Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-06-26
Police Believe They Haze
Unearthed Motor Theft Plot;
Seeking Clarence Ratledge
Many Stolen Cans Hape Led to the Establish
ment Formerly Kept by Ratledge, and the
Authorities Believe He Knows the Facts;
Others May Haze Been Inuolued Unwittingly.

Through the dillgcnt efforts OF
Superintendent OF Police George
Black. Captain Of Detectives Rob
e~t Bsneon. Acting Captain Hor-
acc Mcdaniel and tho members
Of the plain clothes force over
period II several weeks. there has
been un~arthed IN this city wha,
the cfnc..rs believe ia one of tho
moat elaborate and extensive
srhemee yet brought 10 light for
,raf,cking In stolen automobiles.
A result OF the evidence
they say they have unearthed
three warrants have been issued.
Superintendent Black stated this
morning, for Clarence H. Ratledge,
each alleging the theft OF automo-
h,lcs.
In addition. the police head
stated. there is fourth warrant
for Ratledse. charging the Illegal
transportation of liquor This
grow out OF tho accidental finding
Of liquor IN car in which Rat
ledge had been riding and from
which ne Escaped, while TWO OF the
city detectives We're no, upon his
trail. Only the darkness OF nisht
enabled him 20 elude the officers.
who had gone 70 cabin near
Cofields Beach. just below New
Castle 10 arrest him on the ex-
prc~, charge or larceny OF automo-
hna.
superintendent Black wa> indignant
Ind highly incenaec tint. morning a.
he result OF statements In pub iel, ed
tories which scemed 70 intimate tina,
here has been police protection for
oineone IN connection with the schem.
o trafnc In atolen cars. 1T 10 pre-
and absolutely silly" de-
'lsr~d Superintendent Black TODAY,
We have been working on this case
1ieht and day. doing everything We
'ould 20 round UP the person or per
'ons we believe guilty. according "a
he evidence in our possession. and i,
3 ridiculous 10 suppose tha, we are or
lave been protecting anyone. We in
Ute anyone who may have evidence
" protection 20 come forward and
produce - and not hide in the back
ground and inture anyone by such un-
oundcd and unjust innuendoes."
Ratledge. n well known young man
~ this city. until recently maintained
he Rstiedge Motor Co. AZ 1011 Orangs
street. which place is now closed and
! FOR rent" sign on the door. He is a
sor OF a former state det -ctive. The
automobiles involved which. according
% the police warrants. which have
been issuedror him. were stolen from
Hubert Of Richardson
Park. Abel klaw. al South Ora n,
avenue: Louis Petitdemanse. Sr.. o;
Holy Oak. Ratledge is sought 10 throw
light on these thefts. IL he can.
In connection with the car OF Petit
iemange y was explained by the DO
ice that the machine has been stolen
rom party in Philadelphia IA and sold
BY Ratledge "a Mr.. Performance. The
owner had been paid by the insurance
for his loss and when Nr
Peti'demange paid to the insurance
the amount they had given
pat he Was given title 20 the machin.
md the police. who had been holding
Z turned IL over TO him. The police
have at the present time in their DOS
session a Ford enclosed runabout
which they say was in Ratledge's pos
session the night he escaped arrest
They do not know as yet that il had
been stolen. but they are making an
investigation of its rightful ownership
Refunds on Some Cars.
The police had information tha,
automobiles owned by Ralph Ford OF
Bo0t1e Corner. Pa. and Minnie Han.
~ ~ the same place had been stolen
and that Ratledge had sold the cars 10
h'hts s''ih V. Ahehe people, however
went 70 Ratledgs. the police say. when
hey discovered the machines were
stolen property and he expressed
great surprise over the fact, declar-
ns IL worried him much TO learn O.
his, and he promptly refunded 10 them
he money they had paid over. Both
were recovered md returned
i~wis Petitdsmange. Jr.. OF Holy
pah. the police Say. bought an auto
mobile from Ratledge. which had beer
'tolen from a physical in Philadel-
phia. When he discovered il had been
stolen he went 10 Ratledge and the
after made good the amount paid. The
AZ was returned to the physician in
Philadelphia and while the polio.
ialsed 70 Ratledge about this case and
were prepared 10 act. the Philadelphia
physician refused to come here "a
prosecute Ratledge on the charge or
having stolen car in his possession
and consequently the police were un.
Continued on page C.
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