Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-06-19
to visit the store.

IoIiINs
The driver was l.. J. Smith, EN-
ployed by Caudle to operate thu
store, The discovery of the fact
that CaudIe was interested in the
store, which he had acquired only
recently. led Sheriff Webb to visit
the place armed with a search war.
rant. He was accompanied by the
Frisco special agents who have been
especially active in the investigation
of the thefts from freight cars over
the road in this territory.
Here again, an apparently trivial
detail brought about the final dis,
closure of the secret hoard of tobac-
co and merchandise. AT first moth
ing was discovered in the store that
would lead to any belief that the
place was being used as a storage of
stolen goods. The grocery stock in
the store was fully accounted for in
inventories and bills of sale on file
in the place,
The officers went into the attic
the store. Here a partition di-
vided the room at one end. The
partition was completely ceiled and
gave no indication that anything lay
behind it except the rafters of a
pent roof.
Sheriff Webb caught the CLINT of
newly hammered nail. Investiga-
ton showed that a small opening at
one end of the partition had been
newly nailed up. The officers quick
Iy broke through the boarding,
it was afterwards learned, had
been done by Caudle on the night
following his arrest and release on
jOnd.
Inside the partition the investiga-
.ors found cigarettes, tobacco, shoes,
lveralIs, shirts and fine cigars. A
'ough estimate placed the value of
he loot at something like $4,000.
In addition to the goods found in
he store officers found $4,000 worth
If merchandise in a house on South
jefferson. The house is occupied by
Caudle's sister-in-law, but it is not
the woman had any knowl-
of the source of goods stored
here. Caudle rented a couple OF
'ooms in the house and at various
lines brought packages of merchan-
lise to the place, the detectives said,
nut he did not take his si~ster-in-law.
nto his confidence regarding the
,rigin of the stuff.
Caudle vas taken into custody at
The home of a switchman named
Ward living on Summit street, by
Sheriff Webb, who was accompanied
the place by Special Agents Dowell
md Griffin and City Detective Oliver
md Fisher.
The officers surrounded the house
md after knocking at the door were
informed by n of the inmates that
was not there.
IF Caudle is here. and we find it
said the sheriff, I'VE will hold
he occupants of the place for har-
Il fugitive"
The threat was effective.
Come inside" was the invitation.
He is in the bedroom
The sheriff and Detective Oliver
uttered the house and began search.
Caudle was discovered as he was
about to mount a flight of steps
eading to an attic.
we want you Caudle.' said the
officers.
Il was just about to come down to
headquarters said the fugitive.
well, that stairway doesn't lead
headquarters" observed the sher-
IF. We have got an auto waiting
mo, | have nothing to say for
publication" Caudle said. THE pa
,ers have said too much already.
they have said things about me that
am not entitled to-"
Caudle denied that he had anything
o do with the thefts of freight ship
nents from the Frisco.
What about the goods that were
'ound in the Boulevard store?" eau
lie was asked.
Thocs were things l bought and
,aid for" declared Caudle.
''Do you know who you got them
he was asked.
II know some of the men, but |
know them all. l didn't ask
my questions about that. am just
!, trader in merchandise. Wherever
can buy stuff on which there is a
,hance of making a profit l do So"
Don't you know that this stuff
YOU had in the store on the Boule-
,ard was stolen from the Frisco?'
"No, I don't know anything about
hat" said Caudle. II know that
didn't steal it. When the time
I'll make everything clear on
hat line"
Caudle denied that he had charge
the freight train from which we're
stolen seventy cases of cigarettes
'ound near his farm not far from
Norwood last February.