The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-11-18
Niles Moffitt and Ralph Bes-
selman, both Aged II, Con-
fess to Robbery of Ben
nett's Grocery.
DISCLAIM KNOWING
OF OTHER ATTEMPTS
Attempt Made to Rob Henry
Schells Saloon and to
Break in the Residence of
George Schultz.

Niles Moffit and Ralph Bessleman.
both aged II. residing with their par
ents in West Richmond. confessed TO
the police today that they burglarized
the grocery of John II. Bennett, cor
ner of Third and National avenue.
Saturday night shortly after IL O'Clock.
In a confession to the police the
young men said this was the only
place they had entered and that they
are innocent of the burglaries report.
ed last week from various parts of
the city. The police are inclined TO
believe the story of the boys, as they
made clean confession of the Ben
nett job, and did not hold back infor
nation on any phase when Queried
at headquarters.
Moffit told the police that Bessie
man had been urging him for some
time to assist in breaking into the
grocery store, where Moffitt was for.
merly employed. Moffit finally con,
sented to the job, and it was perpe-
trated Saturday night. The two boys
met Saturday evening and waited un.
til the grocery store had closed. When
no one was in sight, shortly after
eleven o'clock, they forced the west
window of the store and then rifled the
cash register.
Bennett reported that he lost SIS in
cash and two checks which had been
made payable to him. The boys told
the police they obtained $20.S6, of
which Moffitt received $10.25. The
boys destroyed the checks.
Suspect Moffitt.
Moffitt was suspected by the police
as soon as they heard of the robbery
They believed the job was done by
some one who was familiar with the
store. He was arrested at 10 o'clock
this morning at the high school by Pa.
trolman Vogelsong. He confessed to
the police as soon as arrested and i'm.
plicated Besselman, who was not sus-
pected.
The boys were seen in the store at
IL o'clock by Miss Edna Skinner who
was passing at the time. She did not
give an alarm at the time, as she
thought it was Mr.. Bennett. She later
thought it might have been a burglar
and informed him yesterday morning
Bennett investigated and found that
he had been robbed.
Young Besselman has been employ.
ed by his father, who is a painter He
was arrested at noon by Patrolman Vo
gelsong. Both of the young men are
nervous and repent their folly. Mof
fit broke down and cried when ques.
toned by the police.
No charges have been filed against
either of the young men. II is not
known whether they will be charged
with burglary or merely fined for
house breaking.
An attempt was made Saturday
night to force an entrance into the sa
loon of Henry Schell. 600 North
Twelfth street, but the attempt was
unsuccessful. This morning when tbs
store was opened the rear door was
found open. The police were notified
at once. Patrolman Will Lawler wen,
to the scene and found that the door
had been forced by some one pushing
against it with his shoulders. When
the burglar got inside the hallway he
discovered that he had two more doors
of firmer material to force. and the
police believe he gave up the job.
The opinion of the police is that the
job was attempted by a "snakey
drunk" who wanted whiskey. They
base their theory on the fact that a
burglar could have forced a window
easier than by pushing in the doors
and would probably have taken this
way of entering.
George Schultz, residing at SOC s
Sth street, was startled by a suspicious
noise in the rear of his home Satur
day night at 9 o'clock and went to in
vestigate. AS soon as he reached the
back door he saw a man run through
the back yard away from the house
and climb over the fence. Schultz did
not pursue the man and did not notify
the police. He could not give an accu
rate description of him because of the
darkness, but because of the noise he
made in his flight suspects a large
man attempted to burglarize the
house
Suspicious looking persons were
seen lettering about homes in the
South and East sides Saturday and
Sunday evenings. but the police were
not notified.