Evening star., 1916-08-04
bLOWOPENP.0. SAFE
BUT ANNEX NO LOOT
FruitIess Effort of Burglars at
Clarendon, Va, Early
This Morning.

Burglars early this morning blew open
the safe in the post office at Clarendon,
Va An examination later disclosed
nothing missing, and it is believed the
burglars were frightened off before they
could procure any Of the contents.
The noise of the explosion aroused
nearby residents and they arrived on the
scene soon enough to get good descrip-
tions Of the safeblowers, but the robbers
managed to elude their pufsuers and are
believed to be now hiding in this city.
Mrs. Lillian Friele, whose home is di-
rectly across the road from the post
office. saw the burglars at work. She
was looking out of a front window when
she saw light in the post office and de-
tected a man working at the safe. The
other man was standing in front of the
post office.
Attempt to Notify Officials.
Mrs. Frie]e went to telephone and at
tempted to communicate with some Of the
officials of the town, but was unable to
reach them. While she was at the tele-
phone the explosion occurred. She told
the officers that as Mr.. Washburn ap-
peared on his front porch the man who
was acting as lookout gave warning to
those inside the office by rapping on the
front window.
The explosion occurred at about 2:25
o'clock this morning. f. c. Washburn,
a barber who conducts a ahop adjoining
the post office, was one of the first awak-
ened. He donned scant clothing and went
to his front door. Just as he stepped out
on the front porch, he stated. two men
came from the rear of the post office
through side alley and went down the
road. The door of the post office was
open and upon looking in Mr.. Washburn
discovered the open safe door.
Residents Pursue the Robbers.
By that time other residents began to
arrive and Harry Crack, the jailer; Wal
ter Cation. a special policeman. and Ed
ward Payne, the postmaster, were noti-
fed. A number Of persons started after
the two men who had gone down the
road. The latter had disappeared in the
woods, however, and all trace of them
was lost. AS they were coming in the
direction of Washington. Detective
Weldon, in charge of police headquarters
here at night was notified by telephone
to take up the trail at Clarendon. Post
office inspectors were also notified, and
are today working on the case in con-
junction with the police.
The urglars broke into the post office,
a one-story building, by cutting a panel
from a door and then unlocking it
through the opening. Nitroglycerin
is believed to have been used to blow
open the safe. Auger bits and chisels
were found on the floor of the post
f.ftf h trh h -n1 ba ha fr
blowers had attempted to cut their way
into the safe. which was a small one
and was placed behind counter This
enabled the burglars to work without
being seen from the roadway.
Tools Stolen From Blacksmith.
The tools used by the burglars were
stolen from a blacksmith shop nearby,
it is believed, and they had been used
that night with which. to break into a
drug store at Clarendon when eight
walls Of cocaine and morphine were
stolen. 1t is concluded by the police
that the men who committed the rob
berry at the drug store are the ones
who blew open the safe.
The explosion was very loud. It is
believed large quantity of explosive
was used, as the door of the safe
was badly damaged.
Mr.. Washburn describes one of the
men seen leaving the rear of the post
Office as being about thirty years old.
five feet ten inches tall, weighing 140
pounds, slender build, smooth face,
wearing a dark suit and dark soft hat,
and the other as about forty-ffve years
old, five feet nine inches tall, $50
pounds in weight. smooth face and
wearing dark suit and light straw
hat.
This description of the men has been
sent to all the police in this city.