The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-04-22
ITH|EF'S PATRONS
DO D|SROb|NG ACT
Nobby Spring Suits Subject Wearers
to Suspicion.
ROCK ISLAND EMPLOYE CAUGHT
Admits RifIing Merchandise Cars and
Has Been at it Systematically
for Four Years - Many
Shortages Explained.

lulDB themselves WITH SUMMER gar
ments cut in the most approved style
at greatly reduced prices, secured
through the Raffles proclivities of &
switchman employed by the Rocl
citizens of Valley Junction were com
PEELED to make lightning change tt
the old winter garments yesterday
surrendering the new raiment u
three Des Moines detectives.
The costume shifts were started
following confession secured by
Chief of Detectives Johnston from
Adam Aiken, Rock Island yardman
arrested yesterday morning by De
tectives Delmege and Sommers, In
which he admitted having burglar
lied seven merchandise cars and Sc
curing clothing to the value of more
than $1,000. He also gave informa
ton regarding the disposition of a
considerable amount of the stolen
property.
City Detectives Sims and Jackson
together with Special Agent muir, OF
the Rock Island railway, were im-ne.
diately sent TO Valley Junction for
the purpose of conducting an investi-
cation. On their arrival an unusual
number of citizens were discovered
sporting summer wear of the best
texture and approved make.
Stationing themselves on the more
prominent corners, the detectives
started an investigation of the clothes
display. "Where did you get those
Clothes" was the question sprung by
the detectives on the unsuspecting
citizens. 1t was echoed and re-echoed
On every corner. 1t was taken up by
the citizens and by the school boys
ind called to every man VINO CHANGED
70 pass along the street.
The detectives stuck to their work
doggedly, however, and demanded a
clean bill of sale from every man sus-
pected. In every case where the
clothing was discovered to have been
purchased from Aiken. the self.con.
fessed thief, the purchaser was con-
Quoted by a detective 10 the nearest
point at which a change of raiment
could be secured and compelled to d.
vest himself of the stolen property.
Vacant store buildings were pressed
into service as improvised dressing
rooms in which the new clothes were
discarded and the somber garments
of winter resumed. Three men were
discovered who were compelld to
give up every article of clothing on
their persons as stolen property
Another prominent citizen was allowed
to retain only his hat. .-."
Innocent appearing rooms and
clothes closets yielded up whole
trunks full of the stolen apparel.
Grips were unearthed which were fill.
ed with collections of gloves, socks,
neckties and underwear. Altogether
more than $1,000 worth of property
was recovered by the detectives, Sc,
cured from various rooms and taken
off the person of various citizens.
Almost a dozen men were in the
personally conducted party in charge
of the detectives wnen they return
ed on the street car to Des Moines,
They were brough'. here for the pur'
pose of explaining how they came
into possession of the stolen apparel
in which they had been arrayed.
Aiken made a statement to Chief
Johnston after their arrival absolv
ing every member of the party from
implication in tn" robbery, asserting
that he had done the work alone
They were released following his con
fession and allowed to return to their
homes.
Aiken was arrested yesterday morn
ing and held for investigation. Chief
of Detectives Johnston after grilling
the prisoner in his office, secured a
confession of the robberies which
have been reported almost every
night for the past four weeks from
the Rock Island yards at Valley June
ton.
In his confession Aiken stated that
he went to Valley Junction from Og
den, Utah, about four weeks ago and
secured employment as a switcnman
in the yards. He Immediately com
menced TO rob merchandise cars In
the yards and dispose Of the proper
ty to other employees of the company
with whom he became acquainted.
His work was exceedingly clever
battling the efforts of the detective
staff of the company to ferret out the
perpetrator. Aiken secured access
10 the cars which were robbed with
out breaking the seal, slipping tine
pins on the doors and replacing then
after the extraction of the property
in manner which dened detection
He stated that ne could not esti
mate the amount of property secured
in his manner, but figured II a con
siderably more than the $1,000 wortl