The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-03-20
Three Men Arrested Yesterday Ad-
nit that They Robbed Stores
at Minco Tell Why
They Did 1t
DECLARE THEY'RE NOT
ARMY DESERTERS
Report that Uniforms Were Found
All a Mistake II Total Value
Of Stolen Goods Not
Large

Jas Wilbur, John Burnett and J. l..
Rogers. the three men arrested yes
terday at Dover and Enid. for the
burglary Of two stores at Minco. were
brought to chickasha last night by
Sheriff John c. Lewis and Deputy
Hugh Hale, and have made complete
confessions that they are the men
wanted for the Minco jobs. but still
contend that they are nct the desert
ers from f. Reno.
The assertions that they arc not
soldiers is undoubtedly true. because
one of the party. John Burnett. has.
during the past two years. worked ia
Chickasha. going from here 10 Wichi-
Ia Falls. Texas. with w +. Warfield
sidewalk contractor The rumor that
they were soldiers and that three
complete soldiers uniforms were
found on the floor Of the dry goods
store in Minco. is entirely uhfounded
The only articles CT clothing that
could possibly point 70 the fact that
they we're Cncle Sans men. was an
army shirt left there Also it is a
notorious fact that shirts similar TO
those worn by the rockies" can be
purchased at almost any clothing
store. The other clothing left in the
store was an old pair Of trousers and
q coat. and possibly a shirt or two.
The amount of goods taken from
the store. is not as great as was at
first supposed Three raincoats OF
the vintage Of 1905 were taken. one
suit Of clothes, some shoes and toilet
articles.
The men stated last night that the
real reason they entered the stores at
al was because the Rock Island agent
at Minco made them sore by driving
them out Of the waiting room into the
rain. They then went to the grocery
store, the time being about l0.S0,
There they broke in by the simple
means OF breaking out a small section
of glass from the door and reaching
through. turning the night latch They
stayed in the grocery and notions
store about two hours. during which
time they made a hearty meal from
the canned goods. beside appropriat
ing some other articles.
They then started to the depot, but
backed out. IL she face Of the driving
sleet and snow storm Returning.
they entered dry goods store and
remained there until about O'Clock,
when they heard freight whistling
in from the south.
when we ran out Of the store to
catch the train, the sidewalk was
slippery with sleet and snow. We
had on new shoes. and on our way
to the depot slipped and fell several
times. ! thonght We would wake W
eyerybCd, in town. said Burnett to-
day.
Continuing Burnett said, THAT town
is so quiet at night that could back
a wagon up TO any of them stores and
haul the whole stock away"
After the men had boarded the
train at Minco. Wilbur made deal
with the head brakeman. according to
his statement, to fire the mogul for
the fireman. who was ill., For this
the trio were to receive Transports
ton to Enid. At Dover. one of the
brakemen put Burnett and Rogers of
the train and they were picked up by
deputy. one OF them at a pump sta
ticn and the other at the depot vii
bur. not knowing that his pals had
been kicked off the train and captur
ed, completed his contract to Enid
There he asked the trainmen wners
the other men were and was told they
had been put off at Dover. While in
the midst Of this conversation. a dep
uty approached and Wilbur ducked
Another officer joined in the chase
and for some time they played hid.
and seek among the cars in the Rocl
Island yards Eventually. five officer
Of the law hemmed their man an,