Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-06-26
CAUDIE OFT ON o n

We understand that L. ID. Caudle
was released from the Greene coun.
ty Jail at Springfield Friday Oh a
$4,000 bond signed by Bert Ellis,
cashier Of the American Savings
Eaak OF Springfield, and Charles II.
Jackson. CT Hsrtyille. prosecuting at
torney of Wright county.
Candle was held in connection with
wholesale freight thefts from the
Frisco Several others ware also
arrested on n charge Of being impli-
Gated in the affair.
A man has been found. it IL said.
who declares he sold Caudle steel
dies which were used in changing the
numbers on the engine of an automo-
bile. The SprigfieId Leader says:
A number Of silk dresses and
$4,000 cigarettes were discovered
when a pool hall at 215 South Camp
bell street. and the rooms above the
store at E22 South Grant street wnrc
seprched by the officers in connection
with the probe Of wholesale thctts
from Frisco freight ears.
New Developments in the investi
! cation directed by Prosecuting Al
torney Page covering wholesale
thcttg Of merchandise from FRISCO
freight trains revealed another angle
Of the affair that county authorities
I believe disclosed a second plot, hay-
ms Tor its object the %defraudine OF
assurance companies through fake
thefts Of automobiles.
Payment of a claim for insurance
on a car owned by CaudIe, lost in q
rire aeveral months ago, was included
n the probe. This car was bought
as II Fecond hand machine for $500.
according to evidence in the possess
sion Of the county authorities. IT
WIS insured for $500, and when the
ire occurred the insuraCe company
! settled with Caudle.
Among the developments was the
recovery CO twenty used automobile
tires from the garage on East Com
mercial street owned by l.. D. Candle.
The tires were found to have been
taken from a shipment made from
Tulsa, Okla, to q rubber factory In
Jeanette, Pa. They stolen. ac-
cording to statements made by Frisco
cficiais. while in transit through the
yarts in Springfield.
Following tho recovery Of the tires
the ahc"iff received information that
a number OF cases OF cigarettes had
been found on the Grant street road
nhcut two miles north OF the city
Tho ofdcors brought back seven cases
Of ci"arettes besides foar gunry
sacks filed with cartons of the
same merchandise.
All the loot recovered was stored
il the county Jail along with the rest
OF he stolen goods already recovered.
Tho total value of the merchandise
nov In the custody of the sheriff is
estimated at $4,000.
Lviderce disclosing the activities
Of two separate gangs or alleged
'Tcight thieves, each operating indie
pond4ntly of the other, WIS placed
10 the hands of Prosecuting Attorney
q. j. Page and Frisco Special Agents
W. r. Griffin, A. l.. Mcdowell and
6. j. Baxter, during the examination
Of several persons taken into custo-
dT for Questioning in connection with
thG $1,000 freight steal on lines of
The Frisco in Springfield territory.
III many cases it was said that
neither of the chiefs actually took
! part in the wholesale thefts Of mer~
"handise from the freight trains.
Lesser lights among the membership
Of the bands were dcpntcd to attend
10 these details, the men engaging
in the operations receiving a "diyi-
dend" for their services.
The usual method of operation
was effected through the assistance
Of C. ~switchman, who was instructed
10 spot" or place a freight car rou-
tanning merchandise, preferably Gig.
arettes and tobacco, in a Iuiet place
in cla railroad yards. Late at night
two or moro members OF the band
would arrive on the scene In an
automobile.
The process Of looting would be
accomplished through forcing the car
door in such a anner that the seals
would not be disturbed. After the
work was finished the car would be
returned to its place in the train
from which it had been "cut out"
for the purpose of robbery.
Usually three men were engaged
in the operation of looting a "a Two
did the actual work Of operating and
entering the car and taking out the
merchandise. while the third acted
rs a"lootout"
When the work was completed one
~ the band would drive away in the
sttomobiie and deliver "cons,gn-