People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1893 — A BOLD THIEF. [ARTICLE]

A BOLD THIEF.

By a Crafty Schema He Robs the Ad Employe Sandtrngged Early in the Evening While Counting His CuhHis Assailant Steals SB.OOO and Escapes. A REMARKABLY DARING CRIME. Chicago, Dec. 14.—One of the boldest robberies ever known to the Chicago police or the United States officials in this city took place in the post office at 7:30 o’clock Tuesday evening. A. J. Robinson, wholesale stamp cashier, was knocked senseless with a sandbag and the office robbed of over SB,OOO. The story of the robbery is startling in every detail and shows the cunning of some professional crook. Robinson was in his room at the northeast corner of the government building counting up the day’s receipts preparatory to balancing accounts. The office can only be entered by regular clerks of the building. This has been the rule. In order to do so they must give three peculiar raps on the door. Tuesday night about 7:30 o’clock such a knocking was heard and Cashier Robinson readily opened the door. As nearly as could be learned from Robinson's incoherent remarks a stranger.entered and asked if the acVMints were as they ought to be. On Robinson’s replying that a slight error had been found the stranger said: “I think I can explain this. My firm got some stamps this afternoon and finds that you sent them too many.” He handed Robinson a package. As the cashier turned to examine the package, which he supposed contained the missing stamps, he was knocked down by a frightful blow from a sandbag. This is the last Robinson remembers of the affair. About 10 o’clock M. W. Zimmerman, who has charge of the retail stamp department at night, came on duty, and going to Robinson’s office found the door fastened. Returning to his own department he asked Mrs. Jones, the evening clerk, what the matter was in Robinson’s room. She went around through the special passageway and found Robinson lying unconscious on the floor. Blood had dripped from his head and lay in pools on the carpet A physician was summoned at once from the Grand Pacific hotel. It was half an hour before Robinson regained consciousness. He soon relapsed into a semi-unconscious state and was unable to talk except in arambling, incoherent J manner.

An examination of the room showed that more than SB,OOO in silver and greenbacks had been stolen from tiie counter. Robinson’s condition, it was thought, might perhaps prove fatal, and he was hurried at once to the Presbyterian hospital. He remained unconscious most of the night As soon as the robbery was known Capt Porter was notified. He at once notified the central detective station and Officers Smith and Griffin were sent out on the case. The robber had made his escape through a window opening on Clark street Just under the window was found S9OO which the thief in his flight had dropped. How he could get out of here unnoticed so early in the evening is something the police and Capt Porter cannot understand In full view of the window oq Clark street a dozen cabmen were standing at the time. At the time of the robbery the safe stood wide Open. Nearly $60,000 in gold was inside this. None of it was disturbed Capt Porter said that this robbery was one of the boldest be bad ever known.