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St. Louis, Mo., June 29---Morris M Shinderman, a diamond broker of 31 N State St. Chicago, reported to St. Louis police Wednesday, that he had been robbed of uncut diamonds, platinum diamond rings and bracelets, valued at $65,000, while he was a passenger on a Wabash train Tuesday on the way to Kansas City. The jewels were missed after the train reached Mexico, Mo. Shinderman got off the train at Centralia, Mo., and notified officials of the railroad, who telegraphed back to St. Louis.
A negro porter on the train, Shinderman said, informed him that he had seen a man get off the train at the Delmar Station, St. Louis, who was dressed in a checkered suit of clothes, wore a straw hat and carried a grip similar to that carried by Shinderman.
Shinderman told police he had made trips each month to St. Louis, and that he arrived here last Friday and was a guest at Hotel Jefferson. Tuesday he called on his trade, carrying a case of uncut diamonds valued about $60,000 in his inside pocket, he said, he carried the diamond platinum rings and bracelets, valued at $5,000.
Shinderman said he checked out of the hotel Tuesday and went to Union Station. He said he generally carried the jewelry and diamonds on his person, but that the weather was warm and he intended taking off his coat, so he put the gems in his grip. He said he took a seat in the observation car and the porter put his grip down on the other side of the coach. He said a number of other grips were near his. When the train reached Delmar Station, he said, he did not see anyone get off. No one was seen by him to leave the car when the train reached St. Charles. Several persons, he said, left the car at Mexico, and it was then that he missed his grip. He said he went to the platform of the station there and sought out the porter and looked at several grips that had been carried from the car.
The porter told Shinderman that he believes the man he saw leaving the train at Delmar Station took his grip.
Irondale, mo., Feb 23---The bank of Irondale was robbed today for the second time within six months, when a shabbily dressed man, about 25 years old, held up W.A. Jamison, cashier, and escaped with all the money on hand, about $1200. Dr. J.L. Eaton of Bismarck, president of the bank, entered while the robbery was in progress, and was forced to hold up his hands. The bank was robbed last October by two men, who obtained about $1000.
Elmer J Ringenberg of Springfield, Mo., was robbed of his money and forced from his auto and beaten early Monday morning in the vicinity of Blue Springs. According to reports, he had traveled from Springfield with two young men he did not know. The twosome fled in his car. After medical care at the Carnahan Clinic in Bourbon, Ringenberg was put on a Springfield-bound bus by Mayor Smith of Bourbon.
The Walter Schwandt Service Station in Gerald was entered sometime Friday night last and tires, inner tubes, flash lights, spark plugs, motor oil, anti-freeze and other items were taken.
Entrance to the station was made by breaking a glass in a window and reaching through and unlocking it. Sheriff Giebler, accompanied by several highway patrolmen, made an investigation of the robbery soon after it was discovered and are investigating all possible clues. The proprietor estimates the value of merchandise taken to be $200.
Sullivan Tri-County News March 22, 1956
$3000 Taken From Tavern In Washington
Law enforcement authorities in the county this week are searching for information leading to the arrest of two men who held up a tavern owner in Washington last Thursday night and robbed him of about $3000. According to A.E. Smith, chief of police at Washington, Bill Berg, owner of Berg's Tavern, was just about ready to close for the night when two men, both described as fairly young, came into the business house and pulled a gun. The lone customer in the place grappled with a gunman but was severely beaten and later hospitalized. Berg told police he had about $3000 in cash and checks in a cigar box which the thieves took. The tavern was also robbed on January 11 of approximately $900.
A masked burglar operating in North St. Louis yesterday morning, after frightening two women in which whose rooms he was prowling, setting off a burglar alarm in the third house he attempted to enter, and being shot at, had a reward of 37 cents for his night's work. This money he purloined from a coat he found hanging on a rack in one of the houses he entered.
Miss Annie Kraft, daughter of Mrs. Henry Kraft, at 2026 Adelaide avenue, was frightened almost into hysterics at the sight of the man in her room, and her screams frightened him away. The thief was prowling in her room on the ground floor when she was awakened by a noise. The intruder was standing by her bed. When she looked up into his face he warned her to keep quiet, assuring her that he would not harm her. He then left the room, and as he turned to enter her mother's room the girl screamed. The thief then ran through her room and opening a window, jumped to the ground. An investigation revealed that he had entered the house by means of a duplicate key. Nothing was taken.
