Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-09
ROBBERS WORK
AS HUCKSTERS
IN GUISE OF PEDDLERS ROB
MANY HOUSES
GANG OF SEVEN MEN PLACED
UNDER ARREST
Stolen Property Valued at More Than
$500 Is Recovered-Pollce
Charge Them with Nu-
merous Crimes

The theft of a sack of potatoes from
a japanese merchant on East FIRST
street led to the arrest of a gang OF
seven men, who the police say are re-
sponsible for a number of robberles In
Los Angeles, South Pasadena, Holly-
wood and Pasadena, and the recovery
of~stolen property valued at more imam
$500.
]. A. Redmond and William letters,
said to be leaders of the gang, were
the first arrested. They are accused
of having entered the store OF ner-
chant on East First, stolen a sack OF
potatoes, carried it across the street
to a corral, where they usually kept
their wagons, and then left. Inc owner
of the potatoes discovered the inert
lust as the men We're leaving the cor
raj. He notified Patrolman PltzSel a,.'
and gave a description OF the palr'
Shortly afterward Patrolmen hum
nhreys and Roberts arrested the men
near Croker and Fifth streets ana
took them to the central police station
where they were booked on charSe
of suspicion. ..oi.,..
of iewelry were found on the men, II
is claimed and the police decided TO
make an investigation. The men Were
questioned and later Patrolmen ROD
erts and Humphreys, working IN pam
clothes. arrested A. Dellmore, VIII
Saunders, l. Harband and ClareIiCe
and Irving Swanson, brothefs. ae
two latter were taken into CUSTODY as
they were prepa ring to leaVe the a eIts,
an expressman having already calleu
of their room at 40 Crocker street
for their trunks.
Stolen Goods Recovered
The stolen goods that were not taken
from the men who were seaIcheu,
we've found in the room of Redmond
of 323 East Fifth street. At this place
the officers found a quantity OF JeWeiry,
silverware watches, kodaks and other
articles.
Among the iewelry recovered are
bracelet, a gold bead necklace, gold
neck chain and other articles, stolen
from the home of supervisor Il, w
Pridham when his home IN Soulh
Pasadena was ransacked March y.
other articles recovered when the
room was searched have been identited
by the police as answering the de-
scription of the articles taken from the
following places: Lee Goldsmith
South Pasadena, whose house was en-.
tered March 10, during the absence Oh
the family; Mrs. Alice Wright, whose
home at 234 North Los Robes avenue,
Pasadena, was entered March 10, and
gold watch and several other articles
of ieWelry taken; the home of f. f.
Strong, 1882 West Thirty-siXth street,
which was robbed March II, and the
home of A E. Moore, 469 South EVER
green avenue, which was entered uu 10
ing the absence of the family March Is.
The men posed as potato peddlers
and are said by the police to have en-
tered the houses under the gulse OF
disposng of their stock, and II they
found no one at home to have robbed
the places. The men worked III the
residence districts and usually two OF
three of them would use one teaih'
How the Gang Worked
While one would remain on the
wagon and act as a lookout, say the
notice. the others would approach lhe
house and if anyone was at nome
would offer the potatoes for sale. II
the occupants were absent they would
gain entrance either by prying open
a rear door, if the conditions were
favorable, or would use pass Key
Harband was the last of the alleged
gang to be arrested. He was taken
into custody on East Third street, and
when searched at the police station the
gold bead necklace which was taken
from the Pridham home was found In
his pocket.
Detectives Jones and Boyd, who were
detailed to investigate the case with
the other OINCGTS, say TIC hiCii -
IDENTIFY are implicated in other robberles,
and further investigation will clear up
several cases that have been unsolved.
1--WE wish to warn the people against
this class of persons" said Captain of
Detectives Paul Flammer. There are
MANY men who are committing bur-
glaries under the guise of peddlers.
These persons do not excite suspicion
and enter homes in the best residence
districts without attracting any atten-
ton We have had a number of COM
plants from persons living in different
sections of the city regarding peddlers
who are believed to have committed
petty thefts.
Other Plumber Sold
"These peddlers are able to familiar
ize themselves with the habits of the
people in whose district they work, and
it is an easy matter for them to appear
during the absence of the occupants OF
the house which they intend to rob.
"Many pedders are Woodworking citi-
Gems but there are quite number who
ply this trade for the one purpose of
committing burglaries."
letters and Saunders occupied rooms
at 1161a East Fifth street: Dellmore
lived at 1908 East Thirty-sixth street.
and the other members of the alleged
gang lived in rooming houses near
Fifth and Crocker streets.
The men are said to have sold a guam
THY of the stolen property and the Of
ficers are trying to locate the places
i