The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-12-16
THIEVES LOOT
ROSENTHAL'S
Remove Thousands Of Dollars
OF Merchandise Through
Cherry st. Entrance.
POLICE WITHOUT CLUE
Daring Robbery Successfully
Staged Between 4 and 5
O'clock Thursday Morninr.

At an early hour Thursday
morning burglars broke into the
department store Of the Charles
Rosenthal company, 9eo Market
street. ransaeksd the entire stock,
picked out tho very best articles
IN practically every line and hur-
riedly departed with many thou
sands Of dollars worth Of the
property in their possession.
The robbery, one of the biggest TO
occur In the downtown section IN
years, Is thought to have been carrIc,
out shortly after o'clock, as lll ws-
wei when n guardian of law
made his rounds at that hour.
Entrance to the store was offectcc
rom the renr, the .ntruders opening
iron trap doors In the sidewalk. which
enabled them 10 get into the base
ment. A crowhar was used TO break
open the door that led from tho ase-
ment to the first floor OF the building,
Evider ' OF particular taste, no
burglars used nice discrim nation, 60
ing through rack after rack OF coats,
suits, furs and other articles ana
picking out the finest and most costly
on hand. The less expensive things
wero scorned, Whole racks OF dresses
and underskirts In the front OF the
store held no appeal for fastidians
fingers that played havoc elsewhere.
SILK Underwear Prlxed.
:, Zine underwear. especially silk ted
dleS, proved no attractive to the eyes
OF the "vlRitors" that they made a big
haul In this particular department.
Dozens OF pairs OF silk hose also fell
neck pieces. Entire racks OF other ar
ticles, including coats and coatsults,
were taken.
Some OF the most expensive articles
In the store were on display In the
show windows. but these were not
In their haste, the burglars who evil
IDENTIFY piled their loot into waiting au-
tomobiles or trucks, scattered furs.
dresses, waists and underwear In the
aisles,
They made their exit through the
rear door into Cherry street,
The many racks were locked Wednes-
night before the store was closed and
the keys deposited In u certain place,
Search for the keys must have been
successful, az the racks were unlocked.
Sold Articles Stolen.
Many suits, coats, dresses, f,lrs and
pieces Of underwear that had been or
dered by patrons for Christmas and
were in the lay-by department. also
clung to the handR OF the burglars.
One OF the last duties Of employees
before leaving tha store ut night Ia
TO arrange the stock and put every
thing In tip top shape for the next
49,
Upon reporting for work Thursday
morning they were shocked at tha
siRht that met their gaae, From ona
end OF the place 70 the other the stock
was disordered boxes were scattered
over tho floor; showcases In which furH
were kept looked an II n hurricane had |
robbed them OF their contentH and left, |
In the form OF a few scattered pieces, |
rem ndors Of what had been there.
Detectives investigate,
Immediately after the robbery was
discovered It was reported to the police |
ana detectives. A thorough investiga-
tion IA now In progress. The local |
branch OF Bodekor'H detective agency |
ls also assisting to unravel the daring |
crime.
Charles Roscnthal, president and |
treasurer OF the Rosenthal company; |
his son, Sidney L., who Ia manager OF |
he store and employees are now taking
IN inventory to determine what was
Iaken.
While an exact estimate , cannot he
made until the inventory In completed,
I H. unofIicinlly estimated that the
oss will be fully s2b, 900 or $50, 600, this
'eing partly covered by burglar in
'urance.