 Scribner’s General Merchandise Store in Rocklin opened in 1894 and primarily sold clothing, shoes, fabric and accessories. Display cases featuring removable mens cuffs and collars, suspenders, shirts, ties, jewelry and pocket watches lined the store’s interior. Meanwhile, cartons of shoes, gloves, hats, fabric bolts, and even luggage sat cleanly organized on floor-to-ceiling shelves.
Scribner’s store was a popular shopping destination and sat near the intersection of what today is Pacific Avenue and Rocklin Road along the railroad line. On October 1,1897, it was also the site of a nighttime heist in which thieves got away with shoes, gloves, pocketknives, hats, watches, jewelry, razors, and clothing. A $25 reward was promptly offered by Sheriff Conroy for information leading to their arrest and conviction while he shared details of the stolen loot with law enforcement throughout the region.
Around the same time, a rash of burglaries and daring daytime robberies had been occurring throughout Sacramento by armed, masked men. From private residences to pedestrians, grocers, and saloon owners, victims of the robberies shared details which seemed to identify a gang of three men responsible.
Deputies were in search of a trio of tramps, one being very tall and the other being quite short in stature. Authorities suspected the men to have been riding the rails between heists.
On Oct. 7 the gang’s success came to an end. Wearing the hats and clothing they had stolen from Scribner’s store, they held up a Sacramento grocer at gunpoint then stole a boat and rowed across the Sacramento River before walking back over the bridge into Sacramento to steal a train ride. They shot at a brakeman as he confronted them and were soon arrested and handed over to authorities.
Almost immediately, short-statured Frank Davis (alias) confessed to everything and incriminated his mates, tall Harry Lynch and Fred Howard (also aliases). While this may have spared Davis a trial in Sacramento, he was promptly handed over to Sheriff Conroy to answer for the felony burglary at Scribner’s.
Davis pled guilty and was sentenced to three years in San Quentin.
Photograph: Interior of Scribner’s General Merchandise Store in Rocklin. Circa 1900. Placer County Museums, Rocklin Historical Society collection.
 Whether it’s representing your community or sharing your expertise on topics like agriculture or parks, there are always opportunities for you to help advise county leaders on the issues that matter to you most. Recruitment is open now to fill seats on the following committees or commissions, among others. Learn more and apply
Current recruitments include:
 Don’t miss the fun coming this next week in...
Roseville: Blue Line Artists Reception
Lincoln: Santa in the Plaza
Auburn: Auburn Country Christmas, “A Christmas Portrait" 2025 by Auburn Winds
Newcastle: Santa’s Toy Chest
Meadow Vista: Gingerbread House Decorating Party
North Lake Tahoe: Tahoe City Holiday Market
...and many Placer County Library and Placer County Museum events.
Visit our regional partners to discover more of the fun happening right here in Placer County!
Placer County Visitors' Bureau
North Tahoe Community Alliance
Tahoe City Downtown Association
The Arts Council of Placer County
Placer Valley Tourism
PlacerGROWN
Placer Wine Trail
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