The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-02-15
FRED CASTOR
in the Very Shadow Of
Death Makes More
Statements
ROASTS FORMER FRIEND

Columbus, Feb. 13-Never has the
Ohio penitentiaTy had such a re-
markable prisoner as Fred Castor
never have the stout iron bars and
the double locks held in confinement
a man who has had such career of
crime and who freely tells of a long
series of robberies. Others there may
may have been who were knights of
the road" and who "cut purse" or
looted a dwelling, but their secrets,
If they went to the chair died with
them.
Most astonishing assertions were
made Tuesday night by the con-
demned man. He told of police pro.
tecton and how it was secured. Delv-
ing far back into memory of crime
he brought forth tales that would fill
series of penny thrilIers" for
months and months. Life has been
q succession of deeds against the law
with Castor, and he cannot recall the
names of many Of the persons from
whom he stole valuables. But he as
serts that he and his confederates
were immune from police interfer-
ence while the agents of the Canton
fence" opposed Of the plunder and
he walked the streets a free man,
with money in his pocket.
SHIFTED TO PITTSBURG.
The scene Of his tale shifted Tues
day night to Pittsburg. He drew the
veil that has obscured many myste-
Tious burglaries in Pittsburg's fash,
tonable and wealthy East End during
the spring OF 1905. The booty was
carried to Canton and disposed of
through the fence" Nor was this
all Castor says that an attempt was
made to blow up the homes of the
chief of police and the chief of detec- |
tiVes because members of the gang" |
bore them a grudge. The work was
left to Castor but it failed. He tells
why.
In his story one of the most inter /
esting tales Of criminology ever print !
ed, Castor tells why the guns as
the thieves call themselves in their |
jargon, were protected in Canton. He :
says that they paid saloonkeeper of I
Canton for immunity from arrest, and |
that this gun joint was one of the |
most famous in the country. The !
police levied the tribute, he says, and |
the saloonkeeper collected it. Whether !
It went higher up he does not pre-
tend to know. What he does know, |
he says, is that when members Of the |
gang were suspected of crime the sa-
l.,
fixed things" All then went on as
before. The fence" disposed Of the |
property. Castor and his pals" we're |
not visited with punishment.
TELLS OF SALE OF DIAMONDS.
He tells of the sale of diamonds in !
Canton, to the women of the town, |
by son of an ex-oficial, who ped |
died them for the fence" He says !
that the police of Canton knew that /
he was an escaped convict from the
penitentiary Of Michigan; that they
knew he was a crook, and that they |
permitted him to walk the streets,
lust as they permitted others Of his
kind, because, he says, the man who |
runs the "gun joint had fixed it for
him.
81 want you to let the people know
what has been going on in Canton"
be Sai1.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST PALS.
Facing death, which seems not more
than As hours away, Caster is con-
Quoting a campaign against those
who, he says shared in his profits as
n thief and then deserted him. He !
talked rapidly; yet for an hour he re-
counted tales that would fill the pages
OF police history with some Of its rar-
est bits.
In the spring of 1905 Pittsburg was
visited by a reign of crime. In the
East End, every night, some house
was burglarized, and someone robbed.
A gang was at work. Mr.. Piart, q
restaurant keeper, was robbed. 9th
ers also. This is the only name Cas-
Cor remembers. The police were pow
sTless. Extra men were detailed in !