Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1904 — TAPPED THE CASH REGISTER. [ARTICLE]

TAPPED THE CASH REGISTER.

For some time O. H. McKay, the laundryman, has been missing sums of money from his cash register. He kept an account of money taken and the total reaches ♦48.20. The money was taken in about every instance while Mr. McKay and the employes of the laundry were at dinner. Constable Vick was employed to watch the laundry at the noon hour and marked bills were left in the register. Saturday Vick saw young Frank Alter, the 15-year-old son of J. Q. Alter, the rural mail carrier on No. 3 route, go to the rear door, unlock it and enter the laundry. Vick hurried to the laundry at once and caught the culprit redhanded. he having a marked dollar bill and a fifty cent piece in his possession when arrested. The boy was bound over to the circuit court under SSOO bonds. He had formerly worked at the laundry some and was familiar with matters there. Including the $1.50 last taken, now in Vick’s posession to be used in the trial, Mr. McKay says $48.20 has been taken. Mr. McKay also says that one night recently he saw Frank acting suspiciously about the corner where McFarland’s grocery is located, and he watched the boy, himself unseen, and finally saw him go up to the front door, unlock it and enter the store. Mr. McFarland is unable to say whether or not any of his stock was taken. It is said the boy has bought a revolver or two out of the proceeds of his alleged stealings. His parents are very nice people and the downfall of the boy who has heretofore borne a good reputation is deeply regretted on all sides.