February
18, 1908 – The mystery surrounding the disappearance of the box
of $50,000 in stocks and bonds from the office of D. C. Hopkins in the
Metropolitan Building was cleared this morning by the police.
In searching the trunk of W. F. Breitner brought to Minneapolis from Cincinnati Monday night on a charge of forgery and theft by Detective LeLaittre, a tin box was found. In it reposed a bunch of mysterious looking papers. No one knew the significance of the find for a while, but Chief Corriston recalled the stocks and bonds robbery, and realized what he was looking at.
Breitner admits stealing the stocks and bonds, saying he took them Sat. morning, Feb. 8.
In searching the trunk of W. F. Breitner brought to Minneapolis from Cincinnati Monday night on a charge of forgery and theft by Detective LeLaittre, a tin box was found. In it reposed a bunch of mysterious looking papers. No one knew the significance of the find for a while, but Chief Corriston recalled the stocks and bonds robbery, and realized what he was looking at.
Breitner admits stealing the stocks and bonds, saying he took them Sat. morning, Feb. 8.
“I was walking through the corridor on the fifth floor
of the building,” he said in making his confession. “I noticed one of the safes
open in the vault near the Hopkins Land Company’s office, and entered without
being seen. I found the box and without opening it, hid it in my coat and
walked down the stairs. I left that night for Cincinnati to join my wife in that
city.”
Mr. Hopkins said he found all the papers intact.
“The finding of the box of securities relieves my mind of a great burden,” he said. “The sarcastic insinuations that have been made about its disappearance have been galling to me than the loss of the papers, for they represented no actual loss, of course, as I could easily have duplicated them. I am glad that the mystery has been cleared.”
The Minneapolis Tribune; “Mysterious Theft Finally Solved. Stocks and Bonds Stolen From D. C. Hopkins Are Found. W. F. Breitner Explains How he Secured Box of Securities.”; Feb. 19, 1908; p. 5.
Mr. Hopkins said he found all the papers intact.
“The finding of the box of securities relieves my mind of a great burden,” he said. “The sarcastic insinuations that have been made about its disappearance have been galling to me than the loss of the papers, for they represented no actual loss, of course, as I could easily have duplicated them. I am glad that the mystery has been cleared.”
The Minneapolis Tribune; “Mysterious Theft Finally Solved. Stocks and Bonds Stolen From D. C. Hopkins Are Found. W. F. Breitner Explains How he Secured Box of Securities.”; Feb. 19, 1908; p. 5.
The Metropolitan Building was built in 1890 and torn down in 1961 as part of a major urban renewal effort in downtown Minneapolis.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Building_(Minneapolis)
https://cdn.skyrisecities.com/sites/default/files/images/articles/2016/07/21763/21763-75144.jpeg
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If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: census records, birth records, death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records. I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.
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