South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-05
SAFETY BOARD IN
SPECIAL, SESSION
Double Murder and Shooting
of Policeman Among Mat
tiers Discussed.

Although the board OF safety held
Il special meeting and was in ses-
sion for two hours Wednesday morn
ing. the only report given out at the
close of the conference was the APP
pointment of one new patrolman,
James F. Reed. 1887 y. Elmer st.
Chief of Police Kerr was called into
the conference and it was city hall
talk that the safety board was at
tempting to devise better plans for
stopping the burglary epidemic in
South Bend and for capturing the
slayers of Henry Muessel and Frank
Chrobot, and apprehending the gun
man who shot and wounded Patrol
man Eugene Rogers, all of whom
are still at large.
Clerk Harry JosephsOn stated that
the appointment of the patrolman
and the discussion of the filling of
other vacancies was the only bust
ness conducted by the board OF safe
~. Whether Chief Kerr was given
new orders relative TO the search for
the criminals could not be learned
although there was a well defined
report that the board was intending
10 supply additional aid in the at
tempt TO run down the bandits and
gunman.
Nothing New, Says Chief.
Chief Kerr reported at o'clock
that there was nothing new" on
the search for the murderers of
MuesseI and Chrobot or the Rogers
case, although it is known that one
or more men were picked up by the
police and taken to the station dur
ing the morning A west side char
acter was taken TO the station We'd
nesday morning by Detective Larry
Lane. but after considerable ques-
tioning was allowed to 90.
There is some mystery as to the
whereabouts of Chief John KUes-
pert. who has not been seen around
the city hall for almost two days.
Kuespert brought John Sobkowiak
back from Toledo, O.. Tuesday
morning. but has not been in his Of
flee since. at least for any length of
time. The department officials are
as TO the whereabouts
of the detective chief.
Two Men Are Held.
Chief Kerr said this afternoon
that John Sobkowiak and George
Schmidt are still held as suspects.
SobkOwiak was arrested in Toledo in
connection with the brewery murder
mystery, while schmidt was taken at
Lakeville Tuesday night as the man
who shot Patrolman Rogers Kerr
stated that there was no direct evil
dence against either of the men and
that Schmidt would probably be re-
leased shortly. He was to be brought
to headquarters for further question
ing during the afternoon.
Thus far the police have been
unable TO break down the story of
Sobkowiak. who denies any implica-
ion in the Muessel-Chrobot staying
He says that he was here on last
Thursday looking for work and left
'or Toledo Friday morning. But
here are several points in his story
which must be cleared up before he
AN be released declared the author
ties
No RObbricS Reported.
There were no robberies reported
10 the police department over Tues
lay night although one or more
minor robberies took place in the
'ity. The lull IN the house brea king
.pidemic created new confidence in
he department that its efforts have
been having some measure OF sue
.uess and il was not believed that
here would he continuation of the
Wholesale bUrglaries.
10 is probable that Patrolman
Reed. appointed Wednesday morn
ng viii go on duty either Thursday
pr Friday night Reed is a repub-
lean, according TO the blank he
illed out for the board OF safety and
has seen military service. At the
riday morning meeting one or more
Jew patrolmen Will also be appoint
"a. according To- Clerk Josephson.