Number and Rauscher Stores in Lockridge Rifled

NUMBER, RAUSCHER, HARRIS

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 3/4/2006 at 15:06:21

Davenport Democrat and Leader
Davenport, Scott, Iowa
Mar 22, 1922

THIEF ENJOYS MEAL BEFORE HE RIFLES STORE
Partakes of Repast and Then Proceeds to Help Self to Goods.
Special to the Democrat.

Fairfield, Ia., March 22- Coolley [sic] sitting down to either a late supper or an early breakfast of cheese and crackers and canned goods, while a man lay sleeping in a bedroom upstairs some thief who entered the general store belonging to J.H. Number at Lockridge Monday night then used a chizel [sic] upon the cash register securing therefrom $1.50 in small change. Then taking unto himself a quantity of tobacco, two pairs of brown shoes size five, several pairs of gloves and various odds and ends he presumably walked calmly out of the window thru which he had entered and disappeared in the darkness.

However there is a beginning to this story and said robber first entered the hardware store belonging to Chris Rauscher also in Lockridge and secured therefrom some knives, razor straps and like stuff, also the chisel which he has used with such effective work at the neighboring store.

When Mr. Number and Mr. Rauscher opened their stores Tuesday morning and discovered that each had been entered and the same methods in each place they at once notified Sheriff Walter Harris of Fairfield who was soon on the scene.

It was learned from several people that a small slender sallow-looking man had been seen in Lockridge late Monday afternoon but he was not to be found Tuesday morning. Several people who saw him described the stranger as being sickly-looking. Officers in all the near-by cities have been furnished a description of this stranger and are now on the lookout for him.