The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-07-29
-FOUR NEGROES FREE
They Were In the County
Jail Over Night
THEFT STORY is TOLD
Detective Not Convinced Men
May Have Had Hand In
Robbery

Four negroes wanted by the Sioux
City police were picked up here yes
terday afternoon by the police de-
partment on instructions wired Sheriff
Anton Osten by G. A. Daniels. chief
of detectives of Sioux City. The
colored men were detained at police
headquarters for short time and
then taken to the county Jail where
they were held over night. Chief
Phil Landmark and his officers did
some very rapid work in rounding up
the men wanted as quickly as they
did. A few moments after receiving
the telegram the colored quartette
were found at the Q. M. Peterson
garage, 10 and 112 East Cherry
street, where one of the party had
out journal repaired. The car Is a
seven passenger Cadillac, and is
owned by Lucius Willis, one Of the
men arrested.
This morning Detective Thomas
Green of the Sioux city police force
accompanied by Samuel Weiner, a
coal and feed dealer of Sioux City
and his wife, arrived here, and look
ed over the prisoners being held at
the county jail
Story Told Of Theft.
Mr. and Mrs. Weiner in a statement
to The Free Press said that Mr..
Weiner left his wife sitting in. their
automobile just outside his place of
business. 1901 East Fourth street
about nine o'clock Sunday night. He
took cash and checks out Of the cash
drawer amounting to $4,000 and plac-
ing it in a large wallet put it in his
rear pocket. When he was III the
act of locking the door, Mrs. Weiner
negro stepped up quickly from the
edge of watering trough where he
was sitting and snatched the wallet
containg the money. Mr.. Weiner says
that he gave chase for O. block and a
half, but then lost sight of the mig
ger" Mr.. Weiner says that $1,000 of
the amount taken was in checks, and
the remainder, amounting to $500, was
in cash, part of when was in $50 bills
and $50 bills and others of smaller de-
nomination.
1t would appear that the colored
men when place under arrest in this
city yesterday afternoon, gave their
right names, for Detectives Green
says that he knows one of them. The
names given the, police were: Lucius
Willis, who had on his person $685.
and is owner of the large Cadillac
car; Tyler Johnson, who claims that
his home is in Minneapolis, and was
hired to run the car; Peter Labizon,
Sioux City, and Ovey Keeling also of
Sioux City. Mrs. Weiner says that
Labizon looks very much like the
negro who was sitting on the edge
of the watering trough, and grabbed
her husbands purse.
What Green Said.
Detective Green stated that Labizon
has rather shady character, and that
is about the calibre OF all Of the men
killed man by the name of Bob
Miller in Sioux City, but got out OF the
scrape on plea of self defense. 1t
was the intension of Officer Green
this forenoon to take both Labizon
and Willis back to Sioux City on sus-
picion of being implicated in the rob-
berry Of Mr.. Weiner. Detective Green
said what makes trip of Willis and
the men accompanying him look sus-
picious, is the fact that three Hours
after the theft was committed, they
left Sioux City. Their departure was
at about one o'clock in the morning.
A search of Willis car failed TO dis
close any discriminating evidence in
connection with the robbery Of Mr..
Weiner. In satchel owned by Ovey
Keeling, Detective Green found a
match box containing capsuls, which
he thinks contain morphine. These
were turned over to Chief of Police
Phil Landmark.
Willis ordered his car repaired at
the 0. NJ Peterson garage. Se told
Peterson yesterday afternoon that he
would be out Of jail on his way at
noon today.
The Sioux City parties were not
positive in Observation-Disclosures the