The Prescott daily news., 1912-09-23
POL|CE EMPLOYED BY BANK ROBBERS CRAFT CHARGES AGAINST FIVE MEMBERS OF CHICAGO Po-
 LICE FORGE. HOST OF YEGGMEN SOUGH! Lieutenant Who Learned of Plot and Sought to Arrest Men, Beaten by Men and Women When He
 Visited Cafe.
HOST OF YEGGMEN SOUGHT

Chicago, Sept. 23.-The Chicago DO lice authorities are searching for James Sidias, saloonkeeper, who, it is believed, can tell the ins and outs of the graft story that has been in circulation since it became known that $25,000 of the $272,O00 currency stolen from Westminster branch of the Bank of Montreal was recovered here.
 The story is that two, fl not four, of the mem involved in that robbery escaped from the police after they were known, and that at least five policemen connived at their escape and had been hiding them with a plan to exchange their Canadian cur reRcy for American money. One of these men is said to have been ar rested, and for five days in custody at the Maxwell Street station.
 The five policemen have been ques. toned by Chief McWeeney, but it is probable that no action will be taken against them until after the hearing of Capt. Mahoney and Lieut.. Burns, who are awaiting trial on charges growing out of the affair Burns part seems to be that he and Ma. honey learned of the graft plant and Burns went to Sidias' saloon and at. tempted to arrest the two men sus pected of being safe blowers. He was overwhelmed by men and women In the saloon and beaten into insensi- bility.
 Before the rest of the plot was dis covered, Burns and Mahoney were given furloughs and charges pre- ferred against them. At their trial, it is expected that evidence will be developed against Lieut.. Clohesy, Sergt. Riley. Sergt. Kelleher. Turn key Hardlgan and Patrolman O'Rourke All are in Mahoneys dis trict.
 Anxious to Exchange Currency.
 A man in position to know what the two bank robbers did in their three weeks rendezvous in the Sidias saloon has told the following story:
 When the men who blew up the Westminster branch of the Bank of Montreal came to Chicago they were anxious to hurry the exchange of the notes and checks into American cash.
 "They became acquainted in the Si dias saloon with a man who intro duced them to West Side gambler, we'll acquainted with certain police men. The two robbers told the gam. bier they would pay him commits sion big enough to split several ways if he got the Canadian money cashed.
 "He took the proposition to friend on, the police force. This friend agreed to go into the scheme for a certain sum. A group of four or five Chicago policemen were we'll along in the negotiation for the exchange of the money when Lieut.. Burns spoiled the whole scheme by walking into the Sidias saloon and trying to arrest the bank robbers"
 Sidias' Life Threatened.
 Mrs. Sidias explains her husbands absence by declaring that his life had bgeen threatened in numerous letters received by him. Whether these were from frinds of the robbers or from friends of the involved policemen is not made clear.
 It is known that two men are being held in an outlying police station in connection with this affair, but wheth- CT they are suspects of the robbery or are graft witnesses the police ds- cline to say,