The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-12
ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.
A Stranger Suspected of Completely
in the st. Louis Express Robbery.
The Circumstances Surrounding Fred
Blooms Arrest-The HallucinatiOns
Under Which lie LabOrs.

For several weeks there has been stopping at
the Bates House, a young man who, by reason
of his pronounced eccentricities, has attracted
general attention, and has been the object of re
mark among the guests. He gave his name as Fred
Bloom and claimed to come from Central City,
Col Yesterday afternoon a telegram was re
eeived by Superintendent Lange from
Chief Of Police Harrigan, of St Louis, saying
ARREST Bloom, who is stopping at the Bates
House He is watched by Phillips, of the
express company. His actions are suspicious.
He may be implicated in the recent robbery
here Compel him to show who he is Captain
Manning, Of the Union Depot police called on
Bloom, at his room in the Bates House, during
the afternoon, and questioned him regarding
where he had been during the last few weeks,
Bloom showed him his receipted hotel
bills as proof that he had been in
the city since the 18th of last December,
and, from his statement, satisfied the officer
that the suspicion that he was implicated in the
express robbery was unwarranted.
Superintendent Lange communicated with the
chief of police at st. Louis to obtain more ex-
plicit information regarding the suspicious
against Bloom, and, last evening at O'clock re-
ceived the following telegram:
ST. LOUIS, March IL.
John A. Lange, Superintendent Police:
Bloom sent communication to the Pacific Express
Company, stating that he had knowledge of the recent
robbery, and offering to effect compromise
Il. HARRIGAN, Chief of Police.
Upon receiving this telegram, Superintendent
LANCE and Captain Colbert called on Bloom. at
the Bates House, and, after short interview,
took him into custody to await further investga-
ton of the suspicious against him. He protest
ed against being placed under arrest, and en-
deavored to persuade the Superintendent to
leave an officer in his room as guard to prevent
his escape until he could satisfactorily establish
his innocence. He claimed that he had no
knowledge whatever of any express robbery
having been committed, and denounced his ar
rest as an outrage.
A journal reporter interviewed Bloom shortly
after he had been placed in the station house
He objected to any mention of his arrest being
made in the newspapers, saying: Il can't allow
anything to be said about me in the newspapers,
because 1t will be very damaging to melt will
hurt my reputation He could not understand
why the matter could not be with
held from the public as favor
to him. and thought the superintendent
of police had treated him outrageousy in not
permitting him to remain in his room.
der the guard OF an Ofncer. his nome, he stated,
was Central City, Col, where he had been en-
ployed. prior to coming East, as a clerk in gro
Gerry store When asked if he was not in posses
sion of considerable money, he replied: IF
didn't have, wouldn't be living as | am He
is engaged in no business now he says and
although he appears to be man Of robust con
stitution-he is endeavoring to regain
his health. He stopped at the Grand
Hotel until the 9th of January. and has since
been living at the Bates House He has had as
much $4,000 ON deposit in the hotel safes,
and has an account at the First National Bank.
He has no friends in this city. with the exception
he sgss, Of Mr. Philip ROhling the dry goods
merchant, on Indiana avenue
One of the most singular things in connection
with the man is that he believes everybody can
read his mind. He has his head shaved every
two days, and wears wig II troubled
with mind reading he said to the reporter
Since have been in Indianapolis every person
has been reading my mind, and it gives me
great deal Of trouble. When ] go out on the
street people will read the thoughts that are in
my mind and | can't help it, 1t has got so that
they even read my dreams, although ! have a
room up on the third floor of the Bates
House. can't go anywhere, or do any
thing-I can't read a novel but that
people know my thoughts. It's giving me a
great deal of trouble" He talks intellgently
until he speaks of his hallueination, and then he
eyinces unmistakable evidences of being a
crank There is little probability that he is
implicated in the express robbery, but he is
very singular and mysterious character
A Journal reporter called at the residence of
Mr.. Rolling. on Indiana avenue, at midnight,
and found that that gentleman had gone to
Richmond. Mrs Rohling said that the familys
acquaintance with Bloom very limited, and
that they knew very little of him. He had fol-
lowed her husbands brother Mr.. August Roll
ing. who lives at Blackhawk Col, to this city,
last September, but for what reason, nobody
knew Bloom stayed here several weeks,
and then went away for about a
month, and, upon his return, remained in
the city up to the present time He stopped at
first at the Spencer House, but afterwards went
to the Grand, Denison and Bates in the order
named Mrs Rolling said he occasionally
called at their house and at her husbands store,
and always acted very queerly, imagining that
people read his mind and knew what he was
thinking of. state of affairs that
seemed to give him great anxiety. He
always had plenty Of money and spent it
literally. Where or how he got his means
was unknown to either Mr.. Rolling or his broth
CT, and the latter said when he knew Bloom he
was clerking in a grocery store and was appar-
entity poverty stricken Mrs. Rolling said that
he never gave any intimation that he was en-
gagged in business, but said he was merely travel
ing for pleasure and to improve his health.