Butler Citizen

By oversight last week we omitted the full account of the robbing of the Gibson and Harper store, of North Washington, this county. The following are the particulars in brief as we have learned them: The store, hardware, was broken into on the morning of the 20th of May, the safe was broken open and some $1,300 in money obtained. Tools, which had been obtained at a smith shop in the village, were found on the floor, but the entrance to the safe was effected without injury to the lock. From this it is conjectured that the thieves had a knowledge of the safe, its combination, etc., and had therefore been enabled to open it without breaking its lock. It is possible that they might, by accident, have hit upon the right combination, and it is possible the safe was not locked on that night. After having effected their object they broke into Mr. Harper's dry goods store, just across the street and took a lot of dry goods, which were afterwards found near by. Suspicion at first rested upon no one, but we learn that some parties have or will be arrested. This robbery, with the one shortly previous at Centreville, this county, and the one since at Fredonia, Mercer county, indicates an organized gang of thieves who are prowling about our country villages seeking what they may steal. We hope they may soon be detected, tried and punished.