The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-30
George Wickes Leaves Boston in Fathers Costly Automobile With Gun and Companions
Police Learn of Burglary of Bas- sick and Hart Auto Establish ments and Arrest Suspects
In Tonneau is Found Plunder From Garages and .38 Calibre Pistol--Wickes' Father Boston Auto Dealer z

Arrested in what the police believe to b. one of the greatest joy rides on record, four youths, ranging from 1e to 19, one claiming to be the son of 8 prosperous automobile dealer in Boston. were held in bail of $30O each on the charge of burglary, pend ing the investigation by the police 1n- to the remarkable stunts of the four prior to their apprehension near Yel- low Mill bridge, before daybreak this morning.
 The four were taken from dis abled $3,500 Stearns automobile. In the car were several hundreds of dol principally shoes and tubes, some of which have been identified as the property of the Bassick garage. in Stratford, near St. MichaePs ceme- tery, and some as the possessions af the Hart garage in Connecticut ave- nue. Both these establishments were footed by burglars last night. The boys have confessed to taking automo- bile tires from these establishme on the ground that their own tires collapsed.
 Police Sergeant Suckley received word, late last night. than men in an automobile stopped near St. piciously He informed Sergea mt O'Connell at the Second Precinct sta- ton, who at once dispatched Patrol man Calian, in plain clothes, to look out for the machine He noticed a car bearing the Massac hasetts license number 1899 speeding past him as he rode out on trolley car towards the cemetery Later returning he found the car stalled on the bridge and occupants working at the tires. When they got the car in running order he placed them under arrest.
 Meantime the local police had been informed that the Bassick garage had been footed. At first the boys stout ly denied any knowledge of the crime. But later they told conflicting stories and Sergeant O'Conneli held them and later in the morning sent them to police headquarters.
 The lads described themselves as follows:
 George wickes, aged 16. a me- chanic, the son of an automobile dealer.
 Thomas Doolan, r, bell boy.
 William Johnson. 1s. carpenter.
 James Trinity, IT, shoemaker.
 Johnson later admitted he had not told his right name. Trinity stam- mered over his name so frequently that the police doubt whether he had given his own name.
 From the varying Stateme entS made by the lads thus far, the police be- lieve Wickes' father owns the Stearns touring car in which the joy ride was begun, and that without his parents s knowledge he gathered his cohorts about him, last Monday, and set forth to see the world
 They had 3S ca1ibre pistol fully loaded, in the automobile, but they denied knowing this was in their car. An operators license bearing the name of Wickes verified his state ment as to his age, occupation and the likelihood that his father was in the automobile business.
 Assistant Prosecutor Redden was apprised of the result of the investi- gation by the police, and he deemed a further inquiry into the character of the young men necessary. He ask ed Judge Foster to grant continu- ance until tomorrow morning, and suggested that the bail be fixed at $500 in each case.
 The boys, much bedraggled and be- grimed from their extensive riding, lined up in the prisoners pen, gave their names, and offered no objection to the proposed continuance. But Wickes interposed when the matter of bail was being discussed, and spoke as if familiar with court procedure.
 '1'd like to have bail fixed in my case,'' said he. "I expect my father here to take me out"
 Wickes telegraphed his father from police headquarters this morn ing, telling him of his predicament.