Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 206, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1916 — HAMILTON & KELLNER STORE WAS ROBBED [ARTICLE]

HAMILTON & KELLNER STORE WAS ROBBED

Thief W’ho Has Been Busy For Past Few Weeks Made Another Haul Last Saturday Night. Hamilton & Kellner’s feed store is the latest victim of the thief who has been making Rensselaer for the past few weeks. The robbery that occurred Saturday night,in which Hamilton & Kellner were victims, is only another of the several that have been committed in Rensselaer within the past few days. About S2OO in checks was taken and about sls in cash. Some bank. books, a library order book and some other papers were also taken, but were found later in the coal yard. The thief returned to the same place again Sunday night, re- > turning a First National Bank book which he had taken. Entrance was gained to the feed store office through a window in the rear, the wire screening having been torn off. The window had not been lowered, making entrance easy. The robber broke off the small money drawer door on the inside of the safe, taking the contents and leaving the cash drawer on the floor, along with some other articles and paper scattered about. The proprietors of the store had decided Saturday night, in view of the fact that so many other robberies had been committed in the past few days that it would be policy to place the combination on the safe, but thinking that they might have use for it after supper decided to wait until then to do it. Mr. Hamilton went to the feed store in the evening, but doses not remember whether or not he locked it. Mr. Kellner was at the store about 10 o’clock and the safe was locked then, but it is not known whether Mr. Hamilton locked it or the thief, but it is probable that the former did so, for Mr. Kellner would have undoubtedly noticed the box and other articles on the floor. If Mr. Hamilton did lock the safe, the thie* is evidently a scholar in the art of the safe picking game, and knows his business thoroughly and will be hard to catch. The checks that were taken Saturday night were as follows: One from Ernest Comer for $85.30, one from R. A. Parkison for $40.70, another from James T. Walters for $19.00, and Geo. Spangle for $15.00, and a few smaller ones, making a total of about S2OO in all. It is probable thaz the thief, unless he be a half wit, wBl make no attempt to have these cashed. The apaount of money taken at the Wallace & Herath produce market Friday night was $68.98 besides a check for $25.00. Several other small robberies are also reported, for sums ranging frora $lO to S2O, and the thief, whoever ne may be, is reaping a fairly good inocme for his work.