The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-04-20
GET AWAY
UNDER COVER
Of SINGING
Prisoners Saw Their Way Out
At Three O'clock This
Morning

Singing at The top of their voices rs
drown the sound Of a saw ana pryins
open the door at the rear Of the block
Of cells. three desperate criminals mad
their escape from the Hammond 1aH i
the city hall at about 500 O'Clock this
morning Two men held for the gov
ernment are believed 20 have been the IN.
stisators Of the wholesale delivery
They were taken away at midnight BY
federal officer. Just in time to deprive
them of their liberty. All Of the es-
capped men we're held on charges OF burg.
lary.
The men are:
Alex santez. confessed to the chand
Ter, Pearson and Lacey robberies H.
has a long criminal record and though
70 be the leader of gang which has
terroized the south side for months
Age 27. weight about 1875 pounds. feet
inches tall. black hair, brown eye-
speaks broken English. German accent
John Lotzer, confessed member of
the gang. led by Santez. Was accused
Of doubl e-crossing the leader forcing
him to make an additional robbery alorc
which resulted In his capture Age
%, 145 pounds. feet inches tall. has
brown eyes and hair. slim buil5
John Reed. complexion fair. age 2S
100 pounds feet u inches tail hair
black. eyes blue. Held for attempting
to steal an automobile from the saraFe
OF G.. 4. CritchIey. manager o. thc Gable
Piano company. 151 state street Reed
was captured shortly sfter the attempt
He denies his guilt Was bound over
80 the Criminal court
FEDERAL PRISONERS RESPoN N@LB
There lis little doubt but that the d.
livery was planned by Tom staplston
and John Ryan. who were held FOR 3rn-
aersonating federal officers. The two
men stopped a ear at Ma ynsr5 and rep
resented themselves as prohibition AZ.
euts seaaching for whiskey. 4 short
5irnc later they stopped another car. only
to find Themselves in the grasp OF the
hiHVer squad Of the Hammond police
force. Two men who were with them
made their escape.
AZ midalght a Federal officer from
thc Hammond Office entered the station
and ordered the men 70 60 with bin
Ryan and stapleton seemed to be thun-
derstricE at this order and protested v
hementlv At leaving the JAN before morn
ing. A woman who represented hersslT
as the wife of one OF these men spent
great deal of time with them yesterday
whispering and talking. II is Thought
thut she might have planned the escape
with them and supplied them with che
saw.
At about three o'clock this morning
she three men still in jsi1 began singing
and making y great deal Of noise. Tn
der cover Of this disturbance they had
broke bench ard using the pieces "a
wedges forced the door at the rear OF
tho cell block and sawed through baN
in 81 north window.
Descriptions Of the men have beer
sent broadcast and determined efforf
will be name % ind them Most %
the stoden loot from Hammond names
has hcon recovered and It is though
that th erenaiuder VIII be located IN
short time.
II is fortunate that RYAN was detaiued
as he is known 20 he one OF the lre~'
known pick pockets in the country. Th.-
mans record is III the files Of nearly e..
cry large city in The country. Tle HAS
served time IN several different peer
tentiaries throughout the mlddlo wee