Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-12-03
ACAREER OF CRIME
Three Chicago Murderers Cap
tured in Indiana.
Before SurrenderIng. the Youthful
bandits Shot Two Detectives and
Murdered "A Brakeman-rhey
Confess Many other MUIR
ders and RObberIcs.

Chicago, Nov. 2S.-Chained wrist
TO wrist, their hair matted with dried
blood, their clothing covered with
dust and dirt-two beardleSs boys,
Peter Niedermier and Harvey Van
Dine sat last night in the presence of
Mayor Harrison and Chief of Police
O'Neil, calmly confessing to their
share in a three months career of
crime which has included eight mur-
ders, the wounding of five other men
and long series of robberies. The
two young bandits. neither of whom
is over 2 years of age, together with
their companion, Emil Roeski, who is
no older, were captured Friday near
Liverpool, Ind, after a fight in which
they battled against policemen, rail-
road detectives, railroad laborers and
farmers. One man was killed. an
other fatally wounded and all three
of the young bandits were wounded,
but not seriously.
The dead-T. j. Sovea, brakeman
on the Pennsylvania railroad.
Wounded-,Joseph Driscoll, detec-
tive on Chicago police force; shot
through abdomen and can live but n
short time.
Matthew thinner, detective on Chi
cago police force; shot in head and
arm.
Niedermier was wounded in the
hand by birdshot. Van Dine was SINH
larly injured, and sustained in addi-
ton flesh wound in the left thigh.
Roeski was shot in the right hip.
The three men were wanted by the
police for completely in the murders
at the car barns of the Chicago City
Railroad Co. on August so when two
men were killed, a third badly wound
ed and $3.50 stolen from the com
pany. Gustave Marx, who last Satur-
day night murdered Officer John
Quinn when the policeman endeavor-
ed to place him under arrest, con-
fessed after mis- capture that he, in
company with the three men, had
committed the crimes at the ear
barns. The hunt for Van Dine, Nei-
dermer and Roeski has been hot
ever since.
On Wednesday they left Chicago,
going to a dugout made by railroad
laborerS near the tracks of the Mich
igan Central railroad near Millers,
Ind. Thursday night they spent in
another dugout near Millers Sta
tion, Ind. and there they were sur
prised by the police Friday morn
ing.
Word was brought to the police
Thursday night by Il. S. Reichers. Il
school teacher near Clark Station,
Ind, that three men answering the
description of those wanted for the
car barn murders were living in the
dugout. Other stories Thursday night
placed the men near Waulegan. ILL.,,
and the police placing no reliance in
any of the rumors, sent only eight
II
Qualey. Gleason, Sheehan, Driscol,
Baumer and Hughes. to Indiana.
The men reached the dugout at
about 5 o'clock, guided by Reichers.
Don't anybody fire" ordered
Sheehan, until we know if they are
the right people"
As Sheehan spoke Driscoll picked
up chunk of wood and hurled it at
the dugout. Instantly there was
flash, report, and Driscoll fell in
a heap, shot through the abodmen.
One of his fellow officers stopped
TO raise him and the other six opened
fire on the dugout. from which the
shots were now coming fast. While
the fire was at its hottest Van Dine
and Roeski rushed out, followed a
few minutes later by Neidermeir.
The later ran to the tracks of the
Michigan Central and, throwing him
self fiat on the roadbcd. Steadied his
arm on the rail as he kept up a rapid
fire with three revolverS. Roeski ran
for the brush, but Van Dine retreat
ed slowly, although the air around
him was filled with bullets, and the
snow at his feet was kicked up by
them. He is a splendid marksman
and. catching sight of Detective
thinner. who was behind q tree he
fired. thinner went down with bull
let in the head. AS he fell Van Dine
fired again again and the second bull
let tore through Zimmer's arm.
Roeski had by this time disappear
ed and Van Dine and Neidermier
made run for freedom. The detec-
tiyes fired constantly, but the ban
dts escaped. After running about a
mile across country they came to the
tracks of the Pennsylvania railroad.
\ switch engine with train of cars
was close at hand and the men order
ed Brakeman Sovea to uncouple the
train from the locomotive. He re-
fused and attempted to take Neider-
miers revolver from him. The lat
ter sent a bullet through the brake
mans brain, laying him dead in the
snow. Springing past Sovea's body,
the bandits mounted the locomotive
with revolvers in hand ana ordered
the engineer to move out in a hurry,
which he did, going in the direction
of Liverpool, Ind.
After two miles had been covered.
the men ordered the engineer to slow
down, and leaping to the ground, dis
appeared in the woods.
When they left the train both men
were nearly exhausted and unable to
travel.
Later on armed officers closed in on
them and they surrendered.
Following fresh footprints in the
snow from the scene of the capture
of Neidermeir and Van Dine, five
residents of East TolleSton, Ind, cap.
tured Emil Roesk sitting on a bench
in the Wabash station at Aetna, Ind.
a town four miles northeast of Liver
pool, Ind.
Soldiers and students CIashed.
Rome, Nov. Students of the