Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-28
E. ]. Lander & Co.'S Vault
Entered by Professionals,
Who Are Run Down.
ARREST PAIR
IN MILL CITY
Alleged Crooks Have $3.50
Left and Sheriff Turner
Leaves Tonight for Them

Two professional cracksmen who
business establishment Of e. J.. Ian
der G. Co. on DeMers avenue some
time between last Saturday afternoon
at 3:15 O'Clock and S:15 Monday
morning were arrested in Minneapolis
last evening, according to word, re-
cetved here today.
The prisoners, who r known as
McSherry and "Red," have made 9
complete confession and have turned
over $3.50 of the loot, the balance OF
which they had "blowin in" accord
ing to the authorities. This evening
Sheriff A. F. Turner of Grand Forks
will leave for Minneapolis to bring the
alleged cracksmen to this city. It is
said that they have agreed to waive
extradition and will come to Grand
Forks for trial. They were arrested
on John Doe" and Richard Doe war
rants charging burglary. Their real
names could not be ascertatned at q
late hour today.
Courtesy Saves $3.50.
The business Office of E. ]. Lander
& Co. closed last Saturday afternoon
at 8 o'clock as usual and every dollar
of cash was counted and balanced by
the cashier, : William Wattam, and
placed in the safe at 3:15. The firm
had a total of $493 on hand Saturday
afternoon, but as a matter of accom-
mediation to two local business men
check for 800 and another for
$50 were casheds shortly after closing
time. This courtesy saved $3.50 to the
company.
Two bags contained the stolen
money, placed by the cashier in a
steel cash. box, which box was de-
posted in a steel chest inside the
vault. 1t is believed by Mr.. Lander
that the combination Of the vault had
not beer turned on, but inasmuch as
the cash box and the steel chest were
both locked, the indications made 1t
appear that the work had been done
either from the inside or by some
skilled professional cracksmen.
Every dollar of silver and currency
in the vault was taken, but checks
and other valuable papers were left
undtsturbed by the crooks.
Discovered Monday.
The theft was not discovered until
Monday morning at about S:15, and
Mr. Lander at once went into confer
ence with his Office manager, George
g. Pratt, and Mr.. Wattam, the
cashier. They came to tho conclusion
that the theft vas committed either
by some one. in the Office force or
OAA 10 Az AiI0sSo
was taken up with the authorities,
and the first theory was abandoned in
the belief that only expert cracksmen
could have perpetrated the crime in
the name in. which it was carried
out. Co-operatingxwith special detec-
tives, the sherif's} office found that
they were working on the proper clue.
with the result that the two men were
arrested in Minneapolis last evening.
Suspects Seen Here.
The authorities. got track of the
two crooks when they became aware
of the fact that the suspected men
were in this city last Saturday we
ling, and had 500 after disappeared.
In addition to c~onfessipg their part
in the crime, the two cracksmen have
turned over duplicate keys which
they used in getting at the money, the
authorities state.
One of the keys was to the steel
cash box and the other was to the
steel chest in the interior of the vault.
The keys, 1t is said, were ingenious
filed to fit the locks.
Mr.. Lander stated this afternoon
that he is greatly relieved over the
arrest of the two crooks. as their ap-
prehension removes all suspicion upon
employees in his offic..