News: Neillsville - Dog Hunts for Thief (1914)

Contact: Ann Stevens
Email: sdann88@yahoo.com

Surnames: O’Neill

----Source: Neillsville Times (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 11/12/1914

Dog Hunts for Thief (5 NOV 1914)

Last Thursday considerable excitement was occasioned in Neillsville when a blood hound was put on the trail of the thief who smashed in the window of the Big Store and stole the guessing contest cash box on display there. The hound was brought up from Richland Center Wednesday night and Thursday morning was taken to the window where the large stone the thief had used in breaking the window still remained. The dog was given the scent from the stone and then brought out in front of the store. Here the trail was picked up by the hound to the rear of the Big Store and then east to Judge O’Neill’s corner, north to the county jail and then west again to the Big Store. The trail was then taken straight north on Hewett Street to the Catholic Church, back to the rear of the Merchant’s Hotel and then west on 5th Street to Hewett Hill. Again the dog returned to the city and finally wound up at the depot. The owner of the dog claims that the trail of the thief was followed throughout the deviating trip and that he is confident that the thief either lives along the route taken or had stopped at one of the houses along it.

No arrests were made as a result of the work of the dog and it is not known whether there will be, although it seems that strong suspicions are entertained against local talent which may eventually result in arrests.