The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-07-23
MARSHAL CARSON
CAPTURES BURGLARS


iastic over the results of the bond cleo
tion furnished an opportunity for two
burglars to enter the Office Of the
Stewart Hardware Il Furniture Co.
store and their daring capture by City
Marshal Carson furnished the conclud-
ing event for the celebration Wednes-
day night of last week. Frank Parker
heard the noise in the building shortly
after one o'clock and appraised Night
Officer Smith. A guard of belated cell
ebrators was placed around the build
ing. Marshal Carson, who was former
ly employed at the store and who is
familiar with all the rooms Of the
building. was notified and secured the
keys from Mr.. Stewart.
Although a number Of people pro-
tested against Mr.. Carson's action he
entered the building, searching the
hooks and crevices with his fashlight.
He discovered the men in the tent de-
partment. They threw up their hands
at his command. he having covered
them with his big revolver. The burg
lars. who gave their names as c. Jones
and John Smith, while the building
was surrounded had made an attempt
to escape by means of the skylight.
A ladder, which was too short to reach
the skylight, had been raised by the
men.
The burglars declare that they made
up their minds to fight rather than be
taken. They considered capture as
meaning a certain term in the peniten-
tiary. They had secured guns from
the store, but had been unable to find
cartridges. If they had found the am
uniton, they would undoubtedly have
made it hot for the officers. With a
brace and bit the men had attempted
to cut hole in the floor. They could
not have escaped by this means, but
could have made it difficult for the Of
ficers to extricate them from under the
floor of the store building.
1t is thought that burglars also at
tempted to break into the store of
Hubbard Taylor on the Heights. The
latch of one of the doors was sprung,
but the men undertaking the job were
probably frightened away.
The authentic report of the attempt
ed burglary has been given out by Mr..
Stewart:
Wednesday night, July Is, aboutmid-
night and while the town as still cele-
brating the Al victory for Columbia
highway, two men, giving their names
as John Smith, Chicago, and c. Jones,
Salt Lake, entered the store by break
ing the office window. No other
damage was done in the office, except
to rob the money till of the pennies
and nickles left there on transferring
the money to the burglar proof safe.
They evidently transferred attention
to the tool department. for after secur-
ing two fash lights from a show case,
they pulled out brace drawers and
yrenched drill bits from the display
doors. 1t was evidently during this
work that they made noise attracting
the attention of Frank Parker, passing
the east front on his way home after
late work at his cigar store. Parker
called to Harry Wood and Fred Coshow
also late participants in the celebra-
tion. Two of them watched the en-
frances while the other secured night
officer, B. B. Smith, who lost no time
in going to the south door on State
street, near the Office window. A flash
of his night light revealed two men
crowded at this door. Evidence showed
the latches partly opened. His demand
to stand and hold up hands brought a
scurry for dark corners. Smith fired
by the fash of his light. The steel ball
from his automatic, passing through
the glass, creased the hat of one and
passed under the arm sof the other,
lodging in case of steel wedges.
Smith then took station of vantage and
phoned to W. Nj. Stewart. also sending
messenger to make sure.
MIR. Stewart hurried to the scene, in
the mean time, on leaving home, phon-
ing to Chief of Police Carson, who
lives at some distance. On arrival at
the scene MIR. Stewart relieved Mr..
Parker, who went for a shot gun, as it
was thought the thieves would try for
the roof. With Officer Smith at the
east end the position was held until
Chief Carson arrived, then he and
Stewart joined Smith at east end of
building, which is 200 feet long, with
one entrance on Second street, three
on State street and two on Third.
MIR. Stewart states that arriving at
east entrance he handed Carson the
keys and a few reminders about light
switches, unnecessary as Carson had
worked with him for about seven years
prior to 1914, and is we'll acquainted
with the building and interior fittings.
He then hurried to entrance near office,
expecting a get away where they had
already partly unlatched the door. The
opposite the office. AS the officers ad-
vanced down each aisle they retreated
to the northwest corner, where "hands
up" from both officers brought them
to capture.
The switch at east door floods this
entire room with light. The men ad-
mitted to Chief Carson that they eX'
pected to be hunted with flash lights
and fight their way out-but the flood
of light paralyzed their plans and it
was soon all over but the search of
their persons, which revealed a small
ASSORTMENT of usefuls. two flashlights
and the exact amount of small change
short in the till.
Some 2O-38 S. & W. cartridges made
the play of sneak thieves look fshy
and led the next few days to discovery
of five sticks of dynamite, Is dynamite
caps charged with electric wires and
38 S. & W. double action revolver fully
loaded. These were found under some
canvas at the pointEzwhere they COM
piled with ''hands up" Also there
was found two braces, three bits, one
steel drill and a pick. The last was
used to force the Office window and in
a futile attempt TO start the iron fire
doors leading to the warehouse and
furniture departments. The braces
and bits were used in boring several
holes in the floor near the post office
wall. which joins on north.
The men waived examination and ex-
pressed desire for speedy sentence and
in default of $1,000 bonds went to Jail
to await next term of court.
The first wave of pity for two men
hungry and in their first act of crime,
passed away with the finding of loaded
guns and enough explosives to blow a
dozen safes. They admitted their in
tent to fight it out. but the lighted
room and knowledgesthat even if they
succeeded in overcoming the officers
they still must contend with the guards
outside who we're we'll protected by
Al