Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-31
NAB ROCK ISLAND
BOY IN BURGLARY
La Sale Authorities Arrest Leon PARK
of This City for Two Proving
Jobs and He Confesses.
GETS $500 WORTH OF JEWELRY
Admits Having Quarreled With His
Father and Striking Acquaintance
With Companion Who is Held.
(SpeciaI to The Argus.)

tSDGclak TO 4 HB al Suo-}
La Sale. Ill, July 31.-A complete
confession by Leon Park OF ROCK IS
land and Lawrence Walter of Mendoza
of the robberies at the Blakeslee home
in Utica Wednesday afternoon and the
Mathews residence in La Sale late
Thursday afternoon clears up these
burglaries, following the arrest OF the
pair in Mendoza.
Following the successful escape
from La Sale. after leaving two suit
cases containing the stolen jewelry at
the Illinois Central depot, Chief Doyle
notified Marshal Beckett of Mendoza to
be on the lookout for two youths, one
of whom it was almost sure was
Walter, as the name appeared IN d
notebook found in the suit cases.
Mendoza Police Caught Them.
1t was not many hours until Beckett
had line on the pair and shortly al
forwards Chief Doyle and Assistant
KIinker received word that their men
were in Jail. The La Sale officers
went to Mendoza in an auto and took
charge of the prisoners. They were
brought back to La Sale last evening
and examined by the chief.
After a little hesitation both &C
knowledged their participation in the
BIakeslee robbery. They gained en-
trance by means of a skeleton key and
ransacked the home while the family
was away finally escaping with over
5000 worth of jewelry. Most OF this
was found in one of the suit cases and
identified by Mrs. BlakesIee. but sew
eraI of the most priced articles were
still missing. and these were found on
the persons of the two men. When
Mrs. BIakeslee and her husband came
to La Sale to appear at the hearing
they recognized all of the jewelry-
two gold watches and a ring. A revOl-
yer, Walter said was thrown in yard
al Mendoza and he described just
where it could be found.
Admit Mathews Burglary.
In connection with the Mathews
burglary they admitted having perpe-
trated the job, but added that FOR their
efforts they secured only 93c. They
were unaware that they had passed up
SCI under some papers in the writing
desk.
With Mr. Mathews and Mr.. and Mrs.
BIakeslee as Witnesses, a hearing was
held before Magistrate O'Byrne. Wal
ter and Park admitted their guilt and
were placed under $500 bonds each.
They were taken to the La Sale cOun-
ty Jail at Ottawa by officer KIinker.
According to stories told by the pair,
they have been living in La Sale for
five or six weeks. Parks parents lived
on Eighth street in La Sale and his
father was q carpenter at one of the
cement plants, but when the strike
was called the family return to Rock
Island. Leon quarreled with his faith
er in Rock Island and returned to La
Sale and upon his arrival here he met
dOta home five weeks ago. They
claimed they worked for a while at
the Peru Nickeloid Works.
Family is UncOncerned.
According to Marshal Beckett rela-
tives of Walter are not anxious to aid
him in his present difficulties. He and
Park were unconcerned over the pre-
dicament they are now in and are TAX
ing things easy in their cells. The
future does not seem to concern them
at all.