Saturday, November 21, 2020

Ozawkie Postoffice Robbed

  From the Perry Mirror, February 24, 1910

 The Ozawkie postoffice was robbed about 1 o’clock Sunday morning and about fifty dollars in cash and twenty-five dollars in money orders were taken from the safe. The thieves used dynamite in wrecking the safe and the people of the town heard two distinct reports. Nobody saw the thieves, although the dynamiting of the safe woke almost everybody in town. 

 

"West Side, Ozawkie, Kan., 1907"
from Ozawkie on the Delaware

The county authorities at Topeka believe that the men who robbed the postoffice at Ozawkie passed through, or are still in Topeka. A buggy occupied by two men believed to be the parties who wrecked the postoffice at Ozawkie, passed through Meriden at 3 o’clock Sunday morning just two hours after the robbery occurred and at 4:25 the same party entered North Topeka. A search of all the livery barns in Topeka revealed nothing and it is evident that the party did stop there.

 

This story appeared in “Yesteryears” in April 2003. 

 

Other papers included more details: 

 

The Oskaloosa Times,
Feb. 24, 1910
From the Valley Falls New Era, February 24, 1910

 

Saturday night the Ozawkie postoffice, location in the Ford Quiett store, was entered and robbed, more than $200 being taken from the postoffice safe.

 

It is supposed that two men were implicated in the robbery, which occurred about one o’clock. Fred Littlejohn and son were across the street in the Frost residence and stated early Sunday morning that they had noticed the men in the building and had heard the explosion, but didn’t notify any one of the facts because they “didn’t want to get mixed up in the affair.”

 

The robbery was discovered by people returning home from a country dance. “Shorty” Clark noticed the door was open and tried to close it, but discovered it was out of plumb. He struck a match and noticed the damage done inside and the safe, which had been blown open. He notified others and the sheriff was notified.

 

The men were traced west of Meriden, and later to Topeka. U.S. postoffice inspectors are working on the case.

 

 

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