Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-17
ROUND UP R0BBER
GANG IN CHICAGO:
GET CONFESSION
One Member of "Mob" Said to,
Have Confessed to lootng
St. Paul Federal Gus
toms Office.
,TODY WOMAN LAID PLANS, CLAIM
Alleged Yeggmen May Be En-
yolved In Famous Bank Case
Revenue Stamps Worth
$575, 900 Found.

Chicago, Feb. 14.-Confession TO he
robbery of the internal revenue office.
at st. Paul, January 6. when revenue
stamps aggregating more than 5000
900 in value We're stolen, from the old
federal building there, was obtained
today from one OF the three men ar
rested with their wives here last night.
Peter G~rautzburg. an operative of
federal secret service, announced the
confession, but would not say from
winch OF the prisoners it was OBJ
tanned.
1t was reported that John ]. Geek,
a motor1nan, was the man who made
the alleged admissions.
Says Case Is Complete.
The case is practically complete"
said Michael l.. 1goe, assistant United
States district attorney.
Capt. Thomas /. Porter, chief of the
local secret service, kept his office
locked against all save government Of
ficiaIs.
The prisoners We're to be arraigned
this afternoon.
Chicago, Feb. 12.-In addition tc
three men and three women arrested
lest night, charged with completely
In the recent robbery of the st. Paul
FEDERAL building. when s675, 900 in in
ternal revenue stamps was taken, sew
efai o3her suspects are under %Surveil-
iance, the police said today. The po-
nee believe at least two of those ar
rested We're implicated in the robbery
OF a bank at New Westminster, B. c.
in September, 1911, when $272,O00 was
taken.
Edward Leonard, Julia Leonard
John J. lack, Mrs. lack, Michaeg
Flanagan n Mrs. Catherine Flanni-
gan are che six arrested last night.
The nfffcers are aid to have recovered
S525.eO0 worth of the tamps
According to the officers, Mrs. I'lan-
nlgan is charged with having planned
and directed the robbery.
Leonard is credited by the police to,
have the men who did the actual work.
With Mr.. and Mrs. Leonard. when arr
rested, was little 6-year-old EVELYN
OF her father, on the north side. where,
John Zeck and mis- wife We're arrested.
The officers believe Flanagan and
Leonard were implicated in the New
Westminster. B. c., robbery.
n st. Paul robbery engaged the
reNenue agents, private and municipal
detectives of a number of cities.
The stamps taken were negotiable,
and every wheel in h government ma
chlnery was set going for their re-
covery. The clerks worked all night
loaitiiiS llc amount recovered, Dut 1T
is believed the two trunks contained,
most of the booty. The stamps ranged
In denominations from 1-cent to $500.
History of the Hunt.
The alleged solution of the case.
started when several of the secret
service men came to the conclusion
that the robbery suggested the Ca
madam bank footing. In this connec-
ton it was recalled that Flanagan
WAS arrested on n Al, ,,rn - e ,a,-;.,,
money thought to have come from
the bank. He cleared himself on the,
charge, but not Of the suspicion of
detectives working on the case. Work
began with the shadowing of his house
M saloon.
Two trunks, said to have been those
recovered, We're brought to the house.
by Leonard. He was followed and it
was learned that prior to the robbery
he and Mrs. Leonard rented a house
In Minneapolis. The booty. it. is said.
was brought from st. Paul in an au-
tonobile, which has been traced to-
this house.
Detectives and secret service men
watched all night outside Leonard'sy
home and h a of Flanagan and then
made the arrests.
Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. lack are SAID
to be siscrs. The lacks were arrested.
1t was said, after several packages Of
the stamps were found concealed in
The flooring of their home.
Express receipts on the New West
minister office OF an express
were regarded as possible clews to-
The bank robbery mystery.
Tive more arrests We're made by the.
federal officers in connection with the
stamp robbery in ST. Paul. George
and Frank Bissett, brothers, were.
taken while in bed, the officers keeping
the men covered with revolvers while,
they were dressing.
Warrants for all of the arrested per-
sons, with the exception Of Frank Bis
sett, We're issued late in the day,
Edward Leonard and George Bis
sett were charged with robbery ana
stealing money and stamps; Mrs. Julia
Leonard was charged with assisting in
the robbery; Zcck and Mrs. zeck were,
charged with c~oncea1ing stolen prop
erty. and Flanagan and Mrs. Flanagan
with failing to inform the government:
of a felony of which they had knowl-
e6 oa