Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 135, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1917 — ROBBERS MADE HAUL AND GETAWAY FRIDAY NIGHT [ARTICLE]

ROBBERS MADE HAUL AND GETAWAY FRIDAY NIGHT

Hilliard & Hamill Store, Farmers’ Elevator, S. P. Hilliard’s Home and E. S Rhoades’ Grocery are Victimsi-of Visits Paid this City by Thugs Friday Evening.

TRAIL LEADS NORTHWARD?

between the tpo and bottom windows. After the small hole was made it was easy to open the catch with the instrument and the window was raised without the slightest sound. Considerable time was probably consumed by the men in gaining entrance to the cash register. Tickets which accompany purchases were lying about, showing that various combinations were tried before the thieves ultimately obtained admission to the drawer. A small screw driver was lying on the floor just below the cash register. The different cash drawers were badly scarred, where an attempt had been made to open them by jimmying them. Mr. Hilliard had his store closed during the afternoon for the ball game, and did not get a chance to bank the money, which was the reason that such a large sum was in the drawer. Nothing of an incriminating sort was taken, the robbers giving their entire attention to currency. At the Rhoads grocery store a small knife was found. Entrance was gained to this store through a rear window. $3.00 was obtained here besides the cheese, which was mentioned above.

Trailing With Blood Hound* Given Up When Rain Obliterate* Trail. Finger Print* On Cheese May Prove Factor In Rounding* Up the Thieve*. Officers and Assistant* Are Combing Country For Suspects. Evening May See Some In Jail. Red Cross Money Was Also Stolen.

All of the available officers in the city and others who have been deputized, are busily engaged today in scouring the country for miles and miles in an effort to apprehend the robbers who made such a rich haul during their visit to this city some time during the night. Neighboring towns have been notified to be on the lookout for suspects and all the vigilance possible is being exercised by Sheriff McColly and his cohorts in an effort to land the gang. It may be that before another day has dawned that the county jail in this city will be housing some suspects and possibly the real perpetrators of the deed. S. P. Hilliard, the leading victim of the visit of the robbers, is leading .the chase with untireless energy and will leave no stone unturned to bring the men to justice.

Entrance was ’gained to the elevator in precisely the same manner as that used at the Hilliard store. But seventy-five cents in currency was in the cash drawer. A number of checks were left unmolested, which might tend to imply that the thieves were home talent. Mr. Hilliard, in company with officers, was negaged throughout the morning in running down clues in an effort to obtain something definite upon which to work, and as a result they obtained some meagre information that may ultimately land the criminals in the penitentiary. A clue was obtained shortly after noon which was the best the officers had yet found upon which to work. Mr. Hilliard and a couple of deputy officers left about 1 o’clock, following a tip from the north, and the word received was the brightest they had yet received. It is their desire that the information they received should not be published at this time in order that the suspects may not make their getaway. The information obtained, however, was rather convincing and the result of their trip this afternoon may bear fruit. Mr. Hilliard had charge of the money that was taken in at the ball game Friday afternoon and it was probably surmized that this money would either be at his home or at the store as it was too late to bank it, and this was probably the money the men hda in view when they visited his places. However, the money had been turned over to B. F. Fendig earlier in the evening and was not among that stolen, which was very fortunate. This is another reason advanced by many that the robbery was committed by home talent. Earlier in the day it was the intention to secure blood hounds in an attemj? tto run down the criminals, but this was given up as it was figured that the slight shower during the early hours had obliterated the trail to such an extent that trailing the men in such a manner would avail nothing. Rensselaer has been visited by robbers several times during the past' few months and the robbery of last j night was the richest haul that has yet been made. Only a week or so ago several offices were visited and small sums were obtained and beyond a doubt these acts were committed by someone within our own limits. There are some who criticise Nightwatch Critser, which is hardly justified, as it is almost an impossibility for one man to detect robberies in darkened stores. Mr. Crit*ker cannot be in two places at once and it is a hard matter where there is more than one man committing the robberies for an officer to catch them. A lookout can easily keep tab on the nightwatch. Mr. Critser states that he makes several rounds each night and it is an easy matter after he has passed the intended place of the victims, for them to get in their work, as it takes considerable time for thim to complete his rounds. However, the majority are not holding Mr. Critser to account, realizing the position in which he is placed. In talking to the nightwatch today he stated that he had seen no strangers about town during the evening and has no idea when the robbery was committed. He had received a telephone call from Monon about 10 o’clock asking that he be on the lookout for a stolen cat and he states that most of’ the time during the night he was engaged in keep-

At what time the men made the visit is not known, but it is thought by many that it was probably shortly after midnight. The places visited were the Hilliard & Hamill store, the residence of S. P. Hilliard on College avenue, the Farmers elevator and the E. S. Rhoads grocery store. Practically the only sum of any consequence taken was at the Hilliard & Hamill store, and although as yet the amount has not been exactly determined, it will mount up to quite a little fortune. Among the money taken was some belonging to the Red Cross organization, of which Mr. Hilliard is chairman. At the Rhoads grocery $3.00 in money was obtained besides a small amount of cheese, and it is due to the latter that the police have hopes of getting evidence that will lead to the conviction of the criminals. Finger prints in the cheese at the present time is the leading evidence that is at hand. The men had broken the cheese off with thir hands and the marks of their finger tips may be plainly seen. The Farmers elevator lost but seventyfive cents and some stamps. At the Hilliard residence nothing was obtained nor was entrance gained to the house. The visit of the men to the latter place was unknown until this noon, when Mrs. Hilliard noticed that the visitors had attempted to jimmy the back door. Entrance was gained to the Hilliard store through a' rear window. A small, sharp instrument had be§n used to peck a small hole in the window directly in front of the catch