KinSource - Tale of the Week - Burglar Attempts Bold Daylight Job

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The St. Paul Globe, May 30, 1904, p. 1

BURGLAR ATTEMPTS BOLD DAYIGHT JOB

Scales Fire Escape and Enters Building While Onlookers Jeer Him.

One of the most daring burglaries in the history of the St. Paul police department was attempted yesterday afternoon when John Bowes, ignoring the jeers and shouts of unsuspecting onlookers climbed a fire escape in the rear of the G. Sommers & Co. warehouse and, coolly kicking out a window on the fourth floor landing, stepped inside and began a raid of the place. The police department was notified of the man's actions and detectives sent to the scene located him after a long search and placed him under arrest.

Bowes, who had evidently planned the spectacular performance, executed it without haste and disregarded the shouts of the men who saw him in the act. He first mounted to the roof of a one-story structure abutting the alley between Sixth and Seventh street, then placed a ladder against a two-story building to the roof of which he ascended. After reaching that height he proceeded to the fire escape on the Sommers building.

He was first noticed while mounting the fire escape, by a number of stage hands of the Star theater, who watched him for a while and then shouted to him.

"Look out, you'll fall!" cried one, as the man had reached the fourth story.

"Don't be afraid," answered Bowes. "I won't fall," and turning to the window administered a few kicks, which sent the glass crashing. He then waved his hands to the watchers and stepped out of sight.

Policeman is Notified.

Ben Cahn, 181 East Seventh street, saw the man climb into the window and notified Patrolman Hennessy. Detectives were sent from police headquarters, but the police were unable to gain admittance to the building and were compelled to wait for some time before Mr. Sommers arrived with a key. During the interval a strong guard was maintained about the building to prevent the escape of the man.

Capt. John Clark took charge of the search, assisted by Sergeant Flannagan, several detectives and patrolmen. Nearly an hour elapsed before the man was found hidden away at the bottom of the elevator shaft. While scouring the building the detectives found a heap of cutlery and silverware which had evidently been gathered together by the man before his work was interrupted.

Having thoroughly searched the four upper floors without finding the man, preparations were made for descending into the basement, when Capt. Clark disovered a foot protruding from under a wooden platform at the bottom of the elevator shaft.

The man had worked himself into a small hole between the platform and the ground and was half buried in the sand when found. He was nearly smothered and submitted without resistance. He was taken to the central police station where he gave his name as John Bowes. The police say he has been under arrest before.