Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1917-09-21
SHERIFF TATE AND
DEPUTY MILLER

SHERIFF TATE AND
DEPUTY MILLER
cAPTURE.esIx!.RAPID FIRE GUNS AMI
AMMUNITION. SUGAR CREEK TOWN.
SHIP FURNISHES SENSATION.
Mystery knee deep: Armed men
locate In Sugar Greek township, Put.
nam County. Strangers, month
ago, bought ten acres Of land Of
Jacob Dangler just west of-Columbus
Grove. Paid 800 down. Moved
into an old house. Furnished it with
fifty dollars worth OF furniture. Came
ia late At night. Went away early in
morning. Had high-powered Hud.
son Super. Six automobile. This big
auto was never stored or sheltered.
It was always standing just outsids
the door, headed for the road, cooked
and primed for speed at a. moments
notice. A woman was with the four
or five men str angers, who had rent
ed this house of Joseph Shoemaker.
They lived on rural route but the
carrier brought them no mail. They
were within a short distance of Co.
lumbus Grove, but got no mail at
that postofice. They went to Lima
for all letters and communications.
Three of these men were locked in
the Putnam County Jail at Ottawa
last Friday night at midnights They
gave their names as Paul Netf, Luther
Fry and Nathan Neff. They had very
little to say.
Last Friday they said they visited
Van Vert Fair. On return home they
stopped at Delphos. Here, they got
into trouble with policeman whom
they beat up. When they tried to
escape, their big auto refused to start.
Three of them we're captured. One or
two escaped. When police searched
them over 81 900 was found in their
pockets. They offered the chief of
police $3.50 to let them go. Nothing
doing. They were fined and together
had to pay nearly $500. Judge John
Lindeman gained some information
about the fellows and discovered
where they had been staying. They
Judge phoned to sheriff Tate and
told him the story. The Sheriff and
Deputy Nick Miller got an auto and
drove to the farm house where the
strangers had been staying. They
made search and were surprised to
find SIX rapid fire pistols OF big cali
bre, together with 500 cartri dyes.
These guns were all loaded and under
pillows on the beds.
Some of the cartridges found did
not fit either OF the guns found. and
it is presumed that some OF this
arsepel was not discovered.
Tate and Miller then proceeded to
Delphos and took charge of the three
men as soon as the Mayor and pc.
lice of that city released them. The
three men we're hand-cuffed and placed
In back at of the auto with Sheriff
Tate and driver in front seat and
Deputy Miller with gun half sitting
and standing on the edge Of the front
seat, facing the three prisoners. The
trip was made across the country
and the men landed in the jail in
Ottawa at midnight. The machine 10
registered In Ohio under the name OF
Paul Neff, who SAYS he Is from
Wheeling, West Virginia. A valise
was found, also q ko OAK, some pie
lures, razor and pair Of knuckles.
Two of the men say they did not
register. The woman was not taken
into custody. The police ofnssrs
came az far as VeuRhnsville, Friday
night and there met the Putnam Coun
~ officers.
So far, there IL no particular charge
placed againt these meu which war
rant holding them. Rumor has that
they are wanted 10 both Virginia and
West Virginia on murder charge.
These may not be the men wanted
but our officials are diligently work.
ing on the case.
If an attempt had been made to
arrest these men at their farm house
rendezvous, no doubt there would
have been shooting and tragedy. On
the road through the night from
Delphos to Ottawa an AUTO tire went
fat and had to be mended. The jail
is in bad condition and the sheriff
was unable to lock the men in sep
arate cells.
Deputy Miller surmises that these
men may be passing out countsrfeit
money. They could travel many
miles and work during . day and
part OF night and get back to their
hiding place in Sugar Creek town.
ship. Az q rule when crime is com.
mitted police search the city instead
of farm houses for criminals.
Sh eriff Tate suspects that the gang
we're getting ready to rob either the
vaughns Vile or Columbus Grove
banks. No doubt exists but what the
strangers were playing some big
game. Suspicion grows that they
had heard OF the big crowds expected