South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-11
YOUTHS ADMIT
L0OTING OF IA
HOMES IN CITY
Amazing Career of Crime Re-
vealed in Confessions of
Paroled Boys.

ParoIed Boys.
continued from Page Ons)
..---
Netue Couger sIz rs. Jefferson
bFd. Aug g.
Henry LerHor. s12 Golden av-
.Aug o.
sbu.nr and svoboda. $40 Z
south ST.. Aug 9.
K.A. Bergman, 315 T. Indiana av,
Aux 8.
AIRS. C. wonsley. 1915 Lincoln
way T.. Aug
W C. shelton. 938 s. Fifth ST,
s3l.shawaka. Aug O.
Much Loot Recovered.
Local police recovered several
hundred dollars worth OF stolen
go0ds yesterday at the home Of the
.DcKaus and in an old shed where
#tne boys were .n the habit Of bring
ring their loot for distribution. a
gg caliber IT. and r. revolver was.
recovered from local pawnbroker
.whero 10 had been pawned for $3.50.
.Other articles Of jewelry recovered
incIudes a square linked watch chain
land knife. two watch fObs, two
rings with garnet settings. a string
or pearl beads. two baby hammer
less revolrers. pown ticket for one
watch. several brooches and pieces
eof iewelry Of less value.
Mrs w. G. Shelton. whose home
was entered by the boys Wednesday,
Identified n Swiss watch which the
police recovered from local
feweler where it was taken 20 have
a crystal repaired other articles Of
feweIry are expected 10 be recov-
cred by the police today after a
statement IS obtained from the old
OF DeKan.
The apprehension OF the gang
followed the detection OF the
younger DeKan and Srilski in the
Gerard home Edgar, son Of Mr..
Gerard. on returning home for din
ner, found the house ransacked.
The drawers OF the buffet were on
the floor and various small articles
which the thieves did not wish TO
carry away were strewn about the
house. While investigating. Gerard
saw the two boys Jump from an up
stairs window and start towards this
city. The AIishawaka police were
the two boys on Ernsperger st. The
Mishawaka police were later in
formed that an attempt had been
made 20 gain an entrance to 1927
Lincoln Way w. by breaking "A rear
screen door.
After their arrest and booking the
boys admitted to Chief Barrows
that they were implicated in at least
IA robberfes since July 80. on July
81 they admitted having stolen
diamonds TO the value Of $1,000 from
the home OF Miss Van Aiken. 217
Iaporte av., South Bend, claiming
that Charles DeKan. 19 year old
brother OF Beuo had disposed Of
them. In some cases they took
iewelry and money and in a few
Instances clothing and revolver.
The youths told Chief Barrows that
the Gerard home was their first at
tempt OF robbery IN MishawRka
Implicate Other Two.
The two boys were turned over to
Cant. OF Detectives Horace Hamil-
ton late yesterday afternoon for
Questioning IN regard 20 several
house robberies IN this city. From
the stories told by DeKan and Spill
ski the other two members Of the
gang were arrested by South Bend
police. Charles DcEan was arrest
ed az his homo, 25O2 W. Orange st,
shortly after 8 o'clock last night by
Detectives WOlters ana Ptnter,
while Gabriel BangoL 1919 W. Dun
ham St. was arrested at 9 o'clock
by Detectives DelinslxI and Kish. All
four are held without bonds on the
charge OF robbery.
The boys readily confessed 20
Hamilton stating that the elder De
Kan received the stolen goods to
dispose Of for them, but that he had
made returns 20 them on only a few
OF the articles stolen. The younger
DeKan and Spiski estimated that
not u-ore than IS had been turned
over 70 them by Dokan-
According 20 their statements 70
Capt. Hamilton. the boys would
start out early In the morning and
knock at the door Of any place they
thought would be able 70 repay them
for their attempt II their knock
was not answered after a reasonable
length OF time one of the boys
would then so TO Z he rear
door and try a skeleton key.
After gaining admittance, one would
rifle the house while the other would
keep watch on the outside. In some
cases. cellar windows we're entered
or window screens torn out 20 gain
an entrance. Whenever occupants
OF the house appeared. they would
ask for some fictitious person.
DeKan was questioned for several
hours last night by capt. Hamilton
ir an EFFORT 90 learn the disposition
OF three diamond rings stolen from
the home of Miss VanAiken. AL
though tho younger DeKan and
SpIski admitted giving the rings 10
Charles DtEan for disposition
Charles denied that he had ever re-
ce-yed them.