Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1922-01-26
Suspect Confesses to Plot InvOlv-
ing BrOther-in-Law--- Intended
To Carry-off Trainload of Loot
DETECTIVES CHASE ENGINE
TEN MILES BEFORE CAUGHT
Freight Train Ahead of Bandits
Causes Them to Abandon and
Flee

A sensational theft of = railroad
engine at New Butler followed by q
wild chase in which two locomotives
raced with open throttles for 10 miles
through the fog enyeloping the North
western road along the lake north OF
Milwaukee, ended this morning when
the fleeing engine was abandoned at
Sussex, Wis. and resulted in thwart-
ing daring merchandise robbery.
John BeaSley, arrested three hours
later at his home, 422 National ave-,
Milwaukee told the police that he,
with his brother-in-law, Robert Spor-
nitz, switchman had planned to steal
the engine, drive it to Sussex, and
after picking up trainload of mer-
chandise there, unload the loot into
motor trucks for transfer to a Mil
waukee cache.
He denied having been on the en-
CINE, declaring he had ''lost his
nerve" after reaching the yards ana
turned back.
Pursue In Engine
The pursuit was taken up shortly
after the engine had been reported
stolen by James Dunn, taxicab
driver, who had driven two men from
the North Shore Electric line station
Milwaukee to New Butler. William
Hays night yardmaster at New But
ler Immediately commandeered a
switch engine and crew and started
in pursuit with a posse of railroad
detectives.
With both engine whistles shrek
ing their warning for a clear track
the chase continued for 10 miles
with the second engine rapidly gain
ing Just outside Sussex the pursued
engine came to a sudden stop, two
men leaped out Of the cab and dis
appeared in nearby fields.
George Lawrence, chief special in
vestigator for the Northwestern road
Milwaukee and Otto Haumann and
Joseph Stazak, railroad detectives,
who formed the posse, took up the
pursuit as the men ran from the
abandoned engine.
Wait For Freight
Beasley, in his story to the police,
said he had accompanied Spornitz to
the Northwestern yards at New
Butler and had waited there until an
engine crew that had just come in on
Fond du Lac freight, left their lo-
comotive Then they stepped up, he
said, and told the crew they were
hostlers and would run the engine IL
the round house.
Beasley said that - was at this
point that he left Spornitz and refused
to go through with the "job". Spor-
nitz then entered the cab alone and
drove out of the yards, Beasley said.
first hanging safety lanterns on the
rear Of the tender.
Beasley was arrested after it was
found that Dunn had been paid with
check for So on the Milwaukee Pro
duce Co. and signed by Spornitz The
check was traced to Spornitz and
then to Beasley.
The three detectives who made up
the posse which pursued the stolen
locomotive said this morning that on
ly the appearance Of freight train
on the track ahead prevented Spor-
nitz from reaching the train at Sus-
sex and hooking onto 1t.
When he saw the road blocked by
the slow moving freight they said,
he abandoned the engine while it
still was under full steam and fled.
His precaution in hanging out the
safety lanterns on the rear of the
stolen engine prevented crash as
the pursuing engine rounded curve
and came upon it.
A warrant charging Spornitz with
the larceny Of locomotive, was
issued