The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-15
SILK shirtwaists and Dress Goods Dis
ca.ded by Thieves, Found I'm
Alleys and Fields.
DETECTIVES ON THE TRAIL
MORE EMPLOYEES OF THE BIG FOUR
WILL BE ARRESTED.
Claim Adtuster xleenan, OF Cleve-
land, Here to Confer with Omcers
-Employes Leave Town.

The recent disclosures in the wholesale
thefts from the Big Four freight trains is
merely forerunner Of the result of the
investigation now being conducted by the
detectives, and within few days many
more freight conductors and trainmen will
be arrested and placed behind the bars at
the police station. The new discoveries
made by the detectives within the last
twenty-four hours have shown that the
stealing from the railroad has been general
among freight conductors and the rear
brakemen, but the fremen and engineer
have been found guiltless of any wrong do
ing, as have the front brakemen At
Brightwood, the home of many Of the en-
ployes Of the Big Four. the whole suburb
is in a state of excitement over the recent
disclosures and many houses have been
closed. the wives leaving the city to join
their husbands. who dare not return to In
dianapolis for fear of arrest.
Several freight conductors yesterday left
their trains before they arrived In the
Br.ghtwood yards and sent their reports to
the yardmaster by their head brakeman.
while they turned their backs on Indian
apolis and left for parts unknown. The
odor of burning leather and wood could be
last. and the inference drawn by the de-
tectives Is that 1t was the stolen property
burning. was probably correct.
Detectives Holtz and Bray yesterday re-
covered fully wagonload OF stolen mer-
chandise. which they sent to the police sta
ton. Bolts Of dress goods. silk waists, new
shoes. hats and caps. and in fact almost
every conceivable article which might be
sent by freight were found lying In alleys
and In surrounding stubble fields, where
they had been thrown by persons who
feared to longer keep the stolen property
BUSINESS DROPS OFF.
James Stevenson. a saloon keeper, who
generally enjoyed a good trade from the
railroad men. said yesterday that his bus
iness had dropped off so per cent. since
the railroad steals had been discovered,
and he "reckoned" that his best customers
had left town in a hurry.
The lunch counter at the railroad mems
Y. NJ. c. A. which generally does a land
office business, scarcely paid expenses yes
terday, so many OF the customers daring
not to return to the city. House after
house in Brightwood has been locked and
practically deserted by the families of the
men who know that to be seen at home
would mean arrest and conviction for
theft.
Harry G. Edwards, who was arrested
several days ago. was yesterday sent to
the county Jail. but he sullenly refuses to
discuss the question OF his guilt His wife
will be arrested to-day by the detectives
as IL has been discovered that she disposed
of several articles which were stolen to
pawnbrokers and secondhand stores Five
or six pieces OF valuable cut glass were
sold by Mrs. Edwards to Baker Bros. who
conduct a secondhand store on East
Washington street, within a stones throw
OF the police station. The woman received
$40 for the stolen glassware, which she said
had been given her as present when she
was married. Later the cut glass was sold
by Baker Bros. to a prominent attorney
and he was compelled to turn his purcha Sc
over to the detectives yesterday morning.
The engineers and firemen on the Big -Four
are pleased with the work the detectives
have done, and offered yesterday To aid
them I'm every possible manner I'm ferretinp
out the guilty parties. They feel the dis,
grace OF the affair. they say, and wherever
they go on the road are pointed out bv
people who have heard OF the thefts that
have come to light in this city as possible
thieves. which imputations they strongly
resent.
| RECOGNIZED STOLEN PROPERTY.
| In number Of closed houses yesterda,
the detectives saw through the window:
carpets and rugs, as well as curtains ant
! CONTINUED ON PAGE 10. COL 81