The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-12
Cracksmen Operating Here
Were Not Amateurs, Is Belief.
Offices of Several Firms in
Mulvane Building Entered.
TOTAL LOOT ABOUT $500
Pioneer Mortgage Company
Suffered the Heaviest Loss.
A. M. Catlin's $500 Diamond
Ring Overlooked by Robbers.

Cracksmen, whose work indicated
that they were not amateurs at the
game. entered the office OF several
firms in the Mulvane building at the
corner of Sixth and Kansas avenues,
some time Friday night, opened three
safes there, and then moved on up
Kansas avenue to the office OF
Stephenson & Webb, insurance, at 6I1
Kansas avenue, where they opened
another safe.
According to the victims of the rob-
berry, the operators were rather Ill
paid for their pains. Their loot to-
points they visited, in cash and lib
erty bonds.
Pioneer Mortgage Co. Heaviest Loser.
The offices of the Pioneer Mort
gage company on the fourth floor of
the Mulvane building suffered the
heaviest loss. There was missing be-
tween 5000 and $500 in cash from the
company safe there. Two safes had
been opened. and from the one con-
tanning the private strong boxes of
Arch M. Catlin, J. B. Sleeper and A.
E. Van Petten We're secured 5000 in
baby bonds" and a 500 liberty bond
belonging to Catlin. The contents of
the other boxes were for the most
part non-negotiable securities, which
were not disturbed.
OverIooks $500 Diamond Ring.
In Catlin's strong box there was a
$500. wrapped up in an old envelope,
which Catlin contemplated having re-
set. The ring was left wrapped up in
the twist of paper, and 'undisturbed.
All the papers in the boxes were care
fully replaced. the boxes themselves,
which had been jimmied, were re-
turnd to the compartment in the safe
in which they were found.
The boxes will only. fit into that
compartment in one certain fashion,
and the thieves nnRth0dfCally
inclined that they restored them in
just that fashion, and closed the doors
of the safes.
Enter Kansas Bankers Association
The cracksnnen also entered the Of
ficeS of the Kansas Bankers associa-
ton on the fifth floor of the building
There they were not SO successful, as
| they did not succeed in getting the
safe entirely opened, tho they kpocke ed
the knob from the door.
w. F. Bowman, secretary of the
association, in charge of the office
stated that there was very little OF
value, either in the form of cash or
negotiable papers, which could have
been secured even, If the safe had
been opened.
At the office of Stephenson & webb
the safe had been opened in the same
fashion and $19.25-tle petty cash
fund-was taken. More than $500 in
liberty bonds and $1,000 in checks
made payable to the company were
not disturbed. -..-..--
Robbers Were Orderly.
The robbers were most orderly IN
their work, restoring things to so
nearly their original condition that the
janitor who entered the Mulvane
building this morning and busted the
furniture. including the safes which
had been opened, did not notice any
thing wrong.
Police Look for Two Men.
The police are attempting to locate
two men who were seen lin the Null
vane building and other office build
ings late Friday, attempting to sell
rugs which they claimed they had
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