South Bend news-times., 1922-11-09
ALLEGED MASTER
MIND OF FREIGHT
THIEVES CAPTURED
Fugitive From Justice
for Over a Year, Now in
CassOpolis Jail.

Clearing of the most notorious box
car and store theft case OF recent
local criminal history was marked
Wednesday with the arrest and de-
tention by Michigan Central rail
road police of Abraham Ashner. al
legged fence" and master mind" OF
a gang Of thieves whose operations
included South Bend and vicinity and
three neighboring states.
Ashner, according TO advices re-
ceived by Sheriff Duck, is in the Cass
county Jail at Cassopolls, Mich. He
was brought there late Tuesday eve
ming from Toronto. Ont, where il Is
said he had been living since jump
ing fugitive bonds in Chicago 10
months ago.
Eluded Officers.
Ashner prior TO his arrest in Chi
cago after a running fight with po-
lice Of that city and members OF his
gang, operated a shoe and clothing
store at 2232 w. Washington av..
this city. He resided at 223 Chaplin
st. Search warrants OF his home
and store uncovered $4,000 worth Of
goods stolen from small west-end
and south-side stores and account-
ed for FIVE freight car robberies.
Several pairs OF shoes, identified
by their markings as among those
stolen from a moving freight train
in Cass county in the spring OF 1921
were found in the w. Washington
av. store. Ashner's alleged particl-
patton in this robbery is response
BILE for activities by the Cassopoiis
railroad operatives to bring about his
capture.
Nabbed by Detectives.
To Capt. Charles Johnson and his
co worker, Railroad Detective
"Humpy' Bachman is said TO get
the credit for Ashner's arrest. These
men ran down the lead that
furnished the Chicago police with
the rendezvous of the gang there.
Ashner was arrested with FIVE others
They were charged with breaking
into freight cars in Illinois. Michi-
gan and wisconsin.
Fugitive from justice charges held
Ashner. His wife. Anna. hearing OF
her husbands arrest when officers
came 10 search their home, left hur-
riedly for Chicago with a bag OF
currency from which she furnished
cash bond OF $4,000 and obtained
her husbands release. For several
months past. the local Kuespert
agency has been cooperating with
Capt. Johnson on the case.
Since early in August, 1921, Ash
ner has been a fugitive from justice
The federal grand jury at Indian
apolis returned indictments against
him both last fall and in March, this
year. He was charged by the in
dictments with shipments OF stolen
goods IN interstate commerce
Local activities OF the Ashuer
gang were largely explained when
search OF the store revealed goods
OF miscellaneous character belong
ing 10 merchants here. At least
seven OF the store robberies occurring
IN February and May, 1921. were
cleared when neckties, dress goods,
clothing. shoes and other articles
were identified by merchant victims
OF the gang as belonging TO them
In the basement OF the Ashner store
was a laundry outfit where attempts
were only partially successful IN de-
stroying trade and other identifca-
ton marks.
Louis Gross. overall manufactures
321 y. Michigan st, was taken into
custody several months ago charged
with shipment OF goods TO St
Joseph. Mich. where another fence"
OF the same gang OF thieves. alleged
associates OF Ashner. was held by the
authorities there for receiving stolen