The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-12-01
RAILROAD DETECTIVES
UNEARTH BIG CAR RoBBER.
les AT VALDoSTA

Valdosta. Ca, Dec Car robber-
les that will total thousands of dol
ars were unearthed here today with
w. G. Eagle, chief of the Georgia,
Southern AID Florida deliveries, as
sisted by Special Agent O. T. Hill
and Chief Of Police Calvin Dampier,
arTested four white men. This case
has puzzled railroad special agents
of several of the large systems of
the East for many months and goods
stolen from cars in the Valdosta
yards of the G. S. and F. have been
sold here and in Jacksonville to the
extent of many thousands of dollars
according to the officers.
J. S. Baisden, seal clerk and C. L.
Clark, yard clerk of the G. s. and
F. and Joseph George and Joseph
Carlo, the two latter being Syrian
MERCHANTS here, are under arrest
and others are expected to be taken
into custody in connection with the
robbery George gave up check for
$1,000 when arrested, this represent
ing the last sale of stolen goods ac-
cording to his admission.
Officers have traced these stolen
goods to Abel and many other towns
through this section, most of the
sales running each time into hun
dreds of dollars. Carlo and George
would represent that they were going
out Of business and desired to sell
their stocks. There is also clearly
defined clue that there was fence
at least in Jacksonville and perhaps
In other large cities where these
goods were shipped and disposed of.
Cars from Eastern markets loaded
and sealed properly, would go
through Valdosta and there was new
er ap indication that the seals had
been touched, yet the cars would
check up short, and due complaint
would be made. Cars robbed would
always be routed to other places and
would be stored in the yards here
perhaps over night. Deliveries on
all connecting roads have been driv-
en- desperate for many months trying
to locate the mysterious manner in.
which these goods have disappeared
from their cars. The cars were op-
ened in a manner known only to rail
road men, without disturbing the
SEALS and this lead Detective Eagle
and his assistants to the conclusion
that only railroad men were handling
the business. Step by step the case
was followed with the final decision
that the cars bound for Florida and
South Georgia points always check
ing up short, were robbed somewhere
in this immediate section. O. T..
Hills, local special agent for the road,
became suspicious from the fact that
since last July not a car had been
robbed in the usual way in the Val
dosta yards, but still the robberies
Of through cars went on just the
same. This suspicion finally led to
la solution of the matter which was
followed by the arrests, which solved
the mystery of the disappearance of
so many thousands of dollars worth
of freight bound for various point in
Florida.
Detective Eagle today went to
Jacksonville for the purpose of look.
ing into the theory that there was
a large fence there disposing of these
goods. Carlo, George and Balsden
have made virtual confessions Of
their part in the affair, but Clark has
refused to say anything except that
he will be able to clear himself at
the proper time. Only goods of the
best value and such that could be
disposed Of quickly and for good cash
prices, was taken from the cars