Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-10-10
CYPS|ES ROB STORE
At FEDERAL PLATE
AND ESCAPE IN CARS
BAND OF ROVERS ENTER STORE
TO COOPERATING WITH THEM.

\ story Of a daring daylight bur-
eary committed Tuesday al the T..
Rabuiti grocery store III the Federal
Plate addition by IA band of rowing
gypSies came to light today. After
ritllng the cash register and seCur-
ing large quantity OF staple groc r
les and canned goods the gypsieS
made their getaWdj unmolested in
touring cars. Before going to the
Federal Plate addition the royers pass
ed through the business district earb'
ed in their sayly colOred raiment and
travelling in three autos. Many peo-
pie stopped to gaze at them. especially
noticing the manner III which TIE
women rode with their feet stretched
at ease on the top OF doors OF ;he cars,
and not knowing that the party was
then planning one OF The most daring
pilieIing expeditions ever committed
III Ottawa,
The gypsies stopped at the colony
west OF town 20 tel fortunes, Os;en
sibly As was later evidenced how
ever they had different motive in
mind. After leaving their cars they
passed through the main street OF The
settlement on a scouting expedition
/ They returned and stopped III front ct
Rabuitls store, where Il consultation
was held. Finally two women sepa
rated themselves from the bunch and
" entered the store The mru stayed
outside on guard. There were also se'-
eral other women who stayed ont ~
front Of the building Those who en-
n,
one but the clerk, Agnes Bailey, about
| - wears OF age, approached her, talk
ing uninteiIigibly and making rapi
2caticuatiCns. The gin was frightened
/ hS heir actions. and when one of the
women muttared some strange words
and drew a red handkerchief in font
of her face was so confused and dumb
founded that she was unable O prOtes,
against the raid.
The women then proceeded on thell
way through the store, selecting from
the various shelves whatever eatableS
struck their fancy Oae of them
caught sight OF the cash register and
with satisfied expires sSon immc
diately cmrtied i, OF its contents.
they then took Miss Bailey BY the
/ arm and compelled her to take them
I through the storage room at the bach
4 ct the building where they helped
themselves to potatoes and WhateEe
/ else they wanted One OF the womer
! then smiled hlandly and gave the CIR
a small package Of powder, telling
her to put it in her purse and keep i
there for eleven days, when Somt
/ great good fortune would befall her.
/ Miss Bailey not being supcrstltiOuS
! threw the package away.
Leaving the store. the women JOINED
the group outside and they hurried t'
their waiting cars Miss Bailey mean
, while had telephoned TO the OttaN'
I police. who replied thai as the stor'
was outside the limits of Ottawa the,
would be unable to help her.
In making their escape the gypSl"
passed the manager Of the store, Wh'
was on his way back from town In hl
car not knowing yet OF tbs robbery
When the cars IN which they rod
were described to him as StuG J
baker. Ford and Hudson he remer'
bercd passing the band.
/ RObborie- of much the same chat
actor have taken place recently in l.;
Sale In one instance a gypsy Wom@l
relieved former saloon keeper o
= $tj4. exchanging il ior a luck pack
age The la Sallcan, however, ihoush
he would rather have the $l5i thar
what luck fake fortune teller coul
give him and notified the police jus
in time to prevent her escaping n
, citv with his money