Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-02
PRISONER
CONFESSES
ROBBERLES
ACcOMPLICE ARRESTED; IS
SILENT
WIFE DEFENDS YOUTH ACCUSED
OF MURDER
Pool Rooms Must Be Closed, Says
Captain FIammer--Harbo Ruffian
EIement-Police Force De-
oIared Inadequate

| Win companion, neid up q store on
Central avenue, has been followed by the
suggestion of vigilante committees, inde-
pendent of the police department. Yes
| terday a number of young men In the
vicinity of Towne avenue and Seventh
street, near where the killing of Lyon
took place, passed the word around that
! they will constitute themselves ensnassait-
tee of public safety and form night pa-
troll to cleanse the city of the undesira-
| BILE element.
This step, it was said yesterday by the
men who hoped to associate themselves
in the movement, is not to be regarded as
| a reflection on the efficiency Of the police
but the present force is inadequate for
| the needs of the city.
Captain of Detectives Flammer yester-
day declared that the poolrooms of Los
Angeles were one of the institutions
where vice breeding abounds.
'These places" he said, Should be
closed down if the undesirable class pat
ronizing them cannot be kept away From
places of innocent amusement they have
descended to breeding places of crime
| They should either be closed or so regu-
| lated that hangers on, criminals and
idlers would find the doors closed against
| them
After one of the severest examinations
to which prisoner in the city jail has
| ever been subjected, Rolla Robe, ar
| rested late Saturday night for being inn
plicated in three hold-ups, confessed yes
| terday, and while the officers were ques-
| tioning him his partner, who had aided
| him in the robberies, one of which re-
| suited in the killing of Patrolnan P. B.
| Lyon, was arrested through the descrip-
| ton furnished by Robe, and was lodged
in the city jail, the police announce.
Leaders, Say Police
VI The police believe that they have two
of the leaders in the carnival of crime
Robe was captured shortly after the
robbery of the Magnolia winery. 1404
South Central avenue, where Lyon met
his death. His confession to the police
was complete. although he denies firing
the fatal shot, claiming the killing was
done by his partner, George Lauman.
believed by the police to be Harry
mitchell. who has been identified by a
number of persons as the man who has
held up other places single-handed DUR
ing the past ten days.
According to Robes statement he first
met Lauman. or Mitchell, in the Arizona
pool room on Main street, near First,
week ago. They became acquainted while
lplaying pool and later ate and talked to-
/ gether in a restaurant The conversation
turned on holdups and robberies and Lau-
man, according to Robes statement. told
him Of his career as robber in Port
land and other cities. picturing in glow
ing colors the easy life he led and the
ease with which he secured money.
/ He also told Robe that he had held up
and robbed the Belle Vernon dairy,
drug store and butcher shop. three
crimes which the police have been inves-
tigating for more than week.
i Robe declares he became impressed with
the stories told by Lauman and the two
planned to begin operations together Sat-
urday night last. They left Robes home
about $3.50 o'clock that night and the first
place selected was the grocery store of
George Garleman at Eighth and Central
avenue, at which place Robe had former
| ly been employed. but had quit work after
one days labor. They were frightened
away.
Gun Lost
Robe claims to have lost his revolver
at Twelfth and Central avenue while es-
Gaping, and 1t is this fact that he bases
his declaration tnat he did not do the
shooting few minutes later.
The men then made their way to the
Magnolia winery, two blocks away. They
held up the proprietor of this place, and
1t was while backing out of the front
door that they ran into Patrolman Ly-
on, to whom the robbery of the Garle-
man store had been reported. Lyon tried
to arrest the men and one of them shot
him.
The two men then, according to Robe.
separated. Iney ndu already planned
j rendezvous near Robes home, at Eighth
and Hemlock streets. There they met
and after a consultation decided that. In
view of the prevailing excitement the
chances of robbing another place were
good.
Going to a small grocery at the corner
of Twelfth and Tennessee streets they
held 1t up. securing IS in money.
Again they separated and ran to the
! ran q nd w W
that Robe was captured The police found
revolver on Robe, which he claims was
given him by Lauman to replace the one
lost when they were thrown from the
wagon, This weapon, a small, nickel
plated one. had been used many times by
Lauman. said Robe, in other holdups.
Gives Description
Robe gave the police a full descrip-
tion OF Lauman. whom he knew as
Harry Mitchell, and it was through this
| that the man was captured He was
University station on First and San
Pedro streets at l o'clock yesterday
afternoon. Later he was positively
| identified as the man who held UP and
| robbed a drug store at 1901 South
Main street on the night of November
4 49, Charles Lauder, the druggist.
| swore he was the highwayman and he
was also identified by H. Grandereau
/ and A. G. Knowles as the man who
| held up and robbed their butcher shop
at 3707 Wesley avenue the same night.
Laudman, or Mitchell. is an American
"a years old, weighing about l65
pounds. He is dark, with a sWarthy
complexion and has blue eyes. almond
shaped. The left index finger Is gone.
! as is also part of the thumb. When
| arrested he wore a new tRifor- made
suit. bought according to Robes story,