5 robbers get $20
100 years ago
Dec. 15, 1923
• One of the most daring holdups in the history of Poplar Bluff occurred Friday (Dec. 14) about 5:10 p.m. Two men walked in P.L. Potillo’s store and robbed it, striking Potillo’s wife in the head and injuring her. The two men walked to a counter and ordered a can of corn. When Mrs. Potillo returned with the corn, one of the men pointed a gun at her, then knocked her unconscious. The robbers got about $20 and left in the getaway car with three other people. The five men were later apprehended in Wayne County after one was wounded by gunfire.
• The Alias Santa Claus movement, launched in Poplar Bluff by the Interstate American newspaper (the Daily American Republic’s forerunner) has brought forth many offers to help out Santa Claus in his work and a number of letters have come, telling of tots eligible for Christmas service. First Baptist Church has come forward with a very generous offer and the Masonic order has announced willingness to be counted in for whatever is needed in seeing the tots are reached by Santa Claus helpers.
75 years ago
Dec. 15, 1948
• The Jaycees are planning to have a lot of fun on Dec. 23. Rex Henson of the Jaycees said the organization will release eight full-grown and live turkeys out of third-story windows at the Butler County Courthouse on that date — and whoever catches one of the birds can keep it. The event will begin at 1 p.m. that day and is free of charge to participate in and attend.
• Wilbur Griffith, 35, of Poplar Bluff was charged in a St. Louis warrant yesterday (Dec. 14) with obtaining merchandise under false pretenses — in this case, allegedly for a store which never opened. Oscar Sessions, a merchant, told the circuit attorney’s office he advanced Griffith $1,426 worth of merchandise between July 16 and Sept. 1 to set up a business in Poplar Bluff. Sessions went on to say Griffith told him he could not pay because he allegedly lost his money while hunting. Sessions said he learned Griffith’s store never opened.
50 years ago
Dec. 15, 1973
• Discussion of the proposed multi-level parking garage on the site of the old Gibbons Hotel-Post Office properties will highlight Monday night’s (Dec. 17) workshop meeting of the Poplar Bluff City Council. City manager David Pence said a representative of a consulting firm will make a presentation on the parking garage at the meeting.
• Albert M. Ruttinger, Poplar Bluff’s director of public works and city engineer since the fall of 1970, has resigned, city manager David Pence confirmed yesterday (Dec. 14). Pence said Ruttinger had accepted a position with a consulting engineering firm in Milwaukee, adding Ruttinger had already sold his home and moved to Wisconsin.