Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1908 — Robberies Near Rensselaer. [ARTICLE]

Robberies Near Rensselaer.

Two farm residences northeast of Rensselaer were burglarized Wednesday, and the thief procured about S4O in money and considerable jewelry. The residence of Cyril Steel was entered and bills totaling ’s3s, besides some change was stolen. At the residence of H. E. Parkiscn, a short distance this way from Mr. Steel’s, the burglar also got in his work, and largely at the expense of the Steel family. Two of the Steel children were working ,for Mr. Parkison, Blanche Steel is employed a.t the house and Curtis Steel as a farm hand. The thief got $5 belonging to Curtis and a gold watch and ring from Blanche, and tlso two gold rings belonging to Mis. Parkison. Both houses thoroughly ransacked and the thief had made a hasty search of all parts of the houses. It is thought that the burglar was a joung man about 19 years old and that he was dressed in a brown suit of clothes and wore patent leather shoes. The burglaries occurred between 1:30 and 4:30 o’clock, as it was between these hours that the houses were absented by members of the families. At about 4 o’clock a young man answering the description above given applied at the residence of . Jack Hoyes to inquire where * man named Wayne lived. There is no one of that name in that section and evidently that was a ruse employed by the thief to ascertain whether or not there was anyone at home. He went from the Hoyes’ residence down the road and when near Bird Amsler’s place cut through the corn field toward town. No other trace" was procured of him. Although the burglaries occurred in the afternoon they were not discovered until the Steel boy and girl went to their rooms at the Parkison home, and when they notified Mr. Parkison and later their parents the other thefts were discovered. The officers were notified, but could find no trace of the culprit in town. Mr. Steel came to town and done some scouting eround and found a young man at the depot who responded evasively to his questions and after the. young man came down town he was taken to the jail and put through a severe questioning. He had but 20 cents on his person and claimed to be from Monticello and finally substantiated his statement that he had worked during the day at Monticello. He was then discharged. The recent assault and robbery of Frank Lewis at Kersey, the burglary of - the Wheatfield post office and these house robberies should serve as a warning to people to keep their houses locked and their valuables where they can not be found. And every person should help to round up these thieves.