South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-25
CRIMINALS PLY
TRADE AS FUEL
IS Being SAVED
MurdererS, YeggS and HoId-up
Men Operate UnmoleSted
in Windy City.
SIXTEEN YOUTHS ARRESTED

By Associated Press:
CHICAGO, Nov. 24.-The unprec-
edented increase in the number Of
major and minor crimes in Chicago
over the week end was caused by
ourtailment Of street lighting due TO
the efforts Of the municipal light
ing plant to conserve on coal, ac-
cording to Chief of Police John Gar
rity. Monday the entire police force
devoted its attention TO the prob
lem Of solving the murder mys-
teries of the last two or three days
and IN an effort to arrest some OF
the robbers, safe blowers and auto
mobile thieves, who operated prac-
tically with impunity Saturday and
Sunday nights.
In the arrest Of 16 youths. most
ly foreigners, the police stated to-
night they had captured eight muir
defers and had cleared up the mys-
teries surrounding $50 robberies,
but with that announcement it was
learned that the murders and rob-
berries were an accumulation Of of
fenses during the last three years.
So far 132 arrests have been made
as a result of the weekend orgy
in crime during which 40 holdups,
three murders, % automobile thefts
three pistol duels, and absconding
bank cashier and numerous safe
blowers were reported to the police
Edison Plant Offers Help.
Immediately after Chief Garrity
issued his statement attributing the
lS Agease of crime TO the decrease OF
&c u and lights the Commonwealth
Edison company, which provides
electricity in Chicago for private
consumers, announced they could
help solve the problem and would
furnish the city with enough cleo
tricity to assure the lighting OF al
municipal lights. provided a sharp
curtailment is made in the use OF
electric advertising signs by mer-
camille establishments.
One Of the most spectacular cpl
sodes Of the crime peak" occurred
early today when thieves mounted
an automobile, attempting TO hold
up DR.. L. w Fishman IN Sheridan
rd., a fashionable drive. Fishman
was making an early morning call
10 the bedside Of a patient and as
his automobile passed the slowly
driven car containing the bandits
they ordered him to stop. The doc
tor instead opened wide the throt-
tie OF his car. For several blocks
up Sheridan rd the chase continued
with the would-be thieves pouring
shot into the back OF the physician
car. The shots got too thick foI
DR.. Fishman and he finally aban-
doned his car and escaped on foot
into an alley.
Safe Cracking Party.
While the police were investigat-
ing the doctors report. another
squad was called out on a top thai
a regular safe blowing party was
being held on the south side at the
Merry Garden cafe. a patrol wagor
full of uniformed men was sent i'm
mediately but they arrived bit toe
late, though they saw the cracks
men speeding away in an automo
bile with s2.5OO which they had OBJ.
tanned from the safe. The police
gave chase, firing their pistols con
tinually at the escaping robbers. bu
apparently effected no damage
either TO the car or its inmates. ~
arrests followed.
Later another automobile race wa
staged when detectives from tn
state attorneys office learned tha
James NJ Miles. alleged defaultine
vice president and cashier OF th'
Standard Trust and Savings bank
had been seen IN Dixon. III. Miles
II is charged, absconded after
shortage of $4,000 was found In hi
accounts Saturday night. Agent
from the states attorneys offic'
Immediately we're sent 10 Dixon anC
arrived there just after their QUAR-,
left in a high-powered car. drivinl
east. Late tonight the race wa
CONTINUED on PAGE FOUR.