The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-03-03
POLICE TAKE STEPS
TO ROUT THIEVES
Special Officer of c., G. & L.
Confers With Hammond
Police Today.
RAILROADS SUFFER BIG LOSSES
carpenter Said to Have Threatened
Oficer When Wrong Doing
Is Discovered.

e p buAASi lne special agent of the
Chicago. Cincinnati and Louisville rail-
road, and ]. NJ Fletcher, also of that
road, called at the police station in
Hammond this morning and stated that
the natives in the vicinity of the H Y.
tower, south Of the city, were making
such persistent raids on the coal and
freights cars of the company that some
thing would have to be done to put
an end TO the loss
Burns states that his life was even
threatened by a man by the name of
Lee, whose wife is alleged to have been
caught taking some coal from the rail-
road tracks. Burns says he stopped
Mrs Lee and asked her what she was
doing with the coal. She stated that
everybody else in the neighborhood was
taking it and she did not see why she
could not.
Burns asked her, according to his
story. what her husband did, and she
replied that he is a carpenter. Then
Burns expressed his surprise that the
wife of carpenter should be caught
stealing coal.
Claims Life Is Threatened.
Burns made no effort to arrest the
woman. but, later, her husband re-
marked, within the hearing of Burns.
that he guessed there were bulls
(meaning policemen) enough to look
after those things without a person
In plain clothes interfering.
Burns says Lee stated further that
IF he ever caught that - Burns he
would shoot the stuffng out of him"
or words to that effect Both Burns
and Fletcher have letters from their
respective railroad companies in which
they are urged to do all in their pow
er to prevent the numerous thefts fror.
cars at Hammond
The police say there is an organized
gang of boy thieves who have been
responsible for these depredations. The
boys have been picked up time and
time again and most of them are now
out on probation
The matter was placed before Pros
ecuting Attorney Greenwald this morn
Ing, and he has decided to act in the
matter. He says there is a good stat
ute covering Juvenile delinquency and |
the best feature of it is the fact that |
the parents of Juveniles who are known |
to be OF a vicious disposition can be |
arrested for not taking proper care Of |
them.
Parents Are Responsible.
Both Attorney Greenwald and the
police believe that the parents of these
boys are not only negligent. but they
'ften are in sympathy with the young
criminals and actually help them to
steal.
The special agents say frequently the
children will break open the seals on
he cars and find out what is in them
Ind then the parents will come along
after and take what they want. In
his manner they reduce the danger Of
being caught to a minimum.
If the boys are caught IT is passed
If as piece of boyish deviItry. but
he way is often paved for the pa
ents to steal what they want and
iced. The list of the names of the
'oys who are wanted and who viii
gain be arrested is as follows: Joe
tandki, Joe Lash, who is charged with
reaking a seal; John NisevilIe. Floyd
lcCoy, Gus Leal<in and Frank Juebond.
The witnesses who have seen the
hefts are: Max Keeser. John Dunlav-
y, Louis Saker. A supreme effort is
ow to be made on the part of all of
he special agents. the police and the
rosecuting attorney TO put a stop to
he burglarizing of cars and the prac- ]
Ice. which is especially obnoxious to ]
he railroads, of having boys climb on
ne cars and throw off coal