Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-05-21
SUSPECT LOCAL TALENT
OF $3.50 MEGAFFlN
STORE THEFT
NO ARRESTS MADE
CLOSE SURVEILLANCE is KEPT
ON LOCAL YOUTHS SUSPECTED
Of CRIME-SHERlFF OUT OF
CITY ON WARM LEAD SECURED
LAST NIGHT.

With clcws which bear lnulcdtlohA
of something tangible in the way OF
n solution of the Megattin footwear
robbery of last Friday nigh, city ana
county officials are today on hot
scent that may result in the arrest o.
from two to four suspects-ail alleged
by officialdom to be local talent.
While the operations have not pro
ceeded far enough to warrant release
of the names, it is reported IN oiiltial
circles that when disclosures hhally
are made after thorough inYesti&a-
ton into the case. scions OF prominent
families may be caught in the legal
dragnet and made to stand trial ior
the robbery.
While Chief of Police Grove am
Captain Hart and their aids are VOTE
ing on the Ottawa end Of the lnFeStl
CATION Sheriff Ayers is out OF the citS
today trying TO gel line on th'
fence" who received the stolen prop
erav. At the sherilts Office NO hinI
would be dropped as to The seat ot tht
chiefs investigation, but It Is reported
as not oeng very FAR form OTTAWA
Every move of the sheriff is hsini
closely guarded until after he has com
p!eted his hunt for the shoes as posi-
tive evidence to clinch both his am
Chief Groves suspicious, and at th'
same time fix guilt upon the suspects
At Megaftins store no light could d.
thrown upon the case The proPriet u
Joseph MegatIin, was not helng KEEP
in touch with the investigation as !
progressed, so nothing enlShtehln
could be given out there.
The clews were hit upon by CT
and county officials at about the sam
time, and Immediately men were pl
at work chasing them down. On tn
theory that local talent was responS
bic for the $3.50 shoe theft the oiilfei
next got into the motive feature, an
found traces of card games ana otht
elements of chance, the story goe
Delving further into these two Ieau
they are said to have stepped upl
some things definite enough TO mar
the scent hot, even, ut is said, to &c
ting a trace of the disposal OF the loc
With these tangible phases TO suppn
them, the sleuths determined to lea'
no stone unturned in bringing the
legged offenders before the bar OF u
tice.
With the return to Ottawa tonlg
of Sheriff Ayers, after his search I
the booty. results are expected
come thick and fast. He may ord
arrests made at once. In the meS
time the police are keeping suspe'
under surveillance.
Picked Choice Stock.
The Megafiin robbery was careful
MANNED and executed by thieves W
used "over the top methods. TIL
climbed from roof 70 roof and fina
gained entrance to the building
means of second story windC
Wherever stock was sorted and sto
If is shown the thieves knew the
of the ground The assortment
moved caused officials to believe tn
were members of the gang who kn
the shoe business well enough to ltn
what they were selecting. The tr
in putting the emptes at the bott
of the tier is said to have proven
lob was engineered by man yer
in custom Of shoe dealers, who alw
follow this plan of keeping u
shelves with the appearance OF be
thoroughly stocked. This is done
leave no Gaping hole in the tiers
boxes after a sale is made.