Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-09
CRIME SYNDICATE
EXPOSED BY GIRL
Five Held and More Arrests to
Follow Florence Dukes
Confession
RECOVER rs STOLEN CARS
Young Woman, Spurning Glenn
ency at Trial, UnfoIds
Working Of Gang
RECOVER rs STOLEN CARS

Florence Duke. the twenty year old
automobile thief. who calmly accepted
twelve year sentence in the Eastern
Penitentiary rather than implicate her
associates in crime. has revealed the
workings of the automobile stealing
syndicate of which she was a member.
The girl. who refused to tell the names
of her associates when confession
would have aided her in court. has
freely told the story Of the thefts of
more than two hundred automobiles,
and those concerned in them. too late
for her story to have any effect on the
length of time she will spend in Jail
Acting on her confession. District
Attorney Edmund Il. Gaskill, Jr.. of
Atlantic county. y. j., has caused the
arrest of FIVE men in Atlantic City.
Other arrests. both in Atlantic City
and other parts of New Jersey, and
in Philadelphia are expected shortly.
The men under arrest arc expected to
plead at Mays Landing Courthouse to-
day.
Detectives Involved
The five men indicted by the Grand
Jury of Atlantic county are Martin
Nathanson. George Nathanson and
jeremiah J. Nathanson, proprietors of
the Boardwalk Garage. in Atlantic City,
and Lewis Nathanson and Winfield
Thomas, two of the employees. Others,
including two city detectives of the re-
sort. are said to be implicated in the
crimes.
District Attorney Rotan has been ap-
prised of the confession of the Duke
girl and will co operate with the sea-
shore authorities in rounding up the re-
naming members of the band.
Detectives here are at loss to un-
derstand the motive that prompted the
confession. unless, they say. the girl
has despaired of receiving help she ex-
pected from "high quarters when she
refused to tell at the time the names
of any of the persons associated with
her in the thefts.
Before Judge Monaghan, she ad-
mitted stealing more than score of
automobiles, and told that they were
hurried into New Jersey. where they
were overhauled, repainted and other
wise disguised, but even when clemency
was promised if she would reveal the
names of other members of the band
she maintained silence.
Tells Warden's Son
Shortly after being committed to the
Eastern Penitentary she confided some
details of the automobile stealing syn
dicate to Reuben McKenty. son of the
warden, and later revealed the whole
scheme to Mr.. Gaskill and Harry
Fulmer. IL shore detectiye, when they
visited her in her cell last week.
Investigation of the story. told by
the girl has proved the truth of her
assertions and already more than twen-
ty-five automobiles, most of which were
stolen in Philadelphia and sold in New
Jersey, have been recovered and re-
turned to their owners on information
furnished by her.
Atlantic City authorities want the
girl to appear against her alleged as
sociates when they are brought up for
trial. Authorities here, however. are
loath to allow her to escape from their
jurisdiction. A writ of habeas corpus
may be employed by Mr.. Gaskill to in.
sure her presence at the trial.
At the time of the Duke trial Judge
Monaghan deferred sentence for sew
eral days to- give the girl chance to
reent and confess, but she refused and
returned to court and calmly accepted
sentence.