The Chariton Leader ~ Carl Vorhies ~ Iowa
The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa
Thursday, November 30, 1905
LUCAS LEDGER NEWS:
>From the following clippings it would appear that Chariton is not the only town furnishing news for the associated press:
On last Tuesday afternoon while Woodman's Store was closed, during the funeral of MR. WOODMAN's sister, MRS. R.R. FOGG, a party of Russell's juvenile toughs deliberately planned and executed one of the most daring robberies ever committed in that town.
They entered the store through the basement by breaking out a window, through which HOWARD PLYMATE entered, and making his way to the store room went through every drawer of the cash register, securing seven dollars and five cents. So well was it planned that had not the boys fell to quarreling over the plunder there would have been no clue to the robbers. Their quarreling over the division of the money attracted attention and led to the arrest of WILLIAM DIXON, aged 16, GEO. SLATER, aged 16, EARL LEE, aged 15, and HOWARD PLYMATE, aged 10. County Attorney Wells was summoned from Chariton and the preliminary hearing was held before Justice Cook. DIXON and SLATER were bound over to the Grand Jury, and SLATER was released under $350 bonds. DIXON was taken to the county jail. LEE and PLYMATE will be taken before the juvenile court and will probably be sent to the reform school.
-- MELROSE RECORD.
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The bold, bad burglars paid a visit to Lucas last Friday night, breaking into four business houses and blowing open one safe. At JACK SMITH's place they gained entrance through the side window by breaking the glass, and secured some cigars, whiskey and a few pennies. At J.D. BEAMAN's Drug Store they cut a hole through the back door and lifted the iron bar, but were only able to secure whiskey and cigars. The cash register was opened and some twenty pennies were taken.
Entrance to ROWE's Store was gained through the cellar window. The cash and desk drawers were rifled but nothing of any value was taken. The men felt in need of refreshments, however, for what was probably their last job and recuperated the inner man with a hearty lunch of canned goods, crackers, cheese, etc.
At HUNTER's Meat Market they drilled a hole in the safe and blew it open with nitro-glycerine after stacking around it all the heavy meats they could find, probably to deaden the sound of the explosion. The windows were shattered, and the racket awakened some of the neighbors but the robbers got away with their booty -- about $40 in cash.
CARL VORHIES, the night watchman, goes off duty at 2 A.M. and the burglaries were committed about an hour later. The manner in which the safe was blown indicates that the parties understood their business, as just enough of the explosive was used to blow the door off the safe. The telephone and telegraph were put in use the next morning, but no clue to the robbers could be obtained.
-- LUCAS LEDGER.
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September 21, 2004
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