Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-05
ROB STORE WHILE
OWNER Steps OUT
CLEVER THIEVES HELP THEM
SELVES WHILE JONAS SAX
GOES FOR CHANGE.
TAKE SITS FROM SAFE
Proprietor Leaves Place Of Business
to Get Bills Changed With
Strangers Alone In
the Shop.

A new method OF thievery has been
sprung upon Ottumwa and its intro
duction cost the victim, Jonas Sax,
$17S.
Thus far the police have failed to
get the thieves and Mr. Sax is unable
to give very clear description of the
men because Of failing to detect the
loss for almost two hours after the
money was stolen. That diamonds
and jewelry as we'll as other valuables
were not taken Mr.. Sax ia at a loss to
understand unless it is because the
time In which the theft was perpe.
trated was too short.
Declined the Sale.
The method of the thieves was as
simple as 1t was effective and Is a
new scheme for separating a man
from his money in Ottumwa. The
first of the pair entered the Sax
place on East Main street early in
the afternoon, and Charles Prevulsky,
a brother-in-law of Mr.. Sax, was in
charge of the store. The stranger
asked for collar button and offered
in payment a SIS bill. Not having the
change Mr.. Prevulsky declined to
make the sale as he would not leave
the place of business. to get the
change.
Sell a Collar Button.
Later, or about o'clock. Mr.. Sax
having returned from his lunch and
being alone in the store, stranger,
believed to be the same man, entered
and asked for a collar button worth
cents and rendered a IS bill in pay
ment, Going to the safe and finding
no change, Mr.. Sax stepped out of the
store and going into the McCarroll
hardware store got the bill changed
and gave the stranger the $4.95 in
change.
In little while another stranger. a
larger man, dropped into the Sax
place Of business and asked to see
some handkerchiefs. Selecting one he
proffered $40 bill, and again Mr..
Sax having no change went to the
McCarroll store to break the bill. Upon
returning the customer was given his
change and Mr. Sax entered the store
and busted himself about the place
| without giving any thought to the safe
until about $3.50 when he had occasion
to look IN 1t and found that all of the
money he had had there was taken
He Immediately recalled the two
strangers, both Of whom for a time
had been left in the stDre while he
went out for change.
Finds Much Money Taken.
An invoice of the money till and safe
showed the following missing:
One hundred and fifty dollars; 1c
city warrants: $3.50 check OF H
Welsh on city waterworks; $1.50 post
Office money order from Charlton.
Mr.. Sax called the attention of the
police to the case and accompanied by
Mr.. Prevulsky. Chief Gallagher watch
ed all of the out going trains at the
two stations riding the Milwaukee
trains to the junction to see If anyone
boarded the trains there but saw nc
one leave from that place.
! Mr.. Prevulsky was able to give 8
description of the smaller Of the two
men. he having been refused the pur
chase of collar button by Mr. Pre-
whisky before the pair visited Mr.. Sax
The description was that of a man Of
about medium height wearing a blue
serre suit and sailor straw hat. He
was smooth shaven and inclined to be
thin or peaked faced.
| Pair Works Together.
I Mr.. Prevulsky was standing near the
Sax store when the second stranger
was being served by Mr.. Sax and saw
the man he had formerly waited upor
standing in front of the Sax store ap
parently waiting for his pal, but die
| not give the matter any thought al