At the home of Emil Gessa, 5717 Florissant avenue, the burglar's plans were frustrated again by the screams of women. Mr. Gessa's mother-in-law, Mrs. Theresa Mueller, who is 70 years old, was awakened by a noise in her room on the second floor. Getting out of bed, she turned up a light, which had been burning dimly, and found herself standing face to face with the masked intruder. As soon as she beheld the stranger, Mrs. Mueller began screaming at the top of her voice. The burglar raised his hand, which held a revolver, and, pointing the weapon at Mrs. Mueller, said, " Hush! keep quiet and I will not hurt you. I want your money and I want it quick."
The sight of the weapon failed to produce a soothing effect on Mrs. Mueller's hysterical frame of mind and she only screamed louder, attracting the attention of her daughter, Mrs. Gessa, who was sleeping in an adjoining room. The latter sprang out of bed and ran to her mother's assistance. When she beheld the burglar she also screamed.
" Now don't you begin." mildly requested the burglar, as he shifted his revolver about so that it seemed to be pointing at both women. The women refused to stop screaming, however, and the unwelcomed visitor was compelled, through fright, to back out of the room and descend to the lower floor. He didn't run down the stairs though, just walked, and got out of the house barely in time to escape a bullet which was sent after him by Fred Gessa, Mrs. Gessa's son. The young man had heard his mother and grandmother screaming and had seen the burglar going out the front door.
When the burglar had gone, the Gessas discovered that he had taken with him 37 cents, 35 of which belonged to Miss Lydia Gessa. Overcoats and jackets which had been hanging in the hall were strewn about the floor, and the place was in a state of general disorder.
As in the case of the Kraft burglary, the intruder gained entrance to the Gessa residence by climbing through a parlor window.
" It was the first time I ever encountered a burglar," said Mrs. Mueller, in speaking of her experience, " and I was too frightened to think of obeying his command to keep still, and shudder now as I think how he might have shot me. I was completely at his mercy. He could have killed me had he wanted to. His revolver looked like a cannon to me. I suppose it's natural for a woman to scream under such circumstances, and I guess I would do the same thing if I should meet another burglar."
Despite her age, Mrs. Mueller is remarkably well preserved, and this fact is responsible for the unusual display of courage.
It was at the residence of Fred Ketzing at 2111 Fair avenue where the burglar alarm frightened the thief and awoke all the occupants of the house. An effort was being made to raise one of the front windows when the alarm sounded and the robber ran.
The office of the A.J. Childs Farm Supplies Company at 210 Market street, was entered by burglars Saturday night. A pane of glass was broken and the bolt removed from the window. A key to the vault was taken from a desk and unlocked. No money was in the vault. The papers were distributed about the floor, but nothing was missed.
The office of the Artesian Manufacturing & Bottling Company at 1603 South Broadway was entered Saturday night and patterns valued at $8 were stolen.
The house of Mrs. F Frys at 1733 Carr street was visited by a thief who stole a suit of clothes and some papers belonging to Mathew Allen.
The Sullivan Bowl was broken into some time after the Bowl was closed at 11:30 pm. Entry was gained by prying 3 locks off the rear door of the building. The pinball machines were broken into and damaged, and the money was removed. The intruders found the keys to the cigarette machine and the juke box and removed the cash there also. According to police Chief Walter Brake, about $300 to $400 in coins was taken. There are no clues.
Sullivan News January 24, 1929
Burglars Make Big Haul At Lane's Store
Burglars entered Lane's clothing store in Sullivan Tuesday night and got away with 47 men's suits and 7 overcoats. They entered by a back window and went out by the back door which they left open. Boy's clothing and all smaller articles were left undisturbed, so far as has been ascertained. At this time, Wednesday afternoon, no reliable clue has been discovered that might lead to the capture of the thieves.
Paul Newman's character Henry Gondorff in the movie "The Sting" was inspired by Fred and Charley Gondorff, confidence men who ran a wire in Joplin, Missouri, during the early 1900s.
Burglars who broke into the Imperial filling station in west St. James Sunday night by forcing a window, took 8 gallons of oil and a gallon of anti-freeze, according to reports. The burglars were apparently after the money in an automatic cigarette and candy machine, but could not get it open. In an attempt to open it they jammed the lock.
Sullivan News April 28, 1938
Ed Erni's Trolley Car Burglarized
Ed Erni's trolley car was robbed of a small amount of cash and about $15 worth of cigarettes and candy Thursday night by someone unknown who broke in through the back window. No clue has as yet been established. There is considerable traffic on Clark avenue all night and the robbers had to work very stealthily to avoid discovery.
