The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-08-03
Die FOR
CLUES Of
SLAYINl3
Police and Federal Agents
Work Night and Day to
Solve One of the County's s
Most Puzzling Murder
Mysteries.
Czv HAROLD CEossA

C5y HAROLD cEoss.)
Lake county's list Of unsolved murder
mysteries may have an addition in the
ruthless Staying of Officer Charles
Rajchnietz in the heart of East Chi
cago's all-night restaurant district
few minutes after three o'clock Thurs
day morning.
George Morgan. an italian deputy
constable and the first 20 inform the
police Of the murder. was released TO-
day after the twenty -four hour limit OF
holding for quizzing without booking
expired and George Ancel. 1876 Melville
avenue. taken into custody at one o'clock
this morning. was dismissed when the
police determined that his missing tour
ms car failed 10 answer the description
Of the widely-sought green automobile
seen speeding out of the city shortly
after the killing
NEW ANGLE REVEALED.
A nights research brought 10 light
new angle on which all effort is bent
today and arrests may be made before
sundown. Chief OF Police Thomas D.
Williams. Captain Of Police Peter Ster-
ling. Federal Agent George w Green
and a TINES reporter worked from early
in the evening" e&ntil seven o'clock this
morning with many satisfying results
other than the running down Of fleeing
automobiles carrying small cargoes Of
hooze from Illinois to places in Indiana
beyond East Chicago.
Tho work of investigation is being
continued with renewed vigor despite
the dark cloak of mystery surrounding
the murder Morgan the constable. con
vinced the police that he had had no
quarrel with Rajchneitz and establish
ed an alibi The officers are equally
sure that Ancel knew nothing Of the
affair The taxi-driver who took the
Young policeman from the East Chicago
Restaurant TO his home and left a few
moments or minutes before the staying
has been exonerated as well as the Chi
cago joy-riders picked up in a green
automobile at RobertsdaIe at four
O'Clock that morning,
BEND ALL ENERGIES.
Yet the police are determined that the
murder Of Charles Rajchneitz shall not
go unavenged chief Williams will not
cease his efforts until every avenue OF
information has been followed to the
end. though the task last for months.
The East Chicago police force is hghting
In self defense A few weeks ago Off
Ger John Sanci was run down by an
automobile and killed al 6 o'clock in the
morning on Chicago avenue and shortly
after officer Steve Fano was stabbed
and cut and perhaps fatally wounded
These casualties have fallen to some Of
the best men of the force. An example
must be made
The writer has found in the murder
Of officer Rajchneitz elements that dis
tnguish it from even the most famous
Of Lake countys murder mysteries Of
recent date The killing Of Rev. Kayser
in a lonely rectory. the shooting Of
Frank Holder on Conkey avenue in Ham
mond with sawed-off shot gun as the
weapon. and thA Max Hess and Fred
Higgens murders had none Of the bold
ness. speed and action Of the most re-
cent of these despicable crimes All
those who have studied the newest
mystery agree 70 these facts.
SHOT PROM AUTOMOBILE.
oricer Charles Rajchneitz was
shot through the heart while cling
ing With one hand to the running
board Of an automobile and firing
his automatic with the other. His
left foot and leg dragged on the
pavement. He was struck on the
head and the back OF the neck with
bottle, gun, blackjack or other
weapon before the fatal shot was
fred.
These facts have been established by
the condition Of the dead officers
clothes ard shoes. the marks on the
pavement and the wounds Rajchneitz
WAS shot from above. the steel copper
canned automatic bullet entering he.
tween the third and fourth ribs. pass
ing through the heart liver and lungs
and lodging at the base Of the spine
near the tenth rib. The hack and heel
Of his left shoe-an oxford-was ground
so severely that il could only have been
done nv his entire weight being thrown
on that foot in doubled-under position.
The policeman was not struck by an
automobile and run over Evidently he
had hailed the car. believing it TO con
tain whiskey or loot. and as it slowed
dou-n Jumped to the running board The
driver or other occupants. recognizing
the officer. resisted arrest. striking him.
probeblv with bottle. The second blow
threw the young policeman partly TO
the pavement and partly on the running
board which he grasped with his left
hand He fred one shot. an empty
chamber Of his revolver and the two re-
ports which were heard by several peo-
pie indicate.
DONE IN A HURRY
The encounter and murder took place
within a few seconds in the very center
Of East Chicago. with the ornamental
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