Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-10
ELMER AHEARN AND GEORGE
kLoNrz CONFESS 10 SEW
ERAL RossERlEs.
ADMIT BURGLARY
OF BEAR CREEK OFFICE
In Statement to Cedar Rapids Officers,
Suspects Confess to Robberisss At
Cedar Rapids, Bear Crock, Daven-
port and RossvilIe, Tenn. - Arc
Caught With the Goods.

Cedar Rapids, March 10. - Elmer
Ahearn and George Klontz, arrested on
suspicion, made complete confession
Tuesday afternoon which Klontz stated
that he entered the store of Lawrence
Freeman on the night of Jan. %, held
up Freeman at the point Of revolver
and robbed him Of 1880 in cash and
gold watch.
!. They also confessed that they burg
larized the Wells Fargo express office
at Bear Creek last Friday night, the
offices Of the Southern Express Com
pany at Rossville, Tenn, on Feb. 26,
and to holding up the proprietor of n
second hand store in Davenport and
robbing him of 81, after beating him
into insensibility. They admitted hav-
ing cashed at least two money orders
stolen from the express companies.
Sought Hare For Hoidups.
The police have been searching for
Ahearn and Klontz Cor several weeks
in connection with several holdups
that occurred in Cedar Rapids during
the month of January. The officers
were confident that they held up Law
renee Freeman, proprietor, of shoe
store at AIT Third avenue west, on
the night of Jan % and robbed him of
about $40 in cash. The holdup occurred
in the store, and the description given
fitted Ahearn Several other holdups
occurred during the same week
During the following week messages
were received from the department at
Davenport stating that a second hand
store had been entered by two men,
the proprietor held up at the point OF
IA revolver and robbed. During sub
yeuuent chase one of the holdup men
lost his hat, and Under the sweat
band was found two seat checks for
the Majestic Theater here. The hat
also had been purchased in Cedar
Rapids.
Late Monday night Detectives Slap
nicka and Mikota we're looking over
the register at the College Inn. and
saw that Ahearn and Klontz were
among the guests. They went to the
mems room, and Notwithstanding a
great deal Of clustering and threats on
the part Of the suspects, placed them
under arrest. A 32-caH5er revolver.
fully loaded, was found under Ahearn's
pillow, and Klontz carried knife or
dirk with a blade five inches in length.
Money Order Blanks Found.
When they were searched at the sta
ton ten express money order blanks
were found secreted in Klontz's under
clothing Each of these blanks were
made to read "Not over $50" While
en- route to the station Klontz threw a
bill folder on the door Of the police
auto, and in this folder the officer
found an order on the same company
for $50, made payable to w. G. Lagore
and signed by Mrs. Marie Lagore as
sender.
All Of the money orders bear the
stamp of the Bear Creek, Iowa, office.
Bear Creek is small town a short
distance south of Ottumwa, and the
express office there was hurglarized
Friday night. The police also have a
circular issued by the Southern Elk
press Company at Chattanooga, Tenn,
announcing that the express office at
Rossville, Tenn, was robbed a short
time ago. In this instance number of
blank money orders were stolen, and
several were passed in Tennessee and
Illinois. Those that were passed were
signed by Elmer Ahearn as the re-
mitter.
Klontz is drug fiend and has a
hypodermic needle and supply of
morphine. He states that he uses
about eight grains Of morphine daily,
and his limbs are covered with sores
where he has inserted the needle.