St. Louis Jeweler Indicted On Arson Charge After 3 Fires
St. Louis, Mo., June 29---An indictment charging first-class arson was voted by the grand jury Tuesday against Vincent Verzie, 27 years old, proprietor of a jewelry store at 1007 Franklin avenue. Three fires have broken out in his store during the past 5 months. Partial insurance was paid for damage done by a fire on February 23. A police investigation, it is alleged, showed that turpentine had been used to saturate portions of the building. At the time, Verzie declared that he believed the flames were started by members of an Italian Blackhand organization. The second fire occurred on June 6 after Verzie had been notified by an insurance company that his policy would be discontinued on June 13. Little damage was done at that time. On June 12, a few hours before $2,500 of the $15,000 policies was to expire, the third fire was discovered. It is alleged that traces of gasoline were found about the building in the police investigation after each fire.
Sullivan Tri-County News September 30, 1965
Would Be Robber Shoots On Sight
Charles Pettus, who operates an A&W drive-in near a wooded area out of Potosi, was shot in the leg by a man who approached him after dark outside the place of business Saturday night. The assailant then ran through the woods and disappeared, and as yet not been found or identified.
Pettus, who works at Meramec Mining Co. at Sullivan as a hoisting engineer, told Washington county authorities that when his assailant jumped out of the shadows he cried, " This is a holdup, give me your money or I'll shoot you." Without waiting for money he then began to shoot. Pettus, who was carrying a pistol, fired four or five shots at the excited would-be robber, but is not sure he hit him. Pettus collapsed due to his leg wound.
I.H. Dickinson of Sullivan, who lives in a house-trailor in Banta's Park on the Plaza road states he was attacked and robbed Friday evening in St. Louis. Dickinson, who was in the city to attend the Municipal Opera, was on the way back to his parked car when he says he received a blow on the head. When he revived, his pocketbook and coin purse were missing and he was bleeding profusely. He made his way back to the opera grounds and reported the incident to the police, who procured medical care and took him back to his car. After receiving medical attention he started home and arrived in Sullivan at 4 a.m. Saturday morning. He has cuts on the top of his head, above his left eye, on his jaw, and marks on his throat where he says he was choked to prevent an outcry. His loss consisted of $19 cash, his driver's license and title to his car.
Boys' Farm Runaways Involved In Burglaries In St. Clair
Three youthful and hungry boys, to whom a brush with the law is an old story, were involved this week in another chapter of their troublesome but exciting lives. Two wound up in the county jail and one is still at large.
David Cantrell, 15, who escaped recently from Missouri Hills (formerly Bellefontaine Farms), is being sought by police. He escaped into the woods on the Edward Dierking farm near St. Clair Tuesday night. According to Sheriff Bill Miller the boy has brown eyes, weighs about 110 pounds, is about 5 feet 3 inches tall, and wears a green checkered Mackinaw and blue Levis. He is bareheaded.
In the county jail under supervision of the juvenile division of magistrate court are youngsters, Charles Vernon Miller, 13, who ran away from Missouri Hills with young Cantrell, and William Blumm, 17, a former inmate of the Institution For The Rehabilitation Of Boys.
Those in custody state that they drove to St. Clair Tuesday in a car stolen in St. Louis by Cantrell. The latter knew St. Clair and surrounding farm areas after having spent some weeks here last summer with a relative.
They admit having burglarized the home of Sam Duncan on the Wright's Lodge road south of St. Clair Tuesday. They drove around highway 66 at Reikerford until they ran out of gas. They then walked to the nearby Dierking farm, which is unoccupied, and helped themselves to a .22 rifle. In their pockets they had a lady's wristwatch, a man's pocketwatch, which was a keepsake, two Masonic pins and a lady's ring taken from the Duncan home.
Delmon Dierking arrived up on the scene to feed stock on the farm. The boys fled but he caught Blumm and Martin and phoned the police. Cantrell, knowing the area, made a getaway. The jewelry was lost in the woods during the boy's flight. According to the sheriff, the boys complained that they are hungry.
Sometime after midnight Tuesday a hungry intruder broke the glass door of Ford's Drive-In on highway 66, dined in the kitchen on a fresh-baked ham, and broke into the juke box for about $5 or $6 in coins. Before leaving, the intruder took cigarettes of various brands and 8 candy bars.
Seven guns were taken from the Western Auto store in Bourbon sometime Wednesday night November 14. The proprietor, Al Nilges, estimated the loss at approximately $400.
The thieves forced open an aluminum front door which had been checked at 3 o'clock in the morning by the Bourbon night marshal and was apparently secure. Missing were a Revelation Model pump 12-gauge shotgun, a Mossberg Model 185 K bolt action 20 gauge shotgun, a knife and hatchet set, two Revelation Model 330 bolt action 410 gauge shotguns, a Revelation Model 120 semi-automatic .22 rifle, a Revelation lever action 30-30 caliber rifle and cartons of Western Super X .22 cal. long rifle shells. Investigation was made by the Bourbon police, Sheriff Giles' office and the highway patrol.
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