The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-02-15
ATLANTA POLICE
ARE MUCH PLEASED
Have Gotten Rid of a Bad
Gang OF Boys
THEY ARE IN JAIL HERE
Three Who Have Held Up and Robbed
Citizens of Birmingham Are Con-
sidered Tough Lot
In Atlanta.


over the arrest and possible conviction
of the three men in the city Jail charged
with highway robbery, and they state
that the gang is beyong a doubt the
worst that ever operated in Atlanta.
They are willing and anxious to lend
the Birmingham department every aid
in getting the men here to face the
charges against them and state that
they will be delighted to get them out
of Atlanta and to get them convicted.
The police in Atlanta state that they
have arrested the gang time after time.
but have never been able to secure
conviction, as they always seemed to
be able to prove themselves guiltless on
each others testimony.
Chief Ball complimented the Birming-
mingham department on the arrest and
assured Detective Hamilton, who went
after John Blackstock, that everything
would be done by the Atlanta depart
ment to get John Patterson, the other
member of the gang, back to Birming
ham to face the charges awaiting him
here.
Patterson Under Arrest.
Patterson is under arrest in Atlanta
charged with cutting Alfred Sherman
very seriously some time ago, and also
with shooting Steve Moore, a saloon man,
about six weeks ago. As the grand jury
had indicted him, it was impossible to
turn him over TO the Alabama authors
ties. but he will be brought back here
should he be able to clear himself when
the case comes to trial
In John Blackstock the Atlanta police
believe that Birmingham has the most
daring and bravest of the entire gang.
They state in Atlanta that he will ballS
at nothing, and is daring in the extreme.
The others under arrest here are Jim
Backstock a cousin of John, and Jim
Lathem. 1t is understood that Lathem
has been in the United States army and
that John Blackstock recently escaped
from reformatory in New York.
The story of how Detectltu Hamil-
ton outwitted lawyer in Atlanta and
without any papers whatever is inter-
esting AS soon as he reached Atlanta
Monday morning he went to Detective
Rowan and asked his aid in locating
Blackstock and Patterson.
Patterson was out on a bond of $780,
but was surrendered by his bondsmen
and placed in Jail and the sheriff ordered
that he be held in Atlanta, all of which
occurred just as Detective Hamilton had
about completed arrangements to bring
him back to Birmingham. Patterson had
consented to come and face the charge.
He said to Detective Hamilton:
IT would just as soon go back as not.
1 know that you have me on hanging
crime and that am in as bad as man
gets to be, and I would just as soon go
and hang now as not. Those fellows
squealed on me and l suppose you have
me dead to rights I'll go any time
that you get ready"
Pushed Into Cab.
When 1t came to getting Blackstock the
detectives had no trouble in picking him
up, as Detective Rowan knew where to
find him and arrested him At once. He
was placed in the city Jail and Detective
Hamilton requested that he not be al
lowed to send any message out of jail
for an attorney. However, he succeeded
in some way In getting one and the at
torney was on the steps of the Jail Mon
day afternoon when Detective Hamilton
started for the train. BlaclSstock was
brought out of the cell and as he stepped
into the corridor of the Jail handouts
were slipped on him. A cab was in
aiting and Detective Hamilton started
toward the cab when the lawyer stopped
them and asked where he was going.
Blackstock asked: do I have to go
without papers?" and the lawyer was
Just answering the question when De-
tective Hamilton pushed Blackstock into
the cab and drove as rapidly as possible
to the station. The train pulled out in
a minute and it was too late to stop the
transportation.
All the way to Birmingham Blackstock
pleaded with the detective to remove his
handouts, but he refused and they were
not unlocked until they reached Birming-
ham. Backstock would say little. He
admitted that he and Patterson had been
in Birmingham and Admission with his
cousin and Lathem, but denied having
anything to do with the robberies. He
was very mad at his cousin and Lathem
for telling what they did and causing
his arrest. He made threats against
them II he ever got chance at them.
Blackstock says he will fight the case
to the finish in the courts and that they