Publication Date

11-28-1911

Description

"Yeggs". Blow Safe In A Store and Get Away With About $200--Used Nitro Glycerine In Blowing the Safe--Robbers Shot At Man Who Gave The Alarm--But Luckily None Of The Bullets Took Effect--"Yeggs" Steal A Rig And Drive Toward Fredericktown--Believed To Be Same Men Who Operated In Mt. Vernon--Is an organized gang of “yeggmen” operating on Knox county? The robbery at Amity, eight miles north-east of Mt. Vernon, early Monday morning is conclusive evidence that such is the case. The robbers were no doubt the same as operated in Mt. Vernon Saturday morning. They used nitro-glycerine in blowing the safe at Loney and Nixen’s store, and such an amount was used that the safe was literally blown to pieces. As in Mt. Vernon the burglars made good their escape. At the robbert \sat Amity, B.J. Fletcherer, a well known citizen, had a most thrilling experience with the “yeggmen”. When the explosion occurred Mr. Fletcher got up and dressed and started out of his house to arouse the citizens of the village. As he started out of the door he was met with a number of bullets fired by one of the robbers. Luckily none of the bullets took effect and Mr. Fletcher pluckily made his way to the home of Mr. Loney and informed him of the burglary.—Amity, Ohio, Nov. 27—“Yeggs’ broke into the general store and post office conducted by Loney & Nixon, blew the safe and took $200 in money at this place shortly before 3 o’clock Monday morning and escaped by means of a stolen horse and buggy after having fired severel [sic] (several) revolver shots at Mr. B.J. Fletcher who attempted to arouse the village before they had completed their work. They escaped capture. The burglars were three in number and operated exactly in the same manner as did the ones in Mt. Vernon on Saturday morning and it is thought very probable that it is the same gang. While the Mt. Vernon police say that the men are rank amateurs at the business, it is an acknowledged fact that they are in no way lacking in nerve and daring. A few minutes before 3 o’clock Monday morning Mr. B.J. Fletcher, who resides in the immediate neighborhood of the grocery and post office, was awakened by the noise of an explosion. He arose and looked out of the window in time to see a figure step back into the shadows at the front of the store and disappear. Hurriedly donning a part of his clothing, Mr. Fletcher left the house and started to make his way to the home of Mr. Loney who resided a short distance away. The man at the front door of the store immediately opened fire on him with a revolver. Escaping the shots, Mr. Fletcher reached the Loney home and pounded on the front window to arouse Mr. Loney who soon made his appearance. The man at the front of the store continued to fire, some of the shots coming dangerously near to the two men who had now succeeded in causing considerable alarm to be spread throughout the village. Before enough persons could be mustered to successfully attack the “yeggs” they made their escape through the rear door and after having skirted a field on foot, they reached a horse and buggy which they had stolen from Mr. Samuel Simmons before the robbery, and drove hastily west on the Wooster road. On reaching Ebenezer church they turned north on the Ebenezer road and passed the home of Mr. Jerry Belt who saw them driving with all speed. They turned west on the Fredericktown road and were last seen at this point. Immediately after the departure of the “cracksmen” the wrecked store was visited by those who had been aroused and it was found that much damage had been done. The safe was blown to pieces, part of it having been blown through the floor and into the cellar. The windows were shattered by the force of the explosion and other articles and fixtures were damaged. The contents of the safe, about $100 in cash and about $75 worth of jewelry, and several dollars worth of stamp, was missing. A large package of stamps, amounting to about $100, had been overlooked and was found intact. The men entered the store through the front door which had been pried open by means of an iron bar. They unlocked the rear door to assure a hasty departure should the people of the town be aroused, and posted a man at the front door to watch while the remaining two operated on the safe. A small bag was found in the store containing several bars of laundry soap, some burglar instruments, and several articles which are used by “cracksmen.” The cracks in the safe had been completely filled with the soap to hold in the nitro glycerine which was poured in from the top of the door in liberal quantities. The safe was blown and it was the report of the explosion that awakened Mr. Fletcher from his slumber.

Publisher

The Democratic Banner

Page Number(s)

5

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