The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-30
CONFESS MANY ROBBERIES
HOLD-UP MEN TELL STORY OF OP-
ERATIONS IN THIS CITY.
Detectives Say Organized Band Has
Been Broken Up-Were Members
of q Famous Gang.

Detectives Asch and Manning, by arrest
ing Riley Stanton and Warren Armstrong
Saturday night, and John Searles, an ac-
complice Of the two men, yesterday MORN
ing, believe they have succeeded in break
ing up what promised to become an organ
ized gang of thieves and robbers.
All three men are negroes. They have
confessed to dozens of highway robberies
and burglaries which, seither separately or
collectively. they have committed in this
city during the last few months. They ad-
NIT that they have been implicated In many
others.
Yesterday morning the detectives were
questioning Riley Stanton in the office of
the detective department when Searles
walked into the police station and asked If
he might see his friends, who were locked
up. Stanton was told of Searless presence
in the station, and, believing that he had
come to make a confession, decided to tell
all he knew before Searles had an oppor-
tunity.
CONFESSED CRIMES
He said that some time ago he and Searls
held up an old man at the corner of Senate
avenue and Maryland street, securing 81
and a silver watch. The money, he said,
they divided between them. and they
pawned the watch for 50. He also admitted
holding a man UP at the corner Of West
and Pearl streets several weeks ago, secur-
ing a gold watch, which he and Searls
pawned for $3.50. Later they divided the
money. One year ago, the three men ad-
mitted they had held up a farmer on the
outskirts of the city and robbed him of si5
and watch.
The arrest of the men was brought about
by Merchant Policeman Frank Griffin, who,
on Saturday night. saw the three men
at sos West Washington street. The men.
he thought, were acting in a suspicious
manner. He walked toward them. but they
at once ran down an alley near by, and dis
appeared from view. He examined the win
dow and found that one of the men had
cut the putty from the glass with the evil
dent intention of removing the window
pane and effecting an entrance to the build
ing.
INTENDED TO ROB STORE.
Detectives Asch and Manning were given
descriptions of the men, and they arrested
Stanton and Armstrong on Saturday night
Stanton admitted that he had cut the win
dow, and said they intended to rob the jew
| elry store. He also admitted five hold-ups
! in which he and his two companions had
been implicated.
| Some time ago drug store at the corner
of Thirteenth street and Columbia avenue
was broken into and robbed, the burglars
| effecting an entrance by breaking the front
| window. In breaking the glass the guilty
| man cut his hand, and the trail of blood
| about the store was left in such a manner
| that the detectives were sure IL was the
right hand of the burglar.
Stanton has several ugly cuts on his right
| hand and the detectives believe he is guilty
He neither denied nor admitted it wheI
questioned by them. Stanton has served
twelve years behind prison walls and i.
| known as a bad character. The three mer
were members of a once famous gang ol
| hold-up men, all of whom are in prison
save themselves The others were Mich
| Willick, Charles Tucker, Dick Otto anC
Charles Dixon.