Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-09-10

Ingenuity and daring were shown
by burglars, probably two in number,
who Thursday night or this morning
entered the clothing store OF Adolph
Pfleiger, rs East Main street, and
stole merchandise having a retail val
ue Of more than $4,000. Entrance to
the store apparently was gained thru
skylight at the rear of the building
pane Of glass not more than four
teen inches wide being removed and
thru the opening one Of the burglars
Is pelleVed to have descended on a
rope. The inside worker is believed
to have passed the loot to his COM
panion on the roof by attaching boxes
and articles of apparel to the rope to
be hoisted UP. The inside man then
Is believed to have been hauleh to the
roof by his companion or to have
climbed the rope which may have
been made fast to a projection above.
An exact inventory Of the stolen
property was not possible early today
but the loot contained approximately
l50 silk shirts, retailing for an aver
age price Of about SIS; six suits Of
clothing. of an average retail value
OF $40; two leather grips, valued at
$50 each, and two suit cases. The
loss Is not covered by insurance.
Operatives Are Smooth,
The operatives did a clever fob but
undoubtedly were familiar with the
roof OF the building and with the in
terror OF the store and the arrange
ment OF the stock. The rear door
of the store was barred and the win
dows had not been tempered with.
Tracks In the mud at the rear Of the
A. T. Elder drug store. adjoining on
the east showed where two men had
approached the stairway leading to
the roof Of the Pfleiger store. The foot
was large and the other much small.
er.
The footprints Of the heavier man
were broad and well defined, the heel
leaving q deep wide impression in the
soft earth. The other man stepped
more lightly and his print indicated
a No. Z. or No. shoe was worn. The
toe Of the smaller mans shoe was
rounded, that of the heavier man
more blunt.
The metal guard on the pane of
glass removed from the skylight had
been torn off and at the edge Of the
skylight were frayed pieces OF rope
which had worn off as the rope was
made taut when weight was applied.
Two distinct marks OF the heavier
mans feet. placed against the side of
the skylight as he braced himself to
handle the rope. were visible this
morning. Tracks 6fs the two men also
were to be seen near the skylight.
Burglar Not Confused.
The inside man apparently worked
with precision inside the store, the
mud tracks on the floor showing a
direct course from q spot directly be-
low the open space in the skylight.
where he is believed to have dropped
from the rope. to the shirt cases. The
marks Of muddy feet were few, in6li :
eating that the burglar was not con-
fused In his work and that his shoes
dried rapidly. There were mere
traces OF footprints to the show cases
from which the suits were taken,
farther forward In the store.
There is nothing to indicate that
the robber had gone to the front of
the room or that he had visited the
rear. His operations seem to have
been confined to radius OF fifteen
or twenty feet from directly below
the skylight. 4
The burglary was not discovered
until 8 o'clock this morning when the
store was opened. The sherifrs Of
flee was, at once notified and Deputy
Sheriff w. A. Starn and Patrolman
Maurice Cummings made an investi-
cation.
Worked Ia Comparative Safety.
Tho method OF operating chosen by
the burglars was q comparatively
safe one, the man not being visible
on the roof Of the building to night
patrolmen who may have passed
thru the alley at the rear. No burnt
matches were found and no light was
seen in the store during the night.
The inside man probably found his
way about the store with q flash
light.
It is believed the suits taken were
packed In the two suit cases and
the two grips were loaded with shirts.
Other shirts taken were removed In
boxes, it Is believed. No empty boxes
were left in the store. Tour suits
were taken from one case and two
from another. the hangers being
thrown under the counter on the OPP
p0site side of the room.
Sheriff's office and police depart
Aent today were working on the case
but it was said there was no definite
clue.