The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-08-28

sTEcHMAN SENDS INFORMATION
Gives Thieves Room and Notifies
Bemidji Authorities-Much
Jewelry Found.

Shortly after reading the article
about the Baker robbery last night
In the. Pioneer Henry stechman was
approached by four men, who asked
for lodging in the Stechman hotel at
Tenstrike. After room had been Sc
cured one of the men offered to sell
Mr.. Stechman watch and chain for
$500. The watch was sold and the
men retired to their. room. Mr..
stechman Immediately phoned Geo.
7. Baker, proprietor Of the store
which was robbed and described the
watch he had purchased. The de-
scription tailed exactly with several
of the articles which had been miss
ed and Deputy Sheriff George Denly
and Chief of Police George Lane
were notified. Sheriff Johnson's
Ford automobile was brought into
play and the two officials drove to
Tenstrike and made the arrest. James
Cahill, deputy sheriff., together with
George Baker and Thomas Swinson
rented a car from the Foley livery
stables and were driven to Tenstrike
by Arthur Plante. III. I'll.
Denly and Lane found the men in
their room and arrested them about
IL o'clock. The men were searched
and many of the articles stolen were
found on their clothing and under
the pillows and mattress. The men
gave their names as Tony Marshik,
Clifford Elmer, Otto Hermstors and
Walter l.. Booth.
Mr.. Baker recognized one of the
men as a party who had lounged in
the store for a long time Monday
afternoon, but who. did not make
purchase. w. T.. Robinson of the
Smith and Robinson Lumber COM
pany also recognized two Of the men
who claimed to be sign painters and
who had done some work for him a
few days previous to the robbery.
The men proved exceedingly dar.
ing in the manner in which they
tried to dispose of the stolen articles
One man stopped at Lavinia for a
drink and offered several of the arti-
cles for SALE, Later they stopped al
Blackjack where they sold a portion
Of their haul Wednesday.
| Mr.. Stechman claims he was sus-
picious of the men when they enter.
ed the hotel as they did not appear
to be the class of men who stop at re.
spectacle hotels. The manner in
which he carried out his plans of
capture was clever and he did not
give the men hint that he had any
suspicious. The men had gone to bed
feeling perfectly safe and were great
! ly surprised when Deputy Sheriff
Denly and Chief of Police George
Lane walked into their room and
ordered them to turn over their haul
The watch which the thief had dis
posed of to Mr.. Stechman was valued
at $45 and contained a highly Jewell
ed movement. Many Of the watches
were restored to Mr.. Baker and the
Swiss watch owned by Edgar Titus
was also recovered. .es,ss
James Cahill researched the men
this morning and found many other
articles which they had hidden in
portions of their clothing and which
was not found last night. On the re-
turn trip the men refused to talk ex-
cept among themselves. Their con-
versation was turned mostly towards
Mr.. Stechman and remarks on what
a. fools they had been for selling
the goods so close to Bemidji.
The 500 reward offered by the
jewelers. Security Alliance will be
given to Henry Stechman as the Of
fer called for information leading tc
the arrest and conviction. Little
trouble is expected to be had in Sc
curing their conviction as the evil
dence now in the hands of the sheriff
appears to be enough to furnish them
rooms in fire proof cell for some
time.
The hearing was held before Court
Commissioners Fisk this afternoon,