Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1913-04-04
STOLE THEIR SMOKES
And As A Result Five Young MsA
Are In Trouble.


located and will be placed under Az
rest during the NEXT few days, charss
ed with stealing various - sundry
articles from the Missouri Pacific
railroad company at Hoisington. One.
Of the boys, Harry Fitzgerald, Il
Hoisington, was placed under arrest
and lodged in jail a few days ago.
Two more, L. E. Craddock and RoAt
Karney, were captured at Oklahoma
City by officers there and were
brought back to this county by Sher.
III Brown Wednesday morning. The
other two members Of the crowd.
Clinon Allen Turner and Harry Jen-
kins, have been located and will b
placed under arrest shortly. Fittger-
and and CraddOck are Hoisington boyt
while the other three belong in Coun-
ell Grove, but have been employed
in Hoisington part Of the time
lately. Their ages range from lS TO
81 wears.
Cigarettes were the downfall or
these young men, having broken the
seals of cars in transit in the Hois-
ington yards and appropriated there
from hundreds of thousands OF the
little coffin nails" that have started
many a bright boy on the road mat
leads to the penitentary, a trip
which the five viii undoubtedly take.
And they were choicy as to the qaal-
ity of the goods the smoked, too.
At one time, some weeks ago, they
broke into a car in the Hoisfngton
Yards and stole a box containing SSl
pounds Of "Pinhead" cigarettes, con-
signed from Virginia to Shanghai.
China, but after smoking fe~ Of
these they found they were not 70
their liking and the case was later
found where 1t had been left along
the railroad rightof-way.
"Fatima'' cigarettes we're their NJ
vorites and they had stolen some
thing like $4,000 Of this brand, over
100000 of which have been found
wnere they had hidden thes5 s-ag
at Hoisington, and when Karney ano
Craddock were captured at Oklahoma
City lhey had over 5000 worth OF
these in their possession.
Another charge which the officers
have against the same crowd is. tnat
of stealing a barrel Of beer from the
Pacific, and this was not only taken
while in transit but while the tram
was on the move. This robbery oc-
currad in December and their metnoo
was such that showed that it was not
committed on the spur OF the mo-
ment but was carefully planned BE-
forehand. A through freight vas pas
ing through Hoisingtcn late in the
night. and on the train were some
cars of Anheiser-Busch beer. Two Oh
the members of the gang boardeu
the train while in the Hoisington
Yards and rode it out of town. West
Of Hoisington, near Boyd, there b
steep hill that heavy train must
climb very slowly. While the train
was going up this hill the fellows
who we're riding one Of the beer cars
broke the car seal and opening the
car door, dropped off a barrel OF
beer. The rest Of the gang follow
ed the train in a surry, picked up
the beer and their comrades ana
proceeded back to town, where It y
presumed they enjoyed a feast OF
beer interspersed with Fatima Gig
arettes.
County Attorney Russell states
that he has ample evidence already
in his possession to convict the en-
tire bunch, and we understand that Z
at least part Of them will plead gull
ty when their case comes to trial,
and it is probable that all will be
guests at the Hutchinson refTmatory
Or the state penitentiary for Several
years to come. Even If nothing had
been stolen the fact Of their break
ing the car seals would be enough to
convict, and their is an abundance OF
evidence whether they fight the case
or not.
Score another bunch of yicdmssfor
the cigarette. Five more homes are
made sorowful and five more mems
lives wrecked on account Of habit
probably started because 1t looked
smart.