Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1901 — ROB SAFE AND ESCAPE. [ARTICLE]

ROB SAFE AND ESCAPE.

Four Men Loot Office of Chicano Suburban Kailway and Get S7OO. Four men, armed with revolvers and carrying with them a quantity of dynamite, entered the offices of the Suburban Railway Company, 22d street and Harlem avenue, Chicago, early Monday morning, gagged and bound two employes in charge of the place and then secured S7OO from the safe, which they blew open with explosives. William Ness and James Bortuch, the two victims, with their arms and legs securely tied and with pieces of cloth stuffed down their throats so they could not utter a sound, were thrown in the coal bin in the rear of the plant. After spending three hours in frantic efforts to release themselves, they were found at 5 o’clock by conductors reporting for day duty. Ness and Bortuch arei employed by the company to protect the money whfrh is left in the offices over night. Sunday night, after the last conductor had turned in his day’s receipts. S7OO, or probably more, was placed in the large iron box for safe keeping. At about 2 o’clock Ness told his companion that he was going to step outside to get some fresh air. No sooner had he opened the front door than four desperate-looking men, each carrying a revolver in his hand, confronted him. They pushed Ness back into the office at the points of their weapons. At the same time they were closely watching the actions of Bortuch, who was making an effort to escape through a rear door. They soon covered him with their pistols, and threatened to kill both if they made further attempts to free themselves or screamed for assistance. The quartette of robbers bound and gagged their victims. Then Ness and Bortuch were thrown in the coal bin and ordered to remain there under penalty of death. The robbers then returned to the office to complete their work. One man stood outside as a “lookout,” while his three companions began operations on the safe. After a hole had been bored near the combination of the strong box the explosive was used. A second later there was a deafening sound and the door of the safe flew from its hinges. After the large sacks of coin had been exposed the men began to pick up the money that had been scattered over the floor. They filled their pockets and then left as quietly as they had entered.