The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-11-13
CONFESS They
ARE GANG MEMBERS

Hillsboro, N. D., Nov. 13.-Confes-
sion that they were members of a
gang Of five. three OF whom
were under surveillance Of the Grand
Forks police department for a short
time, has been made by Harry Lewis
and Pat Flanagan, in the Trail
county jail at Hillsboro. The men
admit being accomplices Of the wo-
man who was arrested in Grand
Forks some time ago and whose be-
longings were searched with the re-
suit that five hack saws. cleverly Sc
GREETED in the false top of stationery
box. were discovered. once she had
made an effort to smuggle the saws
to the men in the JAIL but in that
she had been unsuccessful.
1t was a clever game that the
crooks had attempted to work, and
the discovery of the hack saws was
brought about In peculiar manner.
A "hunch" was directly responsible,
M. G.. Olson of this city causing the
search warrant TO be sworn out and
1t was I'm the process OF operating
under it's authority that the police
found the stationery box and the
false top.
Lewis and F'lannigan were arrested
at Hiilsboro last August for burgIariz-
ing the L. H. Larson general store.
The men were captured in q search
which was made a few moments
after the burglary had been pulled
off, their presence in the store being
discovered by a young woman who
had gone into the building late at
night for the purpose of using the
telephone,
When the alarm was given Lewis
and Flanagan were found hiding un-
der an elevator. They had dropped
the booty In. an alley nearby. the
search coming so fast that they were
unable to get away. 1t had been
their intention to board a late train
leaving the city.
Had Tried to Make Keys.
Once since their arrest the men
were discovered by the sheriff Of
Trail county engaged in an attempt
manufacture keys with which they
could operate the cell locks. The
springs had been taken out of the
soles OF their shoes for the purpose
OF making such keys. This discovery
put the sheriff on the lookout. and
when. a few days later. the woman
In the case appeared on the scene,
he was wary.
The woman, going under the name
Of Mrs. Austin in this CITY but who APP
peared before the sheriff as the
sweetheart Of Lewis, shed a great
many tears and declared that 1t was
the first time he had ever been in
trouble, "and wouldn't he please let
him co. But the sheriff, warned
by. his previous experience with the
men behind the bars. listened not.
Finally she asked that she might
be allowed to see the prisoner, but
permission was only granted her to
go to the cell doors, and there she
put on another fond sister or 'slov-
Ing sweetheart act. but 1T failed to
move the iron heart of the man with
the keys.
Didn't Use Stationery.
The woman then said that she had
sent box of stationery to the city
and she wanted to know If it could
not be given to the prisoner, where
upon the sheriff declared that he
would take good care to examine 1t
bef0re doing SO. Upon learning this
the woman failed to leave the station
cry. Ii was this self same box of
stationery which the Grand Forks POI
lice later discovered.
Mrs. Austin came to grief in Grand
Forks when Mr.. Olson, shortly after
he had opened the big sale In the
Ontario clothing store. noted the fact
that she was a very frequent visitor
to- the store. He placed her under
watch. and finally. on the ''hunch'
that everything was not right. swore
out search warrant
A. trunk In the Grest Northern de-
pot was among the personal effects
viewed by the officials, as a result Of
which the stationery box with its
hack saw equipment was brought TO
light Mrs Austin and her husband
were at once ordered ID leave the
city.
Mrs. Bertha Good. the woman. who
was arrested in Grand Forks and TAX
en- to Minneapolis to face 8 charge
Of forgery. was an Intimate friend
Of Mrs. Austin. and they were fre-
@sentiy together here.
Prisoners Sentenced.
Lewis and Flagniean. the former
81 apparently hardened criminal. had