The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-12-13
KRAFCHENKO WAS
DOUBLED CROSSED

Winnipeg, Man, Dec. ia double
cross by a pal resulted in the arrest
Of Jack krafchenko, held for the Plum
Coulee murder and bank robbery.
The old tactics which have been tn
theme for novels and plays for years
were never more clearly defined thar
In the present instance. A pal, an ac-
cessory, was given police protection
and immunity from arrest for ~"squeal-
ing" on his fellow desperate. The fol-
lowing story gained from reliable
sources gives all of the details.
Had Second Auto.
Two men, one a chauffeur and the
other a crook, whom the first man al
Ieges is Krafchenko, went in an auto
mobile to a point about eighteen miles
north of Plum Coulee shortly before
the robbery. They left their car in
hiding and went on to Plum Coulae
where they separated SO as not to be
seen together. Their plans were all
laid. k~rafchenko was to rob the bank
jump into an auto waiting 100 yards
away, and drive past the place where
the second man was waiting, where he
woul jump in and the escape would
then be made. The second man would
not be seen by those who saw Kraf-
chenko enter the car for he would not
get in until the machine had gone two
OF three blocks. Their the fact that he
was in would lessen the liability OF
their being caught for the description
"SO3H VIC VI a 90 Will III MAN ana "a
driver throw the searchers off the
scent
Plans Miscarried.
But their plans miscarried. Several
people saw the third man, the chauf-
feur, enter the car and the description
given of him wa very accurate. The
men did not know of this at the time
but they learned later. They wers
rushed to the point where the second
car was in waiting, and the two men
got ONT and rnntinJJad their o,,,.p =,
to Winnipeg, arriving here the same
afternoon before the police had ever
got started on the search.
Went to Ex-Chief McRac.
TIL description of the second man
which was published resulted in his
that he was in on the deal. and fear
ing that he would be caught. he went
to ex-Chief McItae and confessed his
part In the crime. Ex-Chief McRae
up the case. He got the automobile
driver to keep in touch with Kraf-
chenko and let him know every move
ment. The chauffeur's movements were
know it. From Thursday night until
the hour of his arrest Krafchenko did
not make a single movement out of
doors that was not seen by a shadow.
Got Money from krafchenko.
The driver managed to secure part
VI the money from hraTCne0ko about
$500. Then he led Krafchenko to be-
lteve that the police were close on his
track, and it is believed he got the re-
mainder and hid it himself or else was
told where the money was concealed,
80 that he could find it. He told Kraf-
chenko that the town was getting very
hot for him and. that he had better get
out. This was he night before the ar
rest. He made arrangements to take
him out of the city to a point where
1t would be safe for Krafchenko to
get onto a train. He was to meet him
about 10 o'clock Wednesday morning,
twenty heavily rmed detectives went
/. Had Roads Guarded.
To show how little faith the police
had In their stool they had every
highway and bridge leading out Of the
city closely guarded Wednesday morn
ing.
And he accessory to the crime, the
double crosser." the man who spoils
the old adage OF honor among crooks
will go free. He has been given prom
ises or immunity from arrest, and pro-
lection from n of Krafchenko's true
pals who might 'get wise that he had
"peached." The police even promised
to keep his name out of the affair al
together and, liz possible, to let the mat
ter OF the second q In the affair drop
entirely.
1T lii said on authority that the work.
Ing up OF the 8 was kept from the
provincial police. The case was work