The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-09-11
CAsH BOX CONTAINING ALL MONEY FOUND IN
! WEEDS NEAR WHERE PAYA|ASTER WAS MURDERED
TWO MEN ARE UNDER
ARREST AS SUSPECTS
Circumstances Point Strongly
Against Bellalre Italian,
Authorities Claim.

Following a brief search yesterday
morning of the woods near where
Superintendent Lee Rankin of the
Youghiogheny & Ohio Coal company
was held up and murdered SATURDAY al
Florence, Il band Of searchers 1ouno
the box containing the SS,OIO.S0 less
than 300 yards from the scene OF
the sensational hold-up and murder.
The box was unopened and was found
BY a man named Davis in a clump OF
high weeds where it was thrown by
the bandits in their hasty flight. Inc
money was turned over to the y. q "
officials and the men employed AT lne
mine received their. pay at IL 81
o'clock, Just "a hours after the murder
of their superintendent
Hearing On Murder Charge.
Harry Baldine, the Bellaire Italian
who is accused of the murder of Kan
kin, was lodged in the county Jail last
evening 10 await a preliminary near,
ing before Mayor James Ralston OF
Martins Ferry, when charge or nrsl
degree murder will be placed against
him. Deputy Sheriff John lddlngs
Constable Jeff Brown and Mel West
lake took the accused man in an
auto Yesterday TO Florence 10 see II
he could find his way TO Lansing over
the same route that he took Saturday
in going from Florence TO Lansing
The officers had the Italian out from
two O'Clock in the afternoon until late
last evening when he was taken dlrec'
TO the county Jail at st. Clairsrille.
/ Late last night, an Italian giving the
name of Joe Columbo, was arrested
in Follansbee. and the authorities be-
lieve that he is the shorter Of the two
highwaymen. He was arrested by
Max Ettinger. He was taken to Mar
tins Ferry last night, and although
given a grilling, refused to talk. How,
ever, be is being held until today. and
Pickens, Mrs. Brown and the children
who saw the bandits. will be given aT
opportunity to identify him II pos
sible.
No Other Arrests.
No other suspects haye4heer arrest,
ed, although Chief Hyland OF Martins
Ferry, Belmont county officials. and
authorities all along the river front on
both sides worked untiringly yester'
day, running down every clue that
might lead to the arrest Of the men
who assisted in the hold-up. The Bell
aire Italian, who was arrested with
Baldine, was released from the Mar
tins Ferry Jail when he offered a sat
isfactory a!ibi. \ Follansbee Italian
was also taken into custody, but was
later released when officials at a Fol,
lansbee mine stated that the accused
man had been working all day Satur
day. In connection with the latter ar
rest, a boarding house full of Italians
was locked I'D in the FollanSbee Jail 10
prevent them from giving the alarm
TO the man whom the officers were
trying TO locate.
Early Yesterday morning the Mar
tins Ferry police received what ap
peared to be an excellent tip from
Bridgeport, but learned nothing that
would aid them in their hunt for the
hold-up men. \ SlaviSh woman re-
ported 20 the police at midnight that
she had ridden in from Linwood GENE
terry with two foreigners who were
talking in her language about the rob
berry and discussing the probable
of their conversation sounded convict
ing. but the officers we've unable to
| find any trace of the men. The al
legged conversation took place about
| four o'clock. but was not reported by
| the woman until midnight.
Baldtne's Contradictory Statement.
| Baldinc. who is being held for Ran
| kin'S murder. is tightening the net ol
! evidence which hay send him to tht
electric chair. by Il contradictory state.
| mcnt. Shortly after his arrest he TOLD
! Chief Hylund that he was not IN the
: vicinity of Florence Saturday. hut later
admitted that he was in the little min
| ing town. and discussed The hold-up and
murder altogether too familiarly iol
one who had even paid the town as BRIG
81 visit as he. He admitted shaving rr
| house No ~ nt Florence. hut could Offer
10 satisfactory explanation why ne
! shaved or changed clothes when hr was
! going directly To his home in Rellairc
where he could shave and secure other
clothing
Ealdinr denies that he wore coa
! all day Saturday hut his wife. unawar'
| hat she was giving convictinE evidence
| against her husband. told. the officers
/ that her husband wore q coat Saturda!
morning when nc left home with lunch
! telling her that he WAS going Ia work
! Canvas shoes which I3aldinc wore are
! Il link in the chain mf CnnvictlnE cNl'
| hcncc that the officials have secured
i The accused mans shoes were taken &c
| Florence Saturday night and comrareG
/ with footprints in the soft dirt IN
! rurnfcld through which the bandits are
supposed 10 have He'd. The S"lcS "t lht
Continued on Page EtBht.)