Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-01
POLICE ROUND UP
GANG OF ROBBERS
Raid South Bend House, Get
Explosives and Arrest
Three Men.

South Bend, IND, Jan. Enough
was found at 422 South
Michigan street to blow up the city.
The place where the explosive was
discovered is the rooming house run
by Mrs. Albert Peverett, wife of Whit
ey Black" who was sought by the
local and Ohio police as one of the
principals in half a dozen daring rob
berries.
In addition to the nitroglycerin
there were a quantity of explosive
fuses, burglars tools, and firearms
discovered.
The members of the gang, accord
ing TO the police. are:
Behrensen, William, alias "Duckins
Bill" age 80.
Joyce, William, alias Indianapolis
Billy" age 40.
Peverett, Albert, alias Whitley
Black" age 46.
Powers, John, alias Frank Sankey,
age 80.
Wollever, Charles. alias Charles
Loss" Wilson, age 81.
Peverett, Joyce and Behrenseh
were arrested and the other two men
are believed to be operating in Toledo,
Ohio, near where most of the robber-
les were staged.
Mrs. Peverett was taken to police
headquarters, where il is said she
confessed her knowledge of a dozen
or more robberies in which her nus.
band and his pals we're implicated.
One Of the sensational develop
ments, the police say, was the impll-
catiol in the different crimes of .
man well up in fraternal society bust
ress. a doctor whose identity is in
doubt. and lawyer who said he
would arrange an alibi for the former
IL ne ever was arrested in connection
with the robberies
The BLACK" gang was composed Of
five men and the Peverett house was
its headquarters, the police dec are.
The gang is wanted for at least four
bank and diamond robberies and half
q dozen other crimes.
A general fight in the rooming house
resulted when the officers surrounded
the place to arrest the gang. Assis-
tant Superintendent McCaffrey of a
Chicago detective agency was in
charge OF number of police and en-
gineered the raid. The three meI
captured put up a hard battle. Guns
we're fiourished but no shots were
fired The men were taken by sur
prise and their resistance forced the
captors to use the butt ends of their
weapons to subdue them.
At first Mrs. Peverett foiled the pc,
lice in their efforts to get her to con-
fess. She then was taken into the
room where the police had placed the
loot. The woman Immediately broke
down and alternately shrieking and
! laughing told her story after declaring
her husband would kill her when he
regains his liberty for her part in the
exposure.
| The confession filed many type
written pages, which will be placed
/ in the hands of the prosecuting attor
ney of Wood county, Ohio, ahd copy
sent to Gov. Marshall, who will heal
an appeal planned by lawyers for the
prisoners who will fight extradition.
The womans confession was made
/ before Assistant Supt. McCaffrey, De
tectives William D. Delehanty, and II
Herbert of the Toledo police depart
ment. Chief of Detectives William
! Cassidy of the local department; Su
perintendent Stiles of Cleveland de
tective agency, and Prosecutor Hat
field and Sheriff Head of Wood coun
ty, Ohio.
The woman in her statement is san
to have confirmed the suspicion of de
tectives from Cleveland, Toledo AM
Chicago. that BLACK" and the othe
four men were responsible for tn
blowing of the Munn bank in Portage
Ohio. on the morning of Nov. 9, an
similar robberies at Spencerville an
Paulding, Ohio, and in Middiebury
Ind
The postofice at Spencervilie wa
plundered and about $500, chiefly !
stamps, was taken. In Paulding
jewelry store was robbed of betwee
; $4,000 and $4,000 worth of diamond
, and other valuables.
Judge A. l.. Hubbard yesterday a
> teInoon permitted the return of WI
: liam Miley, alias Indianapolis Billy
/ Joyce, and Albert Peverett, ala
. Whitley Black, to Ohio, to answe
. the charge Of safe blowing. The TO
mer confessed Detectives left wit
the prisoners tcr Toledo. At the hea
ins before Judge Hubbard. Joyce az
mitted he was guilty Of blowing ope
the vault Of the Mum bank at Portag
: Ohio, Nov. 10, and implicated five OIL
, ers. including Peveret.. me latte
contradicted Joyce's confession.
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