Bungling Burglars Skunked in Corvallis Courthouse Job

Dynamite-wielding thieves disappointed to find little treasure in Benton County Treasurer's vault

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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In 1909, two local men named Frank Clayton and George Davis broke into the Benton County Courthouse in Corvallis, Oregon, with plans to blow open the treasurer's vault and steal the contents. However, after using dynamite to access the vault, they were disappointed to find only small amounts of cash and jewelry, most of which belonged to the Woodmen of the World organization. The bumbling burglars then tried to flee by boat down the Willamette River, but left behind incriminating evidence that allowed the local police chief to track them down and arrest them in Portland a couple weeks later.

Why it matters

This story highlights the incompetence and bad luck that often plagued early 20th century criminals in Oregon, with the Corvallis courthouse burglary being just one of many amusing examples of "morons in the news" from the state's history. It also provides a glimpse into law enforcement techniques of the era, with the police chief relying on old-fashioned detective work to solve the case.

The details

Clayton and Davis had recently pulled off a successful jewelry store burglary in the nearby town of Peoria, netting them a nice haul that they had fenced through pawn shops in Portland. Flush with cash, they set their sights on the Benton County Courthouse, thinking the treasurer's office would be a treasure trove. After breaking in and blowing open the vault with dynamite, they were disappointed to find only a few hundred dollars and some jewelry belonging to the Woodmen of the World organization. Undeterred, they fled the scene by boat down the Willamette River, but left behind crucial evidence in the form of pawn shop claim stubs that allowed the local police chief to track them down in Portland a couple weeks later.

  • On the evening of April 4, 1909, Clayton and Davis broke into the Benton County Courthouse.
  • A couple weeks after the burglary, a $200 reward was announced for information leading to the thieves.
  • The police chief claimed the reward after arresting Clayton and Davis on the streets of Portland.

The players

Frank Clayton

One of the two local men who broke into the Benton County Courthouse and blew open the treasurer's vault with dynamite, only to be disappointed by the meager contents.

George Davis

The other local man who partnered with Frank Clayton in the failed Benton County Courthouse burglary.

Chief Wells

The Corvallis police chief who solved the case by tracking down Clayton and Davis in Portland based on incriminating evidence they had left behind.

N. Solomon

A mysterious Portland man who also filed a claim for the $200 reward, possibly a pawnshop owner who had cooperated with the police investigation.

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What they’re saying

“When the burglary was committed it was thought that no trace had been left by the robbers, but Chief Wells ... found a slight clue and this he followed like a born sleuth.”

— The Corvallis Gazette (The Corvallis Gazette)

“Chief Wells deserves the highest praise for the really capable manner in which he handled this case. ... With only the faintest possible clue he traced the thieves from the scene of the crime.”

— The Corvallis Gazette (The Corvallis Gazette)

The takeaway

This case highlights the incompetence and bad luck that often plagued early 20th century criminals in Oregon, with the Corvallis courthouse burglary being just one of many amusing examples of "morons in the news" from the state's history. It also provides a glimpse into the detective work and reward systems used by law enforcement at the time.