Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-01-31

in his department are in collision
with the thieves to bleed owners of
reward money. He has filed no
specific charges with the city COM
missioners, however, although the
men at whom suspicion has been di-
rected have defed him to start ac-
ton.
Another investigation, without
regard to the efforts of the city
hall officials, has been instituted.
This is being conducted by repre-
sentative business men and automo-
bile dealers. "-.
1t was declared that the identity
of this committee would be with
held for the reason that the object
would be destroyed if the names
were made public at this time.
Some Have Confessed.
Attention is directed to the re-
ports reaching Omaha daily from
points in Iowa, South Dakota and
Missouri, and even from Chicago, to
the effect that members of the same
gang operating in this city are being
picked up in these places. Some of
these prisoners, it is said, have cen
fessed to stealing many cars on the
streets of this city. They have gone
so far as to boast that Omaha is
easy" .."..
c. B. Mullen, sent to the Iowa
penitentiary several months ago
from Council Bluffs for stealing. au-
tomobiles, now is assisting the au-
thorities to recover cars he helped
to dispose of while operating with
the middle west trust. Mullen is
alleged to have revealed many de-
tails to the Iowa authorities cover
ing the syndicate's system. He
referred to the gang which has
been stealing cars in Omaha for the
last two years as intimate
acquaintance, and told of many
thefts here with which he was con-
nected. In fact, Mullen admitted
that he did not confne his efforts to
easy territory" However, he de-
clared he was picked to work else
where. and he was compelled to bow
to the authority of his organization.
The prisoner declared after leaving
Omaha he worked" in the other
states in the syndicate.
Fences Located Here.
The thieves fences are located in
St. Joseph, Joplin, Chicago, and
many small towns in Nebraska,
Iowa, Missouri and South Dakota,
it is declared.
1t is said that few automobiles.
however, were disposed of in Chi
cago, because asready market could
be found closer. The heads of the
theft syndicate are said to be To-
Gated in that city, and from their
Offices there direct in a general way
the operations Of the men in the
field.
With the arrest of C. ]. Wool
ridge, an automobile insurance ad-
iustor of Sioux City, suspicion has
been directed to other representa-
tives of insurance companies, who
are alleged to be working with an
understanding with the thieves and
the police.
Butler Fsvors Probe.
CITY Commissioner Butler declares
that city council should take up the
police department scandals and sift
them to the bottom.
"Mr. Ringer says he is probing the
detective scandal and ! hope he will
get that DONE" he said. "But / am
in favor of bringing Briggs and the
detectives up here before the city
council and questioning them.
"The morale of the police depart
ment' is suffering. The men are
angry and distrustful of one an
other in many cases and all this must
be cleared up without any delay in
order to get results from the de-
partment."
81 was very glad to see that state
ment in Wednesdays papers from
Tom Dennison," said Mayor Smith,
because it showed distinctly who
is running the Omaha police depart
ment now. 1t Showed that Ringer is
running it, and Dennison is not and
has no influence or pull of any kind.
Yes, sir, thank Dennison for that
statement"