The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-01
Neidermeier, Van Dine and ROeski
Determined to Brave 1t to the End
and Pleaded Not Guilty.
NO CHANCE FOR THEIR ESCAPE
THREE OF THE BANDITS INDICTED
AT CROWN POINT, IND.
VIII BE Tried I'm This state If by Any
Chance the Law Should Mis-
carry at Chicago.


confessed murderers and train robbers,
Peter Niedermeier, Harvey Van Dein.
Gustav Marx and Emil Roeski. were ar
raigned in court tonight. Marx pleaded
guilty to all the charges against him, but
his three accomplices pleaded not guilty.
During the afternoon the prisoners were
removed from the Harrison-street police
station to the county jail, where they will
remain until brought to trial. No excite
ment marked the trip to the jail Each pris-
oner was placed in separate patrol wagon
and was guarded by seven policemen and
two deputy sheriffs. During the journey
Roeski joked with one of the policemen,
and sarcastically said: 81 would like to
have you alone just one minute
Shortly before the prisoners were re-
moved to the county Jail Marx was con-
fronted with his three accomplices. Marks
confession duplicating Van Dein. Neider-
meier and Roeski, was read to the prison.
ers. The bandits arrested in Indiana re-
fused to confirm or deny the contents Of
the message. They were then asked to tell
whatever more they had to say concern
ing their career.
II am willing to hang without the wink
of an eye if see Marx, the squealer hang
first" Van Dein said.
The same here Neidermeier added.
You fellows got no more than you de.
served Marx said.
Some time ago." Marx said to the in
spector of police, Il met the bunch in
Orleans street, where We intended to rob
the American Express wagon and forgot
my large gun. This angered the boys and
they told me to leave them. l walked
away and when fifty feet away a bullet
was fired by one of these fellows / got
revenge" Niedermyer admitted to the po-
lice that he and Van Dein had made an at
tempt to Kill Marx. ROeski also said that
he had narrowly escaped murder at the
hands of his accomplices.
The prisoners scoff at the idea Of here
after: Death ends all. Is their theory:
on the subject to-day, Van Dein said:
when We die 1t is the end Of us. This
Is my belief and has always been, even
when as a boy l listened to the teachings
of my mother regarding the hereafter /
simply can't believe in an after life. /
can't see the reason in it. When we're
dead, were dead, just the same as animals.
They don't go to any heaven or hell. do
teachings of the church. My mother is
as good Christian as ever lived"
Was her example nothing to you?"
piled. Il never could"
You mean you would not don't your
Wei. didn't-thats all. 1 didn't see
You have no remorse for the murders
you committed?"
II can't feel so bad about it. When peo-
pie are dead-they are dead. When l drop
it's the end of me-
1--WE will all walk to the scaffold without
a tremor," said one Of the bandits to-day
Van Dein, it is said, will set up a plea OF
insanity. He is said to have a near rela-
tive who is in an asylum. A great-grand.
father is said to have murdered his wife
and daughter in Maine and to have been
adjudged insane and sent to an asylum in
which he died. Van Dein, while not deny
ing this report, would not confirm it
ROesh said he heard of 1t from Van Deir
in the Indiana dugout. Van DENIS mother
has been working with charitable organiza.
lions, devoting much time to organizing
boys clubs, the purpose Of which was tC
keep boys from saloons, smoking and read.
| ing lurid literature She told Police In.
spector LAWN to-day that she never sus.
pected her son of any wrongdoing.
Neidermeier all but carried out a plan tc
seek to make dash for liberty to-day. He
| craftily arranged to meet Chief ONeil
| alone in Inspector LAWNS Office, ostensbly
| to make a number of confessions and while
gesticulating in illustration of this worl
| of crime to leap through the window to the
| foresight of O'Neill, who, before permittine
the interview. stationed three armed de
| tectives outside the window through which
| the bandit hoped to escape. Neidermeiel
seeing his plan checked signified that tn,
! Interview need go no further and tina
| he was ready to return to his cell.
Mayor Harrison has ordered the polio,
| to arrest every person caught loafing abou
police magistrates have orders, where sucl
a vagrant Is taken up and weapon Il
| found in his possession, to fine him to tn,
1 limit allowable. A desire to clear the cit,
of undesirable men, whose idleness MAJ
| lead them into crime, has caused the mayo
| to issue the order