Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 206, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1914 — BURGLARS VISITED RENSSELAER HOMES [ARTICLE]

BURGLARS VISITED RENSSELAER HOMES

Houses of M. Kanne, A P. Burton, G. W. Reed and Elizur Sage Robbed at Night.

The first house burglaries that have occurred in Rensselaer for many years took place Monday night when thieves made a very rich haul of at least four homes. Whether the talent was local or professional is not known, but It is probable that it was imported and that the thieves were well on their way to some other city before their acts here had been discovered. While the thieves may be followers of the carnival it is quite sure that the management were not aware of the presence of the thieves.

The houses robbed were those of Michael Kanne, Weston and Cornelia streets; A. P. Burton, Weston and Angelica streets; George W. Reed, Vhn Rensselaer and Angelica Streets; and Ellzur Sage, College avenue and Jackson street. It is believed the thieves operated between 1 and 3 o’clock, while Mr. and Mrs. Burton heard a noise at about 3 o’clock which they thought at the time was a door banging, but decided in the morning IB the noise of the burglar or out of a window.

At the home of Michael Kanne the theives took a gold watch and chain which belonged to Art Kanne. It was lying on a dresser and near it was a pocketbook containing some money. The thieves had overlooked the purse. They had hastily ransacked the dresser drawers. At about 10:30 in the evening Mr. Kanne saw £wo men enter his back yard and he stood on the back porch and watched them urttil they disappeared. He did not get to sleep until after 1 o’clock and there Was no further visit from the intruders during his waking hours. Himself and son, Art, occupied the same room and Art had the alarm clock set for 4:30. He discovered the loss of his watch when he got up at that time.

At the A. P. Burton home the thieves stole Mrs. Burton’s watch, which was an old one, having been given to her by an aunt several years ago. It was worth $25 for the gold the ease contained, according to a local jeweler. They also took Mr. Burton’s silk hat, which cost $5, and a purse containing 40 cents. The drawers of the buffet, dressers, etc., were thrown Open and had been ransacked but none of the silverware stolen. At the George W. Reed home the only thing missing was S2O which Mr. Reed had that day drawn from the bank. A dog Which usually makes a fifes when anyone enters the house slept peacefully under the foot of the bed, which leads them to think that chloroform was qsed. DriaWers in the house were opened but nothing else was misped except from the rooms which Mayor Spitler and family have been occupying. The mayor has always kept a number of good cigars on hand and the thieves stole all there were. At the Sage home the thieves had entered his bedroom and taken his watch, valued at $35, from his pocket, also a pocketbook containing about S2O. The pants had been dropped in a hall and the purse was found in the morning in the yard of E. P. Honan, diagonally across the street. Nothing else was bothered in the Sage home, and Mrs. Sage thinks she heard the thieves and made a slight noise which frightened them away. Entrance at the Sage home was affeetthrough a side doo¥, which had been forced open. 'The home of D. M Worland, two doors north of the Reed home, was also visited. Several dresser drawers were thrown open but nothing was missed.

As a precaution during the remainder of the week people are warned to keep all door and windows locked whether at home or away from home. A policy of watchful waiting with a loaded pistol is also advised, but this can not be carried Out very generally as people have to sleep part of the time. Officers Shesler and Crltser are being assisted by several special officers during the week and they will be especially vigilant throughout the week.