The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-07-29
HOLD.UP
C0NFESSES CRIME
Newton Gcrhardt, Arrested and Held
As Suspect in Robbery Of M. G.
Hover, Confesscs Crimes
HAD FORGED MANY CHECKS
ParoIcd Convict and Parolcd to n. L.
Houghton, of Sioux City-Shad-
owed Hover Several Weeks

Sioux City, July 23.-Newton Ger
hardt, arrested for the theft of a cor
net from Meyer Shubb, and held as a
suspect in the robbery Of NJ. c. Hover,
who had one of his fingers shot off by
bandit who lured him across the riv-
err into South Sioux City, yesterday
confessed the Hover robbery to dctec.
tives.
Gerhardt also confessed forging
three checks for $35 each, which he
had cashed. AS soon as he had con-
fessed to the Hover robbery and the
forgery, Gerhardt became morose and
refused to say anything.
Gerhardt was confronted by three
checks made payable to l.. Wiel. De-
tectives declared them to be in the
handwriting of GerhaAdt. He denied
authorship at first. but later admitted
forging them. A moment later he said
he was guilty of the Hover robbery,
and then became silent.
BY the confession of Gerhardt tho
mystery surrounding the robbery and
shooting of Hover, a West Third street
piano tuner, is explained. Detectives
expect to solve several forgery mystcr-
les which have baffled them for
months, during the time Gcrhardt has
been in Sioux City.
Police Hold Other Checks
Gerhardt asserts the three checks
payable to l.. Wiel were the only ones
he forged. The detectives, however, eX
pect him to confess forging number
OF other checks which they have in
their possession. and which they say
are in his handwriting.
Gerhardt refused to make detailed
confession of the crimes. The confess
sion of the Hover shooting came after
he had been identified positively by
Mr.. and Mrs. Hover, by witnesses who
saw him drive across the combination
bridge and by employees Of the livery
barn where he procured the horse and
buggy to take Hover to South Sioux
City. .l 80
Hover and his wife identified Ger
hardt as soon as they saw him at pc.
lice headquarters after his arrest. Ger
hardt asserted coolly that it was a
case OF mistaken identity Yesterday
other PERSONS identified him. Even
then he did not confess until detec-
tives and Police Chief George PIERCE
had questioned him during most of the
day.
Crimes Date Back Months.
The police think that Gerhardt be-
gan floating worthless checks soon af-
ter he arrived in Sioux City. The
three checks which he confessed fors-
ing were cashed the last week in June,
and the officers have in their posses
sion other checks dated much earlier
than that time. Other checks were
found in Gerhardt's travelling bag, and
the police think he was unable to cash
them. The checks We're found by de-
toctives on his return from Omaha.
Following his confession, Gerhardt.
although refusing to talk. acted as If
he were relieved. Later he called for
Chief PIERCE, saying he wanted to
have confidential talk with him. Ger
hardt and the chief We're closeted to-
gether an hour, but the chief declared
Gerhardt made no further admissions
other than to say he was guilty of the
Hover robbery and the forgeries.
May Try Gerhardt Here.
1t has not been determined yet what
disposition will be made of Gerhardt.
He is paroled convict from Anamosa,
and officers from that place were ex-
pected In Sioux City last night or to-
day. Cerhardt was sent to Anamosa