of stairways, one from the
front and one from the rear.
About two O'Clock on the morning of
November End, 1911, the merchant was
aroused by jarring crash which he
first thought might be from the slam of
door by the postmaster, Mr.. Albert
Baker, arranging the early mail; but
discovering that it was only two o'clock,
| he went to window and could dis
tinctly hear the rambling of thieves in
the postoifice, but too close under the
the side of the store to be seen from the
window. He had at command only a
small revolver and with it fired through
the open down in the direction of the
working robbers. An answering fire
quickly came from the outside, the ball
crashing IN destruction through three
large glass panels of the window of the
store directly beneath Mr.. Good. With
criminal daring the Williams proceeded
needless, apparently, of the ordinary
caution of stealth Soon Mr.. Good re-
peated his fire, drawing again quick
response fire, it seemed, at random.
In short time stiffness prevailed, the
robbery had been accomplished and un-
der the curtain Of night the demons
SUNK awav unseen.
The rascally intention was deliberate
ly planned. Buckets and similar oh
structions had been placed along the
steps Of the two mentioned stairways to
trip any one VINO might run down the
steps in the dark.
When Mr. Baker arrived at his usual
hour the office was in ruins. The in
truders forced an entrance through a
back window, then going forward to
the public part where a strong iron safe
stood. By an explosive, many times
more powerful than was needed for
their accomplishment, they demolished
| the safe, blowing parts into fragments
and twisting other parts in intricate
shapes. The violence of the explosion
not only shattered the glass in all the
windows, but tore large hole in the
planks Of the floor and left the parti-
ton in a serpentine appearance with
many breaks.
BY fortunate chance only small
amount Of change had been left the pre-
vious evening in the safe, but the equal
of Silt or more was there in stamps and
other valuables taken in the haul.
In the future Merchant Good will man
his high fortress with heavier artillery
bearing more effectively on assaulting
parties approaching at his gate as
thieves in the night.
And, Mr.. Editor, with this simple re-
port of a criminal happening, Rellim
breaks his Swantonpen and leaves its
fragments with things that aregone.
RELLIM.
Swanton, Nov. 9TH, 1911.