THIEF BREAKS INTO SCHMUTTE CAFE

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Frightened Away With Small Loot. Entered through Back Door

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The Chas. Schmutte restaurant was broken into Monday night or early Tuesday morning and merchandise to the value of eight or ten dollars was taken, uncluding about two dollars in pennies. Entrance was gained by removing the glass from the back door, then reaching in and unlocking the door.

The merchandise taken included four or five cartons of cigerets and half a dozen cigarette holders. These articles are known to have been taken and it is possible that a few other things may have been stolen, but the stock was displayed in such a manner that Mr. Schmutte could not be certain. Evidence indicates that the robbery was the work of an amateur or that the thief was frightened away. A large amount of much more valuable merchandise could as easily have been carried away. Severl boxes of ten-cent cigars were not touched. A box or two or a can of cheaper cigars may have been taken without the loss being discovered. There were about 35 or 40 carsons of cigarets in sight, and also about fifty pounds of chewing tobacco and a large stock of smoking tobacco that was not molested.

The thief could have carried off $100 worth of merchandise as easily as the amount that was taken.

Two boxes of candy bars were left on the counter and about a pint of ice cream was dished out, but non eaten, strengthening the theory that the culprit was frightened away. From the amount of things taken it is believed the work was that of a lone hand. If the intruder had accomplices, they must have remained outside.

The pane of glass from the door was very carefully removed, being laid aside unbroken. The back door was discovered open by Frank Smith at about a quarter of six. He immediately notified Mr. Schmutte, and when they came to the restaurant the ice cream, that had been dished out had scarcely started to melt. For this reason it is believed that the robbery occurred early in the morning.

As soon as the crime was discovered the identity of the guilty person was suspected, but the evidence did not warrant an arrest and later developments indicate that the first suspicions were probably wrong.

--The Haigler News, Haigler Nebraska, Friday, September 24, 1926