1936: Chauffeur Reports House Break-in, Includes Five Guns

The entries we post on a weekly basis will be from the early 1900s through the late-1930s at a time when was beginning to flourish as a community.

The entries are posted practically verbatim, except for the names of the victims or perpetrators of the crimes noted. They provide a fascinating reflection of the times and culture of that era.

Just as an example of what was going on in Lake Forest around that time, a new building is constructed in 1939 on the southeast corner of Illinois Road and Bank Lane. Janowitz Grocery occupies the basement and ground floor while the second floor is divided into three apartments, according to the  timeline.

• March 3, 1936: A man in the 200 block of Woodland Road called and said someone had entered his flat during the afternoon. Huhnke and Whalen on call. Dresser drawers and suitcases ransacked, apparently looking for money, nothing missing. No fingerprints found.

• March 13, 1936: Austin Niblack's chauffeur called and said someone broke into the house last night. Chief, Brebner and Whalen on call. Found that someone broke glass in French door of sun parlor on southwest side of house. Went all through the house, ransacking drawers and closets. Took two baskets of silver, all medals from case in sun parlor, one overcoat, two 12-gauge shotguns, one 16-gauge shotgun, one automatic shot gun, one revolver, suits of clothes and liquor. Chauffeur was not in house from 2 p.m. March 12 until 12:15 p.m. March 13.

• March 20, 1936: Highland Park Police called reporting a bad check artist. He is 31 years old, 5-foot-7, 125 pounds, brown hair, medium complexion, sickly looking. Called at a doctor's office there and said he had chest ailment, asked for prescription for dope. Doctor gave him small amount and he paid for call with $2 check. Gave his name as Robert C. Crossland, Highland Park address, asked doctor to call his house next day. Doctor called and there was no one by that name at said address. Gave to squads.

• March 27, 1936: A Mrs. Biddlecom who had been staying with Mrs. Rossiter came to the Police station and reported that she was leaving there to go to Agaard Rest Home in Lake Bluff. She noticed a lace collar and a pair of quilled satin bedroom slippers missing from her room, then her rubbers and galoshes. She told Mrs. Rossiter, but she did nothing about it. Wants us to investigate.

— information courtesy of John Walker.

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