Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-22
POLICE ARREST
SIX SUSPECTS:
WOMAN IN GANG
WAG0NL0AD OF BURGLARIOUS
PARAPHERNALIA SEIZED
MEN ALL SAID TO HAVE LONG
CRIMINAL RECORDS
List of Buildings, with Location oil
Safes, Found in Possession of
Band, Indicating Robberies
Contemplated

/ - headed by woman who is said
/ to be chief, the police say they believe
| they have captured the cleverest gang
i of crooks which has infested this
country in recent years
The persons under arrest and their
records which the police give as: Will
liam Karls alias Joseph E. Gilligan,
safe cracker and ex-convict; M. J. Gal
lagher alias Nat FentOn, safe burglar
and eX-convict; George Wallace alias
w. ]. Downing, three times convict;
Jack Johnson, safe cracker and expert
sneak; Joseph Murray, second story
worker and sneak; and Ida Murray,
the latter's consort, said to be the
brains of the gang.
All of these arrests were made by De-
tectives Ritch and Roberds on descrip-
tions sent out by other police depart
ments, and on evidence previously in
the hands of the local police, secured
by Captain of Detectives Paul Flam-
mer.
With the prisoners was seized enough
nitro glycerine to blow up half the
town, a complete safe cracking outfit,
consisting of drills, wedges, hammers,
spreaders, deadeners, jimmies, saws,
! flashlights, electric firing batteries,
fuses, caps, aid in fact everything
needed by criminals to open easily and
in an expeditions manner the strongest
safe in the country.
Picked Up on Descriptions
Karls. Gallagher and Wallace were
picked up on description furnished the
detectives at the general postoffice
where they were waiting for mail at
the general delivery.
The men were hustled quickly to the
central police stat j, where they were
! IN OF lou Ao l0%0
began a search for their room, which
was found two hours later at the Ross
apartments, $40 San Julian street
1t was disclosed that all three men
had occupied one large room there and
in this room, stored in trunks and
| closets, were found the nitro-glycerine
and the safe cracking tools.
While detectives were gathering the
outfit together preparatory to moving
it, man walked into the room and was
| at once arrested. He stated his name
was Jack Johnson and as he answered
the description Of one of the men
wanted he was sent to the central sta
ton to join his three companions at the
tanks.
After the tools and other stuff be-
| longing to the alleged criminals had
been taken to the station, evidence was
found which convinced the officers
there were yet other members of the
gang of which a woman was the guid
ing spirit
This evidence. the nature of which
the police refuse to divulge, led the de-
tectives to go to the Hotel Cloud. 315
| East Seventh street, where they ar
rested Joe and Ida Murray.
In their room was found a large
amount of jewelry, a considerable sum
| of money and pawn tickets from San
Francisco brokers, calling for diamonds
and other jewelry to the value Of $25OO.
All of these pawn tickets were in the
| possession of the woman and it is be-
| lieved by the police the articles pawned
represent the proceeds of several Jewel
and diamond robberies in San Fran
cisco, Denver Salt Lake and other
cities through which the gang has been
traced.
Records Given of Prisoners
Of the prisoners, Gallagher is said to
! have been arrested here five years ago
Ifor burglary, and Wallace is now
wanted by Sheriff Arthur J. Langford
| Of San Jose for safe blowing job
committed in that city three weeks ago.
| The records given of these men are in
the possession of the police and while
they have no direct evidence they have
committed any jobs in or near Los An
! geles, they say they believe they were
preparing for a series of safe cracking
| exploits here that would have reduced
! the visible supply of jewelry and money
| in many local strong box This is
! indicated by a carefully prepared list
! of likely places, with the names Of the
| owners, description of the property
anG the location of the safes. On this
| point the police are also reticent pre-
! ferring to keep the evidence in their
| hands until such time as it can be prop
erly presented in court against the
prisoners. 1t required a large express
wagon to haul to the station all Of the
| effects Of the gang.
! Saturday night robberies reported to
| the police yesterday were numerous.
Among them are John Gustafson and
Andrew Swenson, living at 54S South
| Los Angeles street, who reported that
| in their absence some one had entered
! their room and stolen two suit cases. q
! lot of clothing and a small amount of
money.
D. H. Thompson of 222 East Seventh
/ street reported his room had been en-
| tered and lot of clothing and a few
pieces of cheap jewelry stolen.
| Miss Jessie NJ Garhardt of 26O North
! Breed street reported her room had
been entered and a lot of clothing
stolen.
! Mrs. M. E. Buckins of 907 West Eigh-
| teenth street reported the loss of a gold
! locket and a solitaire ring taken from
! her room in her absence.
Miss Sadie Durkee Of 141O East Twen-
! ty-third street lost a gold watch. a ring
and small sum Of money taken from
| her room while she was absent.
Clifford Shaler Of 1916 Magnolia ave-
nue. while absent from home lost a lot
of jewelry valued at $50, and So in ca sT
An entrance was effected by breakine
! open rear door