The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-03-12
JACKSON MAN
WOUNDS NEGRO
LUMBER Thief
Herman Roloff, Hiding in
Bungalow, Shoots Black
as He Flees.
FORTY SHOT LODGED
IN BACK OF NEGRO
Contractor Placed Powder in
Lumber, But Exploding Stove
Didn't Reform Thief.

Herman Roloff, a Jackson con-
tractor, last night shot negro whom
he had caught stealing lumber from a
bungalow being erected in the county
seat for John Heinberg.
Lumber of many varieties has been
disappearing nightly since Mr.. Roloff
began the construction of the build
ing. When he first discovered that a
! thief had been appropriating the wood,
he loaded some of the heavy pieces
and placed them where they would be
certain to attract the attention of the
miscreant.
He bored holes in the lumber and
then filled them with powder and shot,
after which he covered the holes with
a thin layer of wood so that the thief
would not discover the trap.
Early the next morning after he had
loaded the lumber, there was an ex-
plosion in the home of Clarence IN
derwood, a negro, who lives only q
short distance from the new bungalow.
When inquiries were made, Under
wood stated that the coal had thrown
off more gas than the chimney could
carry away, and consequently the
pressure blew off the stove lids. No
serious damage was done.
Mr.. Roloff suspected that the gas
was due to the powder and shot that
he had deposited in the pine boards,
and consequently thought that the
thefts of lumber would cease.
'This joke has gone far enough"
Mr.. Roloff informed his friends. az
am going to hide in this bungalow and
watch until l catch the thief, if il
takes me all summer.
But a few days later he discovered
that the lumber pirate had called
again. The next night more lumber
disappeared, and when he totaled his
loss yesterday morning, Mr.. Roloff
stated that at least $500 worth of
pine had been carried away.
Shortly before dusk last night he
concealed himself in a corner of the
new house, accompanied by his trusty
shot gun, which had been loaded for
bear.
He had been on picket duty less
than an hour, when he noticed a man
enter the yard and step hurriedly to
the lumber pile. Gathering up an
arnful, he started away. "Haltw
shouted Roloff.
Instead of hating, the form began
to vanish, but he dropped the lumber.
eff you don't stop, I'll shoot" warned
the contractor. But the thief ap-
parently believed he could outrun or
binary bullets under pressure, and he
put on full speed.
Bang" went the gun, and the lum-
Der thief tumbled over in heap after
emitting one sharp wall. 81 bagged
him." said Roloff to himself, as he
started for Sheriff Summers. After
notifying the Sheriff, Roloff summon
ed DR.. Hays.
They went to the scene in a body,
and just where the contractor said
the target would be found, lay CIar-
ence Underwood. Scattered between
the waist line and his knees were
about forty bird shot, imbedded in the
flesh, but not deep enough to be con-
sidered seriously.
"Yo' sho am some shooter, boss;
OATS whit yo' am" said Underwood
to Roloff. The negro was taken home,
where his wounds were dressed. No
warrant was issued for his arrest last
night, but Sheriff Summers announc-
ed that he would be formally placed
under arrest today.