Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1916 — SNEAK THIEVES BRANCHING OUT [ARTICLE]

SNEAK THIEVES BRANCHING OUT

Hamilton & Kellner Store Robbed Saturday Night. Hamilton & Kellner's feed store was robbed Saturday night of about S2OO in checks, and between $lO and sls in cash. Some bank books and other papers were also taken, but were found later in the coal yard where the thief had discovered their uselessness and thrown them away. Entrance to the feed store was made through a rear window which had been left open the evening before. This window was covered with a wire screen which was torn off. So many robberies have occurred in Rensselaer of late that the proprietors of the store had decided to leave the combination to the safe hanging on the outside. Mr. Hamilton was at the store in the evening but does not recall locking the safe. Mr. Kellner was also there about 10 o’clock and is positive the safe was locked at that time, and if it was the combination was evidently worked by the thief. The robber broke off the small steel door to the money drawer inside, and this with the points of two knife blades and a screw driver and other papers of no use to him were scattered about the floor. The thief returned again Sunday night and left a First National bank book which he had taken. This was thrown or pushed through a window. Among the checks taken was one from Ernest Comer for $85.30, one from R. A. Parkinson for $40.70, one from James T. Walter for sl9 and another from George Spangle for sls, besides a few smaller ones, altogether making \ total of about S2OO. These checks are of no value to the thief for no one would cash them for a stranger, and should he attempt to get any of them cashed his capture would ultimately follow. The produce market of Herath & Wallace was also entered Friday night and $68.98 in cash and a check for $25, given by Sam Karnowsky was taken from the safe. Other robberies of sums ranging between $lO and S2O have been reported, and if all are the work of the same person, he is doing a lucrative business for the time being.