Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-24
Former Well-Known Iowa Rail
road Man Sent to the Peni-
tertiary In Missouri
BELONGED TO A BAD GANG
Railway Detectives Break Up Gang
That Operated Over the Entire Rock
Island System for Many Years and
Stole Thousands of Dollars Worth
of Goods.
Special to Times-Republlcan.

Ottumwa, Dec. "a. - Bella Hinkle,
formerly yardmaster for the Rock ISL
and at Eldon. who last August was
arrested by Special Rock Island Agent
r. o. Mcintosh Of Chickasaw, l. T.,
charged with the larceny OF silk from
the cars of the Rock Island road, was
found guilty with number Of
others last week at Chickasha, l. T.
At the time of his arrest, Bella
Hinkle was and had been for period
Of sixteen months, yardmaster for the
Rock Island in Eldon. He had been
in the employ Of the company for
years. Previous to coming to Eldon
as yardmaster, he was conductor on
one Of the divisions of the road rum
ming thru Oklahoma and the In
dian Territory. 1t was while thus en-
ployed that the alleged robbery or Sc
ries Of robberies We're perpetrated.
Practically all the silk found at the
home Of Hinkle was brought there at
the time he came to take up his du-
ties as yardmaster, sixteen months
prior to his arrest last August.
The order for Hinkle's arrest was
sent to the Eldon officials about one
week before the coming of Special
Agent r. o. Mcintosh but his arrest
did not take place until the arrival of
that officer.
United States Warrant,
Wednesday morning, August 3,
T1nifad ha1 t,riu
Special Rock Island Agent John H.
Magnus Of Kansas City, r. o. Nc
Intosh, of Chickasha, and Detectives c..
T. Kelly, of Caldwell, Kas., arrived in
Eldon, going from this city. Hinkle
was at once placed under arrest, and
his residence searched with the result
that nearly $3.50 worth of silk and
other goods was found He was taken
before the local justice Of the peace
and was held under a bond of $500 for
receiving and concealing stolen goods.
This bond was not considered suffi-
GENTLY large and the following morn
ing Mcintosh, Magnus and Kelly came
to Ottumwa and secured a United
States warrant for Hinkle. Deputy
United States Marshal Howard He'd
rick who had been telegraphed for, ar
rived in the city from Des Moines that
afternoon on the Rock Island at go
o'clock, and the entire party went to
Eldon on a Rock Island freight at 6:15
p. m.
Brought to Ottumwa. r
Hinkle, who had been watched by
Magnus during the day, was found at
his home and placed under arrest by
Hedrick Friday morning the entire
party returned to Ottumwa on the Rock
Island and the hearing was held in the
federal building before United States
Commissioner F. M. Hunter, at $3.50
o'clock.
Thru his attorney, 10 r. Jacques,
Hinkle waived hearing on the charge
of being a fugitive from justice and
was bound over to await the action of
the federal grand jury Of the southern
district of Indian Territory, upon
grand larceny charge. Hinkle's bond
was placed at $1,000, which he secured
after three days campaign.
Over Entire System.
The members Of the band of which
Hinkle Is said to have been a member,
over the entire system from Chicago
10 the FdCIllC COdSI. ftUOuL seventeen
or eighteen Of the members had al
ready been located and arrested, and
the amount Of stolen goods recovered
during the preceding ten months were
about $4,000. How many was con-
cerned in the band it was impossible to
estimate, but new discoveries were be-
ing made every day. 1t is known post
lively that the work Of the band has
been carried on with considerable sys-
tenn for the past four years and 1t is
believed that the total amount Of goods
stolen will amount to $4,000 or more.
Had Regular Head.
The organization had regular head
who, it is believed, is known by the
special agents, who in a general way
guided and directed the actions Of the
members along the entire line. The
members were largely conductors ana
trainmen and in some cases freight
handlers at the various stations. 1t IS
stated that the band had series Of
marks and signs by which the men,
bers to certain extent could commnu-
icate and a system Of grips and signals
by which they could make themselves
known to one another.
The band devoted Its attention to
the consignments containing silks es-
pecially and to other expensive goods
and articles. The plumber was used
,by members and their families and
was disposed eof in the red light dis
tricts Of the division points and wher-
ever else it was felt safe.
NEW PASTOR FOR DUBUQUE.
p., e 4 cadv. of Muscatine Offered