Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-12-03
OFFICERS AT WEBSTER CITY
MAKE PROFITABLE RAID
ON FARM HOME.
GET GOODS STOLEN FROM
NEiGHBoRING TOWNS
Arrest Of Roy Fortune, Aged 10,
Solves Robheries in Woodstock,
harrisburg, FIugstad, Williams and
Clarion-Fortune BIunders by Try
ing to Trade Pair of Stolen Shoes.

"epSteT lily, Zee. o. Win tne
arrest of Roy Fortune, aged 10 years,
at the home of his parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Edward Fortune, at Highview,
officers believe they have in custody
the master mind of the gang OF
robbers who, within the past two
months have looted stores In F1ug-
stad, Woodstock, Blairsburg, Will
liams and Clarion. AT the Fortune
home cache was uncovered, made
up of large quantities of mems
clothing. sheep lined coats, leather
coats, jewelry, hardware goods,
soma women's clothing, etc. These
goods tally very well with those re-
Gently stolen in the towns named.
Their value probably runs upwards
OF $4,000.
Foolish Act 10 Ciew.
Fortune came to grief thru an act
fully as foolish as that of Keith Col
Inns. brains of the Council Bluffs
mail robbers, who left a trail OF $40
bills in his wake from Council Bluffs
to the little town in Oklahoma, where
he was located. Tuesday he entered
the Bossert shoe store in this city
with pair of "BostonianS" shoes. He
told Mr.. Bossert he had bought the
shoes In Fort Dodge. but that they
did not fit and, as Mr.. Bossert handled
the same brand. he thought he could
make a deal for their exchange. A
pair that suited him could not be
found, however, and he. finally left
the shoes with the understanding
that when Mr.. Bossert got in some
new goods the exchange would be
made. Fortune was unable to tell the
location Of the store in Fort Dodge
where he bought the shoes and this,
OF course. looked suspicious. j. H. Lee,
who works there, and Mr.. Bossert
examined tho shoes closely and inside
found label bearing the firm name.
Mourlan & MalaiSe. This is the firm
which George II. Wheeler bought out
in Woodstock. The Wheeler store was
robbed Of some $4,000 worth of goods
about month ago.
Loot Found.
| Shortly after the discovery OF the
label, who should walk into the store
but Mr.. Wheeler, himself. Noticing
the shoes in their original carton ly-
ing on the coInter. he Identified them
at once. He went to Sheriff Meekins'
office and swore out warrant
against Fortune and three search
warrants were also issued. Three
PARTIES each went to three different
| homes. 1t fell to the lot of Wheeler
and Brandrub to search the Ed For
tune home. whore the loot was found.
Roy Fortune was taken into custody.
Fortune Makes Statement.
Fortune made a signed statement
to the officers. The statement is in
no wise confession, but explains the
manner in which the stolen property
came into the possession OF Fortune
and how 1t came to be stored in the
home Of his parents. Officers take no
stock in the explanation, however,
and are working on the theory that
Fortune was the "brains'' of a gang
Of young bandits who have been re-
sponsible for many robberies in this
community Of late. They expect
shortly to round up all the gang.
Fortune, in this statement, makes
the claim that along about the middle
of October at $3.50 o'clock one morn
ing an auto Grove up to the home of
his parents. He claims that no one
was awakened but him and that
three men named John Anderson.
Wick Harris and Charles Moore who
claimed Waterloo as their residence,
were in the auto, which was loaded
with mems, clothing, shoes, a shot
gun and other goods. He says he had
been notified that they were coming
and that, in return for hiding the
goods for these men. he (Fortune)
was to have the clothing part of the
loot He also alleged that two weeks
later these same men made second
trip to the Fortune farm, bringing
another load Of goods. He claims the
men threatened to "squeaT on him
unless he kept silent. The goods were
all stored in the room Of his mother
and brother and in room back OF
the kitchen, where they were found
by Wheeler and Brandrup. The loot
was brought back to this city and Is
now stored in the county Jail.
An Inventory.
An inventory reveals the following:
Four pair wooden blankets, a night
gown, two coats, two pairs overalls,
one bolt pillow tubing, two women's
sweaters, one bolt toweling, one fan
mel short, one coat, one suit under
wear, one sheepskin lined coat, two
blue skirts, five mems ties, three
pairs Of blacl, leather gloves, three
%n Loot rrloy <,r,0 >of~
of knitted mitts, two mems scarfs,
two silk shirts, five suit cases, 400
cigars, one pair of shoes, two suits,
one gun belt, one overcoat, one brown
suit, three velour hats, one rifle,
twenty three spark plugs. two work
shirts, one leather, lined coat, one
shot gun, one la Us plush coat, one
boys overcoat, one fur collared over
coat, one suit, one boys suit, one
boys overcoat, one suit, three shirts,
one muff, one horse blanket, one
cord tire and rim, one electric iron,
one pocket book, six silver knives
and forks and. fifteen tablespoons,
nine pairs Of silk socks. one black
seal collar, one box Of SO shells, one
gold watch and chain and knife, two
watch chains, five soft collar bars.
one wrist watch, one safety razor,
four flash lights. six pocket knives,
one black suit case.
Should Fortune decide to make
full and complete confession, it will
not go so hard with him. Whether
he does or does not, however, officers
expect to run down all the gang.
Fortune has had no preliminary
hearing as yet. This will be de-
layed a few days. during which time