The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-11-28

On SERIOUS
CHARGES
Two Hammond Businessmen
and Seven Young Fellows
Accused by Police of
Stealing From Merchan-
disc Cars on Belt Ry.

Seven youths are held by Hammond
police charged with larceny, and IT.
business men were arrested this mood
for having received stolen goods. as
result Of investiga tons leading out of
losses from merchandise cars on the
I. H r. and b & o. C r railroads
Authorities claim the thefts have COW
cred a space Of more than three months
and have aggregated in losses to the
extent OF $4,000
Oscar Schoffield, grocer at 40 Sum
mer street, and Joe Scatena confection-
er at the corner Of Calumet and Sibley
streets. were taken this noon on war
rants charging them with having re-
ceived stolen goods by Chief Agent OF
the I. H 3. Barney Dolan. and Detect
i've Nick Einsele of the Hammond force.
who conducted the investigation
The boys arrested last night charged
with larceny:
Ralph Mckee. IS, 40 May street.
switchtender at Gibson.
Reed Parker, 1e. 466 May street.
towerman at Michigan Central Hoh-
man street crossing. Parker is held as
an accessory.
Albert Koch. II. SOS Stat. street.
craneman.
Leonard Koch. is. ass state street.
machinist.
Walter Robenhorst, II. 511 Murray
street
Kenneth Dibblee. II. SOL May street.
driver for Sheffield.
Charles Smith, alias Don Triece. IS.
470 Sibley street. chauffeur.
Sheffield Confesses.
The grocer. according to the police,
confessed to having bought the stolen
property consisting mostly of tobacco.
batteries and miscellaneous foodstuffs
from the boys. lie is held under ST.
oo0 bond.
scatena. the confecdoner. refuses TO
admit his guilt. He told a reporter he
only bought two boxes Of cigarettes
from one of the boys. Mckee. and said
that Mckee told him he had won the
tobacco shaking dice at the Gibson res
taurant Smith. alias Triece. was asked
in front of Scatena. whether he had sold
him anything. The boy answered Yes,
one box of cigarettes"
He lies. he lies. lies" retorted the
Italian. He is held under $4,000 bond.
Boys Give Statements.
Police have signed statements from
the boys relating most of their thefts
and the stolen goods disposition. The
statement sconvict Sheffield and Sea-
tena as being the fence
DoubIe-Cross Couses Arrest.
It seems there were two gangs-Mc-
Kee. Parker and the Koch brothers.
Robenhorst, Dibble and Smith, but all
working together on certain Jobs.
The arrest yesterday was caused by
Robenhurst's gang doub1e-crossing. Nc
Kee had stolen a set of batteries from
an !. II. b freight car and had sold
them TO Sheffield for $40 They were
worth 500. Robenhorst knew the bat
teries had bmeen placed by Sheffield
in his barn. A few nights ago with his
two confederstes he stole the bat
teries had been placed by Sheffield
them to the Willard Storage Battery
office on Fayette street. The manager
Of the office notified the police and Elm
sele arrested the boys.
Robenhorst suuealed.
Grilled. Robenhorst squealed" on
the gang and the arrests OF the other
four were made. After being question
ed the boys confessed to a series of
burglaries, including the robbery at
Scatena's place about three months ago
when s39 was stolen.
a signed statement held BY police
tells of the theft. Eobenhorst bored
hole through a door and entered. Albert
Koch stood guard. Afterwards they di-
vided with Reed Parker and Leonard
Koch. Parker told the police he warn
cd the boys not to break into Scatenas
for you might get in wrong"
He said they insisted that he take his
share Of the stolen money, Sl3
Others In Net.
Detective Einsele stated today there
were Others to be pulled in the net"
other articles such as sweaters, cigars.
canned goods brass and junk have been
located by the police.
Pence" The Cause.
The boys are encouraged 10 steal
by men who buy their "spoils," said one
officer today. Get the fence and you'll
stop burglary" he asserted.