Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-06-19
FOR WHOLESALE TIIEFTS.

extending from the Ozarks to the
Atlantic seaboard and possibly west
ward, is claimed as a result of inves
legations of freight theftS from the
Frisco, and Caudle. who was at first
released on a $500 bond, was rear
rested and placed in the Greene
county Jail at Springfield Friday
bond being placed this time at
5000, which, we understand he
has been unable to furnish.
The first report printed in connec-
ton with these thefts was an item in
the Mansfield Mirror concerning the
finding Of a large quantity of cigar
cites near Norwood. These cigar
cites had been stolen from a through
Frisco freight train
The Springfield Leader says, An
inventory prepared by Frisco freight
accountants after an examination of
the great pile Of loot stored in the
Greene county Jail listed the mer-
Chandise as follows:
Taken from the house at 800
South Jefferson-4O cases of Camel
cigarettes, eighteen pairs mems
shoes, twenty-four pairs women's
shoes.
Taken from the store at D2S South
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. cases Camel
cigarettes, 209 boxes cigars, three
cases tobaCco.f four auto castings, seven
dozen blue shirts.
The investigation which had its
elimination in the arrest OF Caudle
began February 6.
1t WAS on that date that the crew
Of a Frisco freight train discovered
n pile Of shipping cases on the side
of the right of way near Norwood.
Those shipping cases, on %investiga-
ton, proved to be containers each
holding about 20, 900 cigarettes.
That was the starting point of a
methOdical investigation of whole
sale thcfis, involving upwards of
$685. 00 from Frisco freight trains
in this territory since the beginning
Of the year.
a special agent Of the Frisco Sc
crct service was placed in charge of
the Investigation by Chief of Detect
ives Sam A. Allender of st. Louis.
The fact that the cases found on the
right OF way were recovered near the
Location of a farm owned by Caudle
who IS said to have had charge of
the train from which the cases were
missing, led Ia Il systematic tracing
Of the movements of Caudle on and
off the trains he was operating.
The farm, which was the scene of
these incidents, figured in a lawsuit
brought by Candle in Judge Kirby's
court to recover the value of a
promissOry note made by the Bur-
ton Investment Company. The note
given to secure payment of a
difference in making a trade of the
farm for the DClmar avenue home
now occupied by Caudle as his home.
The investment company had refused
to pay the note on the ground that
Caudlc had m~isrepresented the value
Of the farm, which he claimed to be
worth 100000. An agreement was
reached before the trial of the case
was ended by which the investment
company was to pay Caudle $1,000 in
fun for all claims on the note. The
company was given thirty days in
which to make the payment.
Special agents of the Frisco, sher-
ifs officers and local detectives who
have been engaged in the investiga-
ton are convinced from the revcla-
ton already made here that Il very
smooth-working organization of
freight thieves, directed by one head,
is operating throughout the country,
Evidences pointing to the con
.clusion that the headquarters of the
conspiracy is. located in Springfield
have already been uncarthed, Frisco
secret service agents said today.
There may be more than one
head to the organization" Detective
Griffin. onc Of the division special
agents working on the case here,
said, but we are convinced that the
chief of the band is already in GUS
toby"
Griffin referred to the rc-arrest
of l.. ID. Caudle. Candle is the
brains of the whole conspiracy" said
Griffin. The special agent said
that packages consigned to points in
Canada ana bearing evidence tnat
they had been stolen from eastern
railroad lines were found among the
loot taken by the officers in their
Investigations here.
Tho discovery of the secret cache
in the South Boulevard store, where
nearly $4,000 worth of loot was
found, was due to the Quickness of
wit displayed by Sheriff Webb, who
conducted a search of Caudle's Del
mar avenue home on the afternoon
of the conductors arrest.
While the sheriff. with Frisco
Agent Ilarvc Patterson, was looking
, l,,,h tl,n l,.a,,,pt 81 thN hn,,pn