The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-10
Edward McCluster, Celebrates His
Liberation by Daring Robbery
Carries Three Bullet Wounds.
HAD THREATENED THE LIFE OF SHERIFF CARTER
During Service of Sentence to County Bastle, Negro
Had Been Unruly Prisoner on One Occasion Making
Desperate Attem pit to Break Jail

With two bullet holes in his side and
one IN his arm, Edward McCluster, the
toughest negro criminal that the local
authorities have ever had to deal with,
was arrested yesterday after he had
held up the patrons of Mike Lukoskie's
saloon on Forsythe avenue, rifled the
cash register and was shot by another
negro while he was attempting to make
his escape.
McCluster was released from jail at
Crown Point yesterday morning at 1880
and as he had sworn he would kill
Sheriff Carter and the turnkey the first
chance he got they did not take any
chances with him but armed them
selves heavily.
McCluster did not carry out his
threats. however. but took train for
Hammond 1t was not seven hours
after he was released until the local
police were notified that there had been
a desperate hold-up in Mike Lukoskie's
saloon on Forsythe avenue and that
the robber had been shot.
1t appears that at the same time Nc
Cluster was released, Sheriff Carter
also let out John Paskie and Alex
Poleskie, two Poles who had been ar
rested for horse stealing. The three
men, Carter believes, framed up a plan
to hold up the Lukoskie saloon, where
one of the Poles had been working. for
they entered the place together and
while waiting for an opportune mo-
ment played a game of pool.
McCluster watched his opportunity
and when the bartender was not look
ing grabbed the revolver from behind
the bar and after firing two shots
commanded all of the men in the sa-
loon to hold UP their hands.
The patrons of the saloon were SO
frightened that they readily complied
with the negro's demands and We're all
searched The cash register was then
rifled and McCluster fled,
He had no more than reached the
door when another negro, one of his
victims, pulled a gun and rushing after
McCluster fired at the fleeing hold-up
and winged him the first shot.
The wounded negro stumbled into q
slough and fell into the water as
though he was dead. In the mean
time the rest OF the men in the saloon
had taken up the chase and when they
saw McCluster had been wounded they
all rushed over to him TO make him
prisoner.
It happened that Constable Jim
Louden lives in the vicinity of the sa
loon and that Constable Ren Allen was
visiting him. When they heard the
shots they also started in pursuit of
the fleeing negro
When Louden and Allen came up to
the PROSTATE McCluster he was feign-
ing death, but they took no chances
and lifting him out of the water they
started to take off his wet clothes.
When the negro saw that the trick
would not work he suddenly jumped
UP and although he was badly wounded
he put up the most desperate fight i'm
aginable. lie is powerful fellow and
It took four men to finally subdue
him and put on the handouts.
The police in Hammond had been
notified IN the meanwhile. but as there
was no patrol wagon available it was
found necessary to spend three quarters
of hour in an effort to get livery
rig with which TO bring AIcCluster to
the police station.
The police then turned their atten-
tion to locating the men who were sup
posed to be accessorys to the crime.
After some searching John Paskie and
Alex Poleskie were arrested and again
1. required search Of all the livery
stables in the city to secure a rig in
which to bring the other prisoners TO
Jail
The negro who did the shooting
feared that he might be blamed for his
act and disappeared. AS matter OF
fact the police are very much pleased
that he prevented the escape of a des-
perate criminal A pal of his was told
that all they wanted Of him was that
he should act as a witness and as Id
has been a cook in one of the camps
at Gibson. it is believed that he Will bt
found and will appear at the trial
McCluster has had n bad record since
he arrived in this vicinity from Birm
fngham, Ala. He was arrested in GARY
where he attempted to kill a man viii
razor While in Jail. he is said tC
have been a most unruly prisoner. He
threw a cuspidor at the jailer and was
continually in trouble
He was discovered IN the act Of
breaking out of Jail and as reported
by THE LAKE COUNTY TINES AZ the time
he was only prevented from doing SC
by Sheriff Carter. who put him back il
eefi after hard fight.
Ever since then he has had II In FOL
Carter and the jailer and has threat
ened to kill them both when he was re
leased. Carter took no chances, how
ever and KEEP a shot gun in a handy
place until he knew the fellow was oui
tof town.
This morning the prisoner was re.