Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1922-02-17


Los Angeles. Cal, Feb. 16.-Eight
men, alleged to have conspired 10 ex-
tort large sums of money under
threats of death from wealthy Los
Angeles business men, We're arrested
here after a revolver battle with fed
eral officers. deputy sheriffs and pri-
vate investigators.
A ninth mar, believed to have been
seriously wounded by bullet fred in
the dark, escaped, but his capture is
expected, the officers say.
Officials connected with the investiga-
tion Of the Staying of William Des-
mond Taylor, film director, have made
no comment on the opinion of fed
eral agent that the arrests may lead to
solution of the murder mystery
The men arrested are: John Marich,
thirty-one years old; Emil Cutie, for
ty-niEe; Mike Kzasich. forty-four Au-
gust Bellich, twenty-six; Frank Serge,
forty-four; Henry Suzick, thirtv-sev-
en-; Jack Randoff. twenty-six; Harry
AkolZa, twenty-seven.
They We're all booked "for investiga-
tion," and Randoff. in addition. was
held on charges which, il was stated,
would be preferred later by the United
States marshal.
Demand $25, 1000 Cash.
The alleged conspiracy was Brought
to the attention of the authorities
through the reported efforts of the
men to obtain $4,000 in cash from the
president of one of the largest cor
porations of Los Angeles.
His name, those of others said to
have been selected as prospective vic
tins and those of the officers who par
ticipated in the gun battle and who
made the arrests are withheld at the
request of the authorities for fear
vengeance will be exacted by friends
of the men taken into custody.
First Trap Fails.
Last Wednesday, it Is said, the bust
ness man received a letter, typewriter
and red and signed "B. II. S." which
the authorities believed stood for
"Black Hand society" The missive in
stiucted him TO place the money in a
certain spot in a vacant lot, and con-
tanned the threat tn 1t, unless he did as
directed, he would be killed.
@ He notified the authorities.
"plant" was arranged. Four bundles
of paper, cut to the size of national
bank notes with a dollar bill at the
top and bottom of each. were placed
at the designated spot.
Heavily-armed federal agents hid
in the vicinity, prepared to shoot if
any person came for the money.
A man appeared, but the keeper OF
an oil station was in the line of fire,
so the officers did not shoot. The
man got the bundles of dummy notes
and left unmolested,
More Letters Received.
Two days later the business man re-
ceived a second letter, similarly written
and signed. 1t acknowledged tEe re-
ceipt of IS ION account" and peramp-
torily demanded the $4,000.
"This time we will not let you of, .
the letter concluded.
On Monday of this week the bust.
ness man received a third letter.
"This is the third and last CALL" it
read. eve mean business"
Directions as to the placing of the
money were repeated.
A second plant" with small
amount of money was arranged The
bundles of paper and marked bills
we're placed back of the signboari on
a corner opposite the service station.
All aya:!Sble' federal agents and the
entire night force of the sheriff's office
were on guard. Three deputies were
on the roof of the house, where, the
officers later declared, the men arrest
ed had their headquarters. Other Off
GERS were on the roofs of nearby hous-
es and IN places OF vantage between
them.
Falls Before Shots.
When a man approached the hiding
place of the marked money officers
opened fire with sawed-off shojEuns
and rev0lvers.
The man cried out. fell and wriggled
away in the darkness. Officers sprang
10 the sigEhoard. The money was
gone. Blood stains were found and
trailed to the house where the arrests
were made at $40 North Broadway.
The officers rushed the door of the
house and half dozen shots were
fired at them from the door and win
dows.
The inmates, eight in number, were
soon overpowered. They had the mon
ey from the plant" according to the
officers, but the wounded man. who
had been taken into the house. could
not be found. The men arrested were
taken TO the county jail. None Of the
officers was wounded
According TO the newspaper letters
demanding money under threat of