Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-08-07
BROOKLYN POSTOFFICE
ROBBED AND BURNED
Yeggmen Enter Store, Loot Safe And
Set Building on Fire in the
County
DAMAGE ABOUT $4,000
Thieves. Who Knew Combination, Got
Away With Cash and Stamps
Worth S24O.

After looting the safe of s240 in cash
and stamps, yegmen early this morn
ing set fire 10 the postOfiice and gen
eral merchandise store of Louis Grie-
nielsen, Jr.. First street and Patapsco
avenue. Brooklyn, this county
The building was destroyed, and the
damage is estimated at more than $50
600. The robbers made good their es-
cape and left no clue behind them
Dueto the presence of mind and bray
cry of Mrs. S. G. Williams, the post
mistress and C. j. Connor a rural car
rier, all the postoffice records and pa
pers that were not in the safe were
carried TO safety Mrs Williams. with
the assistance of Corners, went into
the burning building and saved the
books from destruction.
Chief Irwin, of the police force. and
other officers are Of the opinion that
the robbery vase ommitted by some
one who knew the premises well.
They believed the yeggmen tried 10
make their escape on a motorcycle
stolen from the store The machine.
with no gasoline in it, was found hid
den in bushes in Brooklyn Park. sev.
eral blocks from the store. Il is be
lieved that the robbers tried to run
the machine, but were unable to get
gasoline for that purpose.
Missing from the safe this morning
was the lock-box which contained
about 800 in stamps and other sup
plies, and $40 or more in cash. Mr..
Grieneisen later found S125 of his own
money in thesafe. The bills were
slightly scorched. To enter the build
ing the robbers went to the rear and
bored hole about three inches square
IN the door, next 10 the lock. All they
then had to do was to put a hand
through the hole and turn the key.
which was still hanging in the lock.
From all appearances the robbers
knew the combination of the safe. for
the door was found unlocked after the
fire. The postofice funds and sun
plies we're the only things taken. The
fire was discovered shortly after 2
o'clock this morning by the driver Of
bakery wagon, who turned in teh fire
alarm. To the residents who were
firts on the scene it appeared that the
fire started from all four corners OF
the store. The flames spread ooiclrIv
ana. despite the heroic work Of the
hremen, the first and second floors of
the building were gutted Seven big
plate-glass windows were DESTROYED
and the majority Of the stock is q to-
tal loss The damage is said to be
tully covered by insurance.
Three persons, including one fire.
man, were hurt while fighting the fire
Ihey were Howard Arnold. OF First
street, cut about the face; Eugene ia
GODS fireman, knee cut. and Charles
Selzer, Of Annapolis avenue. cut on the
race. None was seriously injured
Several hours after the fire post
once inspectors arrived in Brooklvn
and began an investigation. Inspec-
tor sRaley and others wentthrougb fbe
postofiice division Of the store. and on
their return TO Baltimore carried with
them bundle OF half burned paper
Late this afternoon the Fire Marshal
VIII begin his investigation. and tho
police say there will be no. new de-
Veiopments until then. Chief Irwin
and Sheriff Potee are trying to find
some clues.
Ihe robbery was the result of the
third attempt and from this fact comes
the opinion that the yeggmen live near
Brooklyn. About three months ago
someone entered the store at night
and robbed the safe Of sIg. Three
weeks later, in the middle Of night
an automobile truck was backed IN IN
the store. Piling boxes on the truck
the robbers made their way TO the ton
OF the house and entered the store
through trap door.
Ihis time they stole SIS from the
cash-register, but they were frighten-
ca on. About two years ago the for
mer store Of Mr.. Greineisen was de-
stroyed by fire. The structure which
was burned this morning Is new
some time ago a row OF houses owned
by Mr. Greineisen's father was set ON
FIRE, out was saved.