Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1918 — ROBBERS PAY CITY A CALL [ARTICLE]

ROBBERS PAY CITY A CALL

VISITED G. E. MURRAY STORE AND WAYMIRE RESTAURANT THIS MORNING. Rensselaer was a host to a pair of robbers this Monday morning with Nightwatch Critser enacting the role of chief entertainer, when he twice sent bullets hurtling through the plate glass of the front door of the G. E. Murray establishment after the fleeing robbers who made their getaway, leaving articles of wearing apparel behind them. The robberies occurred about three o’clock. The “jimmy” artists visited the Waymire restaurant first, gaining entrance through the rear door,“ after which they proceeded to pluck $13.05 from the cash register and then securing some cigars and cigarettes. At the Murray store the burglars gained entrance to the building (through 7 a transom over the rear door, which they reached by the aid of a stepladder. Nightwatch Critser discovered the men while making his rounds, and, according to the officer, the latter discovered them almost simultaneously, which prevented him from going to the rear of the building and waiting for them to come out, consequently he pursued the only course left, that of taking a shot at them. However, the bullets missed their mark, and the two men scampered merrily out of the back door. The proprietors of the store have so far failed to discover any loss. The safe was untouched and apparently the visitors wejre only after wearing apparel. The only clue to their identity is an overcoat and a coat and vest which they left behind in their hurry to escape the bullets of the nightwatch.