Ottoville Items - 1875

6-10-1875
Safe Blowing and Burglary The Ohio Democrat       
On Tuesday night of last week the store of Mr. Gerhard Otte, of Ottoville, this county, was entered by
safe blowers and burglars, who succeeded in blowing open a large new safe and abstracting a large amount
of money. The particulars, as near as we are able to obtain, were about as follows. On Tuesday evening the
store was closed as usual, and a very large dog was shut in the store to keep watch. During the night
sometime the burglars entered and drilled two holes through the side of near the door, the outside hinges
were then broken off, as is supposed, and powder inserted in the holes, and when ignited blew the outside
door entirely off. The inside door was probably blown off by powder being inserted in the key hole. After the
burglars had secured the contents of the safe they provided themselves with a couple of suits of clothes and
made their departure. In the morning when visiting the store the safe was found to be a perfect wreck, and
the faithful watchdog was found dead upon the floor. Upon examination not a single wound could be found
upon the dog, and how he was killed remains a mystery. From the manner in which the burglary and
safe-blowing was done it looks very much as if it was done by professional in the business. Putnam Sentinel