Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-15
KIND ACT MAKES
MAN CONFESS
Gives in When Police Leave
Stolen Robes Over Babies.

"These detectives, have got a heart.
When they arrested me at my home
they found two stolen steamer robes
covering my two little children, but they
didn't take them and let my babies
freeze They left the robes on Them"
said Harry Quinn, %, of 30 West Twenty
sixth street, alleged automobile thief.
Quinn talked after he had been taken to
the police station.
"Ive told the truth I've. told all
know. To tell the truth is the best way"
he continued brOkenly.
As Ray Coleman, %, Of 237 East
Wyoming street, one of gang Of three
alleged automobile thieves, listened to
the words of Quinn, tears flowed down
his cheeks.
He bowed over until his head rested
on Detective Billy Rugenstein's knee
and then made an alleged confession Of
the theft of six automobiles. all Of
which have been recovered.
The three men VINO are under arrest
are Quinn, Coleman and William E.
Cronkrite of 6544 Ferguson street the
three are charged with grand larceny
and were arrested by Detectives Rugen-
stein, Hynes, Fields and Fletcher
Coleman, who was arrested two days
when told how the detectives refused to
take the automobile robes from over the
sleeping children he broke down and
cried. Then he talked.
Coleman admitted having taken six
cars, the detectives say. The first was
stolen Oct 10, near the Murat theater
1t was owned by Frank Shakleford, 2014
Ruckle street. and was found some days
later by the detectives in a woods at
250O East Thirtieth street. 1t had been
stripped OF tires and accessories.
A car belonging to George Stull, Rural
Route A l, Box 80, was stolen by the
gang near the Colonial theater on Nov.
Ia, according to Coleman. Later 1t was
recovered at Bellefontaine street and
Sutherland avenue.
A car found by the police in a garage
behind Cronkhites home was identified as
one stolen from Herbert Cox, 1912 Roose-
welt avenue. Cox had left 1t parked
near the Federal building
Coleman also admitted stealing a car
found on Sixty fourth street west OF
Broad Ripple This car was identified
as one that was stolen from point near
the Federal building on Dec. and be
longed to Thomas Broden, SO West
Twenty sixth street
Automobiles belonging to Gus Schmidt,
son, 2246 North Illinois street, also were
stolen by the gang according to Cole
man. Schmidt's car was taken from III
nois and North Dec. II. and was recov-
cred later. Nelson's car was stolen from
IN front OF the Marion club Dec 10. and
was found in a garage on South Merid-
ian street, Jan. s.
Coleman. the police say, said he was
the leader and that sometimes he was
accompanied by Quinn, and some
times by Cronkrite. Quinn said he
had been employed by an insurance com
pany in the Newton Claypool build
ing, but had lost his position recently
He told the detectives that he mortgaged
his furniture to make good a sum of
money that he was short when he settled
up with the insurance company before
leaving their employ
He said he met Cronkrite and Coleman
at the Office Of the insurance COMPANY.
Coleman having left an automobile in
his garage on Oct 10 and removed Il
three weeks later. Then he told Of moe-
ing both Cronkrite and Coleman and go
ing to a house on Blake street where
a bill Of sale" for an automobile was
sworn 10 before A. notary public. Cole
man, he says using the name Of Roy
-Spaulding." Then Quinn, the detectives
say, admitted that he stole a five passen-
ger car at Market and Delaware streets.
He used this car until Jan. S. " hen the
other members Of the alleged gang be
came aware that the police were after
them. The car was driven TO point
fifteen miles from the city, where 1t was
deserted.
Besides the two automobile robes found
in Quinu's home, the police say they
have collection of automobile robes.
steamer robes, fur and cloth robes, and
two women's fur trimmed automobile
coats which were in automobiles stolen
by various gangs Of automobile thieves
since Oct /.