Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-25
WERE The THREE
CRIMES WORK OF
THE SAME GANG?
Citizen, Detecting Trio of
Crooks, Believes Them Re-
sponsible for All.
employees SPOIL CHANCE
Instead Of Calling Police Attempt to
Catch Suspects and Illustrate
Opportunity for Cops.

chance, and a good one, too, to
arrest three men, known to have pulled
off one job here within the past few
days, and thought to have been re-
sponsible for several others. was spoil
ed early last evening by the interior
ence of two men, who attempted to
catch the trio, instead of informing
the police first and giving the minions
of the law an opportunity to appre-
bend the three.
Instead, after the pair had spoiled
the whole affair and the men were
over in the Davenport railroad yards.
probably a short time later aboard
freight riding away from the tri-cities.
the local police were asked to help
when help was too late to do any good.
A local man employed in a business
house on Second avenue last evening
saw three men standing on the
thoroughfare, between Seventeenth
and Eighteenth streets. He saw that
the description of one of the men tai
lied with that of one of the young
men who pulled off pickkpocketing
game in the L. S. McCabe store Sat
urday night, in which a hat pin is
known to have been stolen and other
jewelry may have been taken.
The citizen who detected the three
informed two employees of the McCabe
store, who arrived hastily on the
scene. One was the manager of a de-
partment in the establishment. After
finding that two of the men were
the same who had perpetrated the
crime in the store Saturday, instead
of calling the police the two employees
attempted to arrest the men them
selves.
Make Getaway.
The three, knowing the Jig was up
started towards Eighteenth street and
turned to the ferry, finally boarding
the boat. The two employees of the
store followed them catching up with
the two and insisting that they stop
and return to the police station.
But, the crooks were professionals.
likely, and knew better than to accede
to the demands. Going over the river
on the ferry the argument still ensued
but the pursuers failed to stop the
men and as soon as the boat landed
or the other side of the river the pair
darted for the railroad yards and were
soon lost.
men the l"O VI Tic StOiO
started back and went to the police
station in this city where they inform
ed Night Desk Sergeant Charles Bleuer
of the case. But it was too late for
aid and the three were likely on board
a freight leaving Davenport.
May Have Been Stick-Up.
One of the three was short fellow
whose description, it is said, tallies
identically. with that of the bold stick
up man who held up and robbed John
Schneider and a customer at the drug
store at the corner of Seventh avenue
and Twenty-seventh street Sunday
night
The citizen who first detected the
three and who knew one of
them in Omaha, stated to
the police that he would not
be surprised but that two of them
we're responsible for the pickpocketing
which was perpetrated on the Fourth
avenue cars Saturday afternoon, al
though it is contrary for crooks to be
working at several lines of crime sim
uItaneousIy. Usually they perfect in
one department and never take
chances of being caught by plying on
a job of another type.
Again they may be working a triple
game. The man who first tipped the
store employe off knows one of the
trio, having met him in Omaha some
years ago and stated TO the police that
he understands they were planningSo
go to Wilton, Iowa, to work at fairs :
and picnics in that section.
1t is known that the three arrived in
&c
the first of the crimes they were men,
toned with was perpetrated and this
in a way bears out the theory that they
may have been responsible for all
three.
At any rate the police department
will make an attempt TO have them
apprehended in Wilton should they
visit that place.