Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1915 — ANOTHER VICTIM OF SPECTACLE ROBBERS [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER VICTIM OF SPECTACLE ROBBERS

John Moore, of Barkley Township, Caught But Refuses Full Information to Reporter.

The spectacle robbers who caught Fred Bachman for S4O, also caught John Moore, of Barkley township, but John was so anxious to keep The Republican from finding but anything about the transaction that he would not tell how much he lost nor what representations the rascals made. On the mornings of Jan. 16th the men appeared at the Main Oarage and informed one of the proprietors that they expected to be here for some ten days, making drives into the country. They asked the price of two cars and drivers and accepted the terms offered. They started out at about 8 o’clock in the morning. One car went northeast to Barkley township and the other began making stops right at the north edge of town. Both men were very nervous, according to the drivers, and were so cranky and unreasonable as to greatly vex the drivers. They would not get out of the car until the drivers had faced the car about and positioned it as near the doorstep or the gate as possible. Apparently they expected to be detected and wanted to make a hasty getaway.

The men gave the names of Grier and Graham. Grier is the one who stopped at Fred Bachman’s and secured S4O from him in advance payment for the rental of an electrical machine -for the treatment of rheumatism. The other man made several stops but did not remain very long at any place until he reached the residence of John Moore, where he made a test of the eyes of their son, Joe, and sold glasses. Mr. MOore insists that he did not offer an electrical machine or any other contrivances for sale and that all he got caught for was “about ten dollars.” The Republican’s interview with Mr. and Mrs. Moore was over the .telephone and they were both reluctant to talk, but we understood Mrs. Moore to say that they were worse stung than Mr. Bachman.

Apparently satisfied that they had done a good business the men came back to Rensselaer and told Mr. Shafer at the garage that since it was raining they would go back to Chicago arid return the following Monday to continue their canvassing. One of the men was an old man with gray hair and a gray mustache. Th eother man was small and smooth faced. They never returned.