Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-12-05
9wESPERADOES TELL
THEIR MANY CRIMES
Light Thrown by Confessions
on Remarkable Series Of
Enterprises.
TOLD THE STORY FREELY
They Could Have Killed Hany More Of
the Posse Had They Wished, but
Didn't Do II Because Es-
cape Was Hopeless.

Chicago, Dec. 1.-While Harvey Van
Dine, Peter Neidermeier and Emil
Roeski sat silently in their cells at the
Harrison street police station today,
the story of their crimes was being
presented to the grand jury, n their
cases will be given precedence over all
other business. Following the return
or the indictments 1t Is planned to have
the young desperadoes brought to i'm
mediate trial.
AS Gustave Marx. who was arrested
several days ago after he had MUIR
dered Detective Quinn, and Neider-
meier and Van Dine have already made
complete confessions of the car barn
murders, 1t is thought the prisoners
Will plead guilty, in which case a
speedy verdict will be reached.
van Dimes mother called on him at
the police station today. The meeting
was affecting. We've got mothers like
other people, haven't we Peter" was
what Van Dine said to Neidermeier
last night. This morning Van Dimes
mother read the remark in a newspaper
and wasted no time in going to her
boy"
A Mothers Sympathy.
Mrs. Van Dine said: You have
slnned, Harvey, and you must suffer.
But remember that you are not beyond
exemption, and your mother Is suffer
ing with you. She is our best friend
now, and she will suffer with YOU"
For a few seconds the prisoner sat as
I dazed. Their he caught sight of a
smaller n girlish figure beside his
mother. He arose and walked toward
me door of his cell. Then Mamie
Dunno, Van Dimes sweetheart, stepped
forward and shook hands with the
prisoner. At this point Van Dine dis
played his first sign Of emotion. The
tears appeared in his eyes and the girl
was quick to see them.
Please don't, Harvey" she said.
Mrs. a Din put her arms through
The bars toward her son.. Inspector
LAWN, who had been warned that an
attempt might be made to pass fire.
arms to the prisoner, caught the grief
stricken mother by the shoulders and
gently drew her back.
we can't allow you to touch the
prisoner any more" said the inspector.
At this point Van Dine stepped close to
the bars, n with a scowl said:
Cant a man see his mother with
nut everybody butting in?"
Mother and Sweetheart.
Mrs. Van Dine saw that the prisoner
had fastened his gaze upon her girl
companion, who stood with her head
buried in her arms. Then the mothers
instinct asserted itself.
Yes, Harvey. 1 will take care of
Mamie. She will be my daughter. We
will suffer together"
Soon after Inspector LAWN motioned
that the interview was at an end, and
the women withdrew, with the promise
to Van Dine h a they would call again.
1t was said at the police station today
that there is a strong probability of
what is known rs q "scaffold mar
rage" The belief was expressed by
the detectives who have been working
on the case hat Miss Ddnne is willing
and anxious to marry Van Dine before
he stands trial for the series of crimes
In which he has participated.
Tell Of Their Crimes.
Calmly and coolly, apparently with
out the slightest trace of remorse,
and not seemingly pleased with the no
toriety they had attained. Peter NiedeT-
meier and Harvey Van Dine, the car
barn murderers and desperadoes, whose
exploits right here in a city of 1900, 900
people have put TO shame the doings of
the most famed bad men known to the
nickel novelist, told their story when
brought to the city in irons last night.
Both had been wounded, though
neither Of them dangerously. Emil
Roeski was also captured soon after
the other two; he also was injured.
Their story is that, when they ran
from the dugout on the Lake Michigan
dunes, both were hit by shots from the
posse, which was closing in on all
sides. There was no escape, and it was
evident to both men that the time had
come either to surrender or to fight to
the death. Both men were heavily
armed and able to take more lives be-
fored both lost their own, but as Van
Dine said in discussing his surrender:
There would have been no good in
that, as we never shoot anybody unless
we have to, and killing any of these fell
lows would not a let me off. The jig
vas up for US, no matter nov many we
killed. / said to Pete, Wei, what do
you think?' He nodded his head and
dropped his guns, and that's how they
got us"
Contempt for Captors.
Van Dine, who has served in the
army in the Philippines, and shows his
military training in many ways, was
full of scorn for the men who had
taken him.
Il could have killed no end Of them"
he said. They came walking along
like a drove of quail, and 1 could have
covered the ground with them. l had
plenty Of cartridges, and 1 generally hit
what l shoot at. 1t would have done
no good, though, and l don't shoot
unless 1t is necessary"
The men were at once handcuffed,
placed upon a train and hurried to Chi
cago, the city police officers wasting not
q minute in rushing them over the line
into Illinois in order TO avoid possible
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