The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-23
ARREST OF R. G. HOBBS
N 4 LETTER HE DEMANDED MONEY
FROM ALBERT HITZELBERGER.
4 Consultation at English's Hotel
Was Witnessed by Detectives
Who Made the Arrest.

r. G.. Hobbs, a young man. whose bust
ness cards, about five hundred of which
were found in his pockets. say he is Ser
geant Indiana Secret Service was arrested
yestert ~ afternoon at the English Hotel
by Detectives Haley and Splann. He was
charged with petit larceny and blackmail.
His arrest followed "A consultation of sew
eral minutes with Albert Hitzelberger, u
saloon keeper at 1884 Roache avenue. North
indianapolis. Hobbs was a witness sew
eral days ago in Police Court against
Joseph Parrish and Albert Piue, who were
charged with violations Of the Nicholson
law.
The claim made by Hitzelberger and the
detectives is that Hobbs wrote the follow
ing letter to Hitzelberger:
CITY at 1890 a. MIR. Hitzelberger,
dear friend-Now is your time to act. Your
cases will come up before the grand jury
April T. L am in a position to know, and
/ know if they come up il will cost you not
less than $500. l seen the two detectives,
and by pretending to be a friend TO them,
learned that they are subPoenaed ana that
they will leave the city for two or three
months, and go at once, If you Will pay
$l5. L know that they mean business. They
will go If you do as L say. They say they
will not go otherwise. If you want 10 save
your license and a lot of money, do as L
tell you. For SIS you will be safe. DO not
try to run a bluff. for it won't work, and as
sure as you don't do as 1 say you will pay
htteeen times the amount and lose your
license. You can meet one OF the men az
the English Hotel at 2 d. m, sharp, If you
want TO settle this at once. If you VIII
come, answer by the boy. l remain a friend
I'm your interests. -.'
Hitzelberger went to the English Hotel
yesterday. and after being approached by
Hobbs, they argued over the amount in
the hearing OF the detectives, finally com
promising upon $12. This was given to
Hobbs. and then the detectives introduced
themselves.
Hobbs told his father that he was the
victim of a conspiracy. He claimed Hitzel-
berger, several days ago, threatened 10 Kill
him and in other ways get even II ne
appeared against him i'm the cases pending
against the saloon keeper. He said Hitzel-
berger approached him at the English Hotel
and that he wrote no letter. He said Hit
zelberger, when they were about TO sepa-
rate. wanted to do so peaceably, and said.
"Well you'll shake hands with me. won't
you" Hobbs said the saloon keeper had
S12 in his hand and left 1t in his own han1,
tives came out.
In his pocket was another letter, to which
his name was signed, and there is. the de-
tectives say. no question that the hand
writing I'm the letters is the same.
Hobbs. since the first of April. kept a
diary, the rotations of which are mainly.
'sRemained In office" Wrote letters IAN
swered phone" Nothing OF Importance
occurred"
On another page of his memorandum
Secr&
munism-Black Carnation, sign of death"
Hobbs gave his residence as 1902 West
Washington street. His father said he had
been liz lie at home and that he could do
nothing with HIM.