Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 127, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1913 — NIGHT OPERATOR BECAME ALARMED [ARTICLE]

NIGHT OPERATOR BECAME ALARMED

Two Suspicious Characters Visitod Ross Hufford at Depot at 2 O’clock in the . Morning. Two suspicious looking characters gave Ross Hufford, the third trick operator at the depot, a bad fright Tuesday night and he is of the opinion that they planned to rob the depot. It was about 1 o’clock this Wednesday morning that Hufford observed the men at the west end of the depot and later in the rear of Mrs. Pennel’s restaurant. Finally one of them came to the outside window next to the railroad track and tried to engage Ross in conversation. Ross had taken the precaution to lock the office doors and to make it as difficult Sq, possible to enter that part of the depot. He also turned out the lights. While he was talking to the man outside of the window he was keeping an eagle eye on the south window as well and suddenly there appeared, in that window the figure of the other man. The window was closed and locked, however, and the man was unable to get in. Ross at once called the central telephone office andL asked that Nightwatch Critser hasten to the depot, but the nightwatch was not found for some time, or at least 45 minutes expired before he reached the depot, accompanied by Marshal

Shesler. The men had taken the telephone call as a'warning-and no trace of them could be found. Any one who robs the depot here is not expected to make a very rich haul, as Agent Beam keeps the money closely banked.