BURGLARS in Cloverdale - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Burglars were busy last night in Cloverdale, with the result that three stores were entered and merchandise valued at over $200 was taken. The Smoke House Cigar Store and pool room operated by Ralph Hunter, the Broadlinn Café  run by Bernard Broadstreet and the Cloverdale Hardware and Lumber company, were the victims.  The heaviest loss was sustained by the hardware store.  The thieves took all the shotguns, ammunition, flashlights, fountain pens, watches and other small articles. The total loss was estimated at $200 all of which is covered by insurance.  At the other two places loss was taken  cigars and candy being the chief losses.  The time of the robberies was definitely fixed as at sometime after 3 a.m. Charles Turner, night watchman stated that he had seen nothing suspicious before that hour and that he had then gone home.  The robbers had evidently picked the locks at each of the places they entered.  No money was taken at any of the three stores and the bandits evidently confined themselves to articles which could be easily transported and sold.  There is a possibility that the bandits who wreaked havoc in Cloverdale may be the same persons who took the Hudson brougham of Guy Call here last night.  Mr. Call’s car was later found abandoned in Bloomington but plenty of time had elapsed between the time of the Cloverdale robberies and the discovery of the car for the thieves to have hidden their loot and escaped by some other method.  It was reported in Cloverdale that a large automobile was standing in front of the Smoke House about 2 a.m.  The shop was closed at that hour but the observer did not at the time think anything of the incident.  The car was a large one and might or might not have been Mr. Call’s Hudson.  The loss was discovered this morning by the owners of the three stores when they went to open up for business.  Authorities in Greencastle and other nearby towns were at once notified.  The insurance company with which the merchandise of the Cloverdale Hardware and Lumber Company was the insurance took charge of the search for the bandits.  Information about the robbery was broadcast over radio station WLS this morning.  No clues were left by the robbers and as yet no suspects have been were left by the robbers and as yet no suspects have been mentioned or captured.  It is not generally believed that local talent was responsible the theory being that the thieves were from outside.  The discovery of the car in front of the Smoke House strengthens this theory. Jesse H. McCoy is president of the Cloverdale Hardware and Lumber Company the chief sufferer in the robbery.