South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-07
FEDERAL JUDGE SCORES SOUTH BEND POLICE HEADS
ARREST CROSS AS
BRAINS" OF GANG
OF STORE THIEVES
Charge Overall Co. Head Dis
posed of $4,000 Loot
Held on Heavy Bonds.

posed of $4,000 Loot
Held on Heavy Bonds.
Existence OF one OF the most
olsvsrly organized gang OF crooks in
Testing South Bend. whose ramifca-
tons extended IN many other cities,
was indicated Tuesday by county Of
hcers and private detectives follow
Ina the arrest OF J.. Z. ross. pro-
pristor OF the I. Q. Gross overall
Co. 319-325 II y. Michigan st
Gross was said 20 be the brains
OF the organization which had 10
90 with the systematic theft Of mer-
ohandise from South Bend stores.
and disposition OF the merchandise
through shipmeN from the Gross
factory. Gross. according TO the au-
thorities, was the fence" who made
possible the disposal OF the stolen
merchandise. and the master hand
directing the operations OF an or
gained gang which looted South
Bend and Nishawaka business es-
adjustments with surprising regu-
larity.
Served a. BLIND"
The operations cover the period
OF more than Is months and the
plumber secured by the gang from
local stores Is estimated at more
than $4,000. The Gross overall CO.
was merely a blind for covering up
the criminality OF the business con-
Quoted By Gross, officers said.
John Kuespert. New York Cen
tral detective, and former chief Of
detectives Of the South Bend police
department, together with Ora Tay-
Tor, deputy sheriff, who arrested
Gross. Capt G.. C.. Johnson Of the
Michigan Central railway police
force. and SerEt. Lew Crowley op-
Grating out OF HiUsdale. Mich, were
the officers who untangled the in
tricate system by which Gross and
his c0nfederates are alleged TO have
worked.
Their investigation was material
IS assisted by Sergt. of Detectives
Sam koczorowski and his men, WHO
were nctive in the expose of Abra-
ham Ashner as a fence for the gang
several months ago. Ashner's store
at 1922 W Washington av.. and his
home. sos s. Chaplin st.. were raided
and more than $1,000 i'm stolen
goods found connecting him with
two local store robberies and at
least two box car robberies occur
Ing out OF the state.
Ashncr "Figurchead."
Believing Gross was a confederate
of Ashner at that time. the police
are known 90 have raided the
overall factory on y. Michigan ST..
but at that time there was found
no evidence of stolen merchandise.
Since the occurrence of the robber-
les the Kuesrert agency was ell
gagged by several local merchants 70
assist n the running down of the
culprts responsible for the orgy OF
local robberies
Ashner. arrested i'm August. Is a
One of the favoritc places for the
disposal OF the stolen merchandise
was Jackson, Mich, according to
Ruespert. Already loot taken from a
Number OF South Bend business
firms has been located Kuespert
and Sheriff Lew Duck have gone TO
Jackson together with the prOprie-
tors OF several stores which had
been robbed in an effort 90 identify
more OF the stolen merchandise.
Many Victims Here.
The South Bend stores believed
vlctimized as a result OF the opera
tions OF the gang during the past
year and a half follow. NJ Fisher,
els 3. Chaplin St: NJ Gilbert & Son,
S13 s. Michigan ST.; Sol WOlwoski,
AIS S. Chaplin ST.; CHEESEMAN'S Fash
Ion shop. 125 S. Michigan ST.; H..
c. Stegman. 40 T.. Wcnger ST.;
Robert GreeninE. 1927 Lincoln way
w: I.erman and Lerner. 1902 w.
Division st.: Fred Uuman. 115 s.
Main St NTishawaka, samuel Spiro
& Sons; Sam Patland. y. Main St,
Mishawaka, @. Il. Korpal, 1873 W.
Division ST.: Sam Feirgold. sos :.
Charm ST.: Bert Kitkpwski, 1885 w.
Washington av.; NJ. FloN & Son.
Plymouth. Ind.
The method Of procedure in dis
posing OF the stolen goods. IT was
said. was that the robbers removed
their plumber TO Ashucr's barn. from
where it was taken 90 the Gross
factory. There it was disposed Of.
Buyers from various cities were ask
ed 10 come 20 the city and bring
cash so they might make purchases
OF new goods at rock bottom prices.
The buyers would make their Sc
lcctious and the stolen merchandise
was boxed and shipped Co it's des-
tination. Kuespert declared i'm dis
cussiug the extent and reckless dar-
ing OF the master fence and his
operatives that a Jackson Mich,
merchant named NJ Woloshen
bought some goods. and then re-
fused 90 accept them lie was threat
ened with his life II he did not ac-
cept them and later was shot and
killed BY an unknown man I'm front
OF his store TN the Michigan city
Find Original Tags.
So brazen was the work OF the
gang during the recent months. that
some OF the original hangers de-
signed especially FOR one clothier.
together with the original price tags
we're found in the merchandise
stocks OF some Of the Jackson deal
ers who had bought merchandise
OF Gross.
on occasions kuespert reported,
Gross would send out samples Of the
stolen merchandise 20 prospective
purchasers in urging them 90 come
his shop and make their selec-