The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-06-04

MerCnant POlCeman William Coat
ney, 2271 Union St, was seized when
he entesed at $50 a. m. on his
sounds. He was made prisoner with
Everheart in the women's restroom
below the office.
Six charges of nitro-glycerin were
set off TO blow the heavy first and
second doors. The yeggmen abandoned
the job as daylight approached.
The Central Amusement Company
operates the Lyric, Isis and Apollo
theaters. The Saturday and part Of
Sunday receipts. with the exception
Of Sunday nights money. had been
taken to bank late Sunday.
Yeggs LeaYe Outfit
A bottle containing a small amount
of nitroglycerin was found on the
table in the office of the theater, which
Is located on the third floor. Wires.
explosive caps, two bars Of yellow
soap. nine drills. a brace, two knives.
and three heavy pry bars We're left
by the robbers
The outside doors and the inside
doors Of the safe were drilled and
blown open. The safe-a large one
was wrecked
Everheart said the stage hands had
just left when a knock came a, the
rear stage door. When he asked who
was there a mans voice said
Let me IN. My wife left her gold
handled umbrella in the theater and
I want TO see if l can find it."
Everhart opened the door. a neatly
across the stage. Another was heard
at the door.
That's my friend said the first
caller.
The night watchman opaned the
door and a heavily built man, also
neatly dressed. entered.
Reyolvers Are Drawn
Everheart locked the stage door.
The next instant the two robbers
poked blue steel revolvers into his
ribs and ordered him to hold up his
hands.
The watchman was slow in obeying.
The heavy built man slapped him in
the face. Everheart's hands went up.
The robbers forced the watchman
to the switchboard and ordered him
to turn out all lights in the theater
in the usual way" He obeyed. The
yeggs then took Everheart to the
managers office on the first floor.
There one of the men took a bag
from the drawer Of a desk. dumped
a swimming suit out of ii and put the
bag over Everheart's head.
The yeggs took Everheart to the
wornen's washroom on the mezzanine
floor They tied his feet with picture
wire and then bound his hands be-
hind him. They wired him to a seat.
I'VE are waiting out side and If you
make any noise or if you try to get
loose we will shoot you" the robbers
warned.
Everheart waited in the darkness.
It was 11:20 p. m. when the yeggmen
entered the theater.
Everheart could hear the yeggs
working on the safe in the office on
the third floor. Six times they used
the explosive The watchman heard.
drilling and pounding.
Officers Pistol Taken
When Coatney. the merchant police
man called nearly four hours later he
was seized by the burglars. His
pistol and flash light were taken from
him. He was escorted to the wash
room in which Everheart was a
prisoner.
Everhart was wired to a seat. Wire
was twisted around his feet He
asked the burglars to return his gun
and flashught when they were
through. but they cursed hm.
Once, after Coatney was imprisoned.
the yeggs used explosives on the big
safe.
Arthur Dixon, colored, oil Fayette
ST., arrived at the theater to clean
up at a. m. He started to sweep
the hallway on the third floor. He
heard a pounding on the floor below
He hurried to the mezzanine floor
and to the washrOom. There he found
Coatney and Everhart. Dixon released
the men.
Charles Olsen. president of the
company. was notified.
Motor Police j. G. Mor1arity and
Grtff Marcy were sent to investigate.
The tools left by the burglars and the
Suldll DOILl6 OIL explosive were taken
to police headquarters.
Safe Doors Shattered
The theater safe is more than five
feet six inches in height Two heavy
outside doors were shattered. One was
lying on the floor in front of the safe. |
The yeggs had drilled a hole above
the combination of these doors and
poured in the explosive. setting it off
with the cap to which wires extended |
from the socket of an electric light. |
The same method was used in opening
the two liner doors.
The money stolen was in a tin box
In the safe.
Papers, including fire lnsuranceSand
burglar policies, were scattered o., the