The Mankato free press., 1923-06-29
EARLY MORN EVENT
P0LICfARE CALLED
Responded Quickly, But
Yeggs Had Faded
AUTO WAS AT HAND
Money Box Not Disturbed 6k
Burglars; $25 Cash
Therein

Neil Nielsen, florist Of this city,
is beginning TO think that yeggs like
the color Of his money, as we'll
perhaps as the beautiful flowers in
his greenhouse on Marshall and
State streets. Thieves for the second
time in the past two months enter.
60 the greenhouse and attempted to
rob the office safe by blowing il
with some high explosive. People
living directly across Marshall
street were awakened by the eX.
p!osion at three o'clock this morn
ine and called the police, who ar
rived on the scene of the explosion
about Ave minutes later, but ii is
thought that the thives made their
getaway through an alley leading
TO Willard street where a large Nash
limousine was waiting with its en-
gine running This theory is borne
out by the fact that Harold Nielsen
was sleeping in tent on lot own
to the Nielsen residence on Marshall
street until midnight. when he went
TO the Nielsen residence on Marshall
street, going through the alley be-
tween South Front street and State
street. He thought it strange at the
time that large Nash limousine
should be standing in the alley
about midway between Willard and
Marshall streets at that late hour.
Harold stated that man was sit
ting at the steering wheel at the
time.
Awakened BY Explosion
Ernest Nelson and wife who live
directly across Marshall street from
the greenhouse, were awakened by
the explosion. as were Mr.. and Mrs.
Clement Nachbar, Mrs. Edward
jones and several other neighbors
in that vicinity. Mr.. Nachbar look
two men walking around inside the
Nielsen Cff'ce working with the aid
OF hashlight in the hands OF a
third man. He called the police sta
ton and in about five minutes Night
Sergeant Len Burrill and Officers
Oliver Tufte and Emil Richter were
on the ground. Mrs. Edward Jones
also called the police but they were
then on their way to the Nielsen
greenhouse. Mr.. and Mrs. Ernest
Nielsen verify the statements of her
neighbors as to the number of men.
and also state that a man was stand
ing guard near the mouth of the al
ley. The robbers were still at work
in the building when the police ar
rived at the corner of South Front
and Marshall streets, about a block
west, but must have made their get
away through the alley TO the waiting
limousine and then up Willard street
TO Pleasant and over the Van Brunt
slough south through Ogle's addi-
ton. Tracks of an automobile would
indicate this. In addition to the
tracks. ". L. Bradshaw was awak-
ened about three o'clock by a rapidly
moving car which was running in
the direction named.
The police searched the entire
premises when they arrived. put
found no trace of the safe blowers.
Door Was Wrecked
When the office was entered a
short time later, 1t was found that
the yeggs had attempted TO open the
safe with a charge of high explosive
The outer door was badly wrecked
and pieces Of the metal were shot
through the heavy plateglass window
in front and clear Icross Marshall
street Other portions Of the door,
and the plaster of Paris filing were
blown through back windows and
through filing cases. but the thieves
failed to open the inside door. Some
feed sacks, which had been taken
from barn TO the rear Of the green
the floor. This leads Neil Nielsen 70
think that the thieves made their
entrance from the rear Of the plant
There is no night watchman on duty
now. Had the thieves gained en-
trance to the safe they would only
have secured $25 in small change.
On April l Of this year safe blow
ers attempted to gain entrance to the
Nielsen safe. but that time also fail
ed to get inside the strong box. On
that same night the South Front
tion and the Model dairy were robbed
and small amounts of money secured
in each place.
People are now of the opinion
that II was the same gang who
visited Mankato April I that came
back last night intending to make a
better Job Of the Nielsen safe, but
failed.
Mr.. Nielsen is protected by burglar
insurance carried in a company rep
resented by Theodore Williams.
Tools Were Found
This afternoon Arthur Hoffman.
one Of the employees OF the company
found a picksx and heavy hammer
with cutting device attached
thrown among same palms in the
greenhouse These tools hear the
stamp Of the Chicago. st. Paul and
Milwaukee railway. Brass marks on
the chisel device on the hammer
would indicate that the dial OF the
safe was knocked of with that in
strument. The pickax had evident =
lv been used in trying to pry open
the outside door. which was bulged
by the force Of the explosion. for 1t
had some Of the plaster of Paris.
the same as the filing in the safe
door adhering to II.
Sheriff Edward Ario and Chief OF
Police Phil Landmark got word
shortly before noon that Nash car
was In the ditch near st. Peter
where II hal been abandoned In
the bottom OF the car. It was alleged
A black mask was found. The Off I,
GERS had not returned at the time
OF going 10 press.
Advertising The Fourth
Especial To The Free Press.l