Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-21
Council Bluffs
Officers Hold
Young Members
of Kobber Gang
Four Youths Arrested Charged with
Stealing from Cars Admit Guilt
Others Implicated.

-Four boys were arraigned at the morning
session Of the Council Bluffs police court
yesterday charged with the robbery OF mer-
chandise cars in the yards of the Illinois
Central railroad.
The eldest was Harry Duggan, aged 10,
residing at South Eighth street and Nine
teenth avenue. The others are Henry
Thompson, II, whose widowed mother re-
sides at Eighth street and Twenty fourth
avenue; Henry Kerns, H. whose parents re-
side at Twenty avenue and Fourth
street, and Floyd Biddle. IS, son OF q widow
living at s14 Harrison street.
Each was confronted by indubitable evil
dence OF his crime and each made a full
confession. Piled by the side Of the Judge S
desk were two soiled and mussy bolts OF
mohair goods one bolt or black and one OF
wine color, and cheap shoddy-cloth ulster
overooat nine sizes too big for the largest
boy. The pile Of stuff was the product of
their last raid on a merchandise car None
OF the stuff was worth a cent to them UNI
less they could find a buyer. and 1t was
this feature Of the case that gave 1t in
terest While not charged in the informa-
ton It was brought out by the investigas
ton that the boys we're systematically en-
gagged in the robbery OF cars and finding
somewhere market for whatever they
stole, and started an inquiry that may
implicate a great number of persons, in
Guiding employees OF the Illinois Central and
Wabash roads.
The arrest of the boys followed the
breaking of the seal on Wabash car that
had been transferred to the Illinois Central
late Thursday night. The special officers
of the railroads cooperating with the local
police, traced the robbery to one OF the
boys and went to Duggan's house at
oclock yesterday morning. But half awake
the boy lost his cunning and in answer ia
the first question of where the goods were
said the stuff was in the house and pro-
duced 1t. He said he thought he was talk
ing to his friends and when he realized he
was In the hands OF officers reluctantly
gave the names of his confederates, and al
were arrested before daylight.
The officers were placed in possession OF
information that leads them to believe thai
the youthful thieves were connected with q
much larger band. including a number OF
yard employees. Some of the boys talked
freely and told of the nightly raids thai
were made on the cars, and it Is said thai
Duggan is ready to give much valuable in
formation. All of the boys were sent tc
the county jail to await the action of the
grand jury, while some Of the heart-broker
parents left the court room in tears. Rail
road officials say that scarcely a nigh
passes without car robbery in the yardt
and they believe they are now on the trai
of we'll organized band of thieves and mer
who receive their stolen plumber
| Later in the night ]. H. Spickler, 142
Avenue E. an Illinois Central switchman
was arrested5 charged with breaking into
car and stealing case of shoes. and wher
confronted with evidence of his guilt, tn,
officers say, he admitted the charge anC
declared that when he failed to find pal
of shoes in the case that would fit hin
turned the whole case in the firebox of
! locomotive early yesterday morning. HI
was also held to the grand jury.