The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-21
Alleged Jewelry Thief Es-
capes by Using Desper-
ate Means.
PLANT IN HAMMOND?
Detective Pays Visit to Alleged
Haunts of Much Wanted Crook in
Hammond and West Hammond.

Ernest Eberhardt. otherwise known
as David Wagner. who is wanted for
the robbery of a jewelry store in Blue
Island avenue. Chicago, is hiding some
where ia Hammond unless he grabbed
a train going east between and 10
this morning Private detectives en-
ployed by the jewelers. Protective as
sociation have been on his trail for
six weeks and have kept close watch
on him. He is supposed TO be one OF
a band of sneak thieves who have made
a speciality Of preying upon small jew
elry shops, which carry a small line
OF Jewels and make a speciality of re-
pairing watches.
All winter these small jeweiry shops
are said TO have been preyed upon by
this organized band of sneaks and that
at least $4,000 worth OF goods has
been distracted from the cases of the
small dealers.
Loot Hidden I'm Hammond.
The "stuff'' was not of a pawnable
nature and the theory OF the detectives
was that it was being planted some
where. the plan Of the thieves being
to dig Ii up later and dispose OF 1t
in the form OF old gold AMI loose stones.
The plant" was supposed to be in
Hammond or the vicinity. The deal
ers who were despoiled did not care
to prosecute. All they wanted was to
recover the stolen property. conse-
quently they applied private means In
stead Of appealing TO the police.
Betrayed by n Woman.
Eberhardt was betrayed by a woman
In whose house he roomed in Elburn
Af having him
rested, the detectives set a watch on
him and shadowed Him for six weeks
The Elburn avenue woman said that
he made frequent trips to Hammond
and the supposition that the loot was
being sequestered here was based on
this part of the story.
The detectives kept watch on the
trains and street cars that ran out OF
| Chicago and stop here. and this morn
ing one of them was rewarded by the
sight of Eberhardt climbing aboard the
first Lake Shore train out of the La
Sale street station.
Eberhardt took a seat In the smoker
while the detective ensconced himself
in the rear coach where he could watch
his mans every NOV through tht
windows.
| EDeTndEQL Hdl q AlthNA ~ A1tN'AtA'tStt'
This much the detective learned from
the conductor. He sat apparently un
suspecting that he was being watched
and never took his eyes from the pa
per in front of him except TO take al
occasional glance through the window
Jumps From Train.
Just as the brakeman called Ham
mond." the detective left his seat an'
walked forward. He was just abou
the middle of the smoking car an'
about dozen feet from Eberhard
when the latter arose and broke TO
the front door without stopping Z
steady himself Eberhardt plunged of
the car. Nobody saw him alight an'
when the detective looked out off tn
back platform he could see no trac
of him.
When the train stopped in Hammon'
the detective lost no time getting bacl
over the tracks, but Eberhardt ha'
disappeared and left no indication a
to which way he had gone.
The detective visited three houses Il
state street and two in Plummer ave
nue.. Then he went over into Wes
Hammond. but found no tidings Of hi
man or the Junk"
Mode of Operating.
The plan of Eberhardt and his pal
to "get the goods was old and sim