The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-05
g ~ In Stolen Securities
)
= eturned To Alabama Power
Company After Recovery At
Brokers office In Chicago
TWO IMMEDIATE ARRESTS
EXPECTED BY B0DEKER
Guilty Men Are Members Of
"Skyscraper" Gang-They
Loot Safes Only After Seclr-
ing Secret Combinations

Two nationally known criminals
who participated in the cracking and
robbing of the safe of the Alabama
Power company during the night of
April l. when $4,000 in negotiable
securities and $1,000 in cash were
taken, are being closely Swallowed by
operatives of the Bodeker National
Detective agency, and their arrest is
a mere matter of movements, George
Bodeker, head of the agency. an
nounced Monday night. There can
be no mistake as to the mems iden-
tity. he said, as police heads in St.
Louis, Cleveland and Chicago have
Identified their photographs.
Fred Bodeker and A. VanArsdale,
operatives assigned to the case, have
logged the footsteps of their men
through several states since obtain
ing a major lead April 20. Their
efforts Monday were translated into
tin, chief counsel of the Alabama
Power company, that $4,000 in stolen
securities. IL $500 bonds of the city
of Dadeville Electric Utility and seven
500 bonds of the Montgomery Light
and Power company had been recov-
cred in Chicago by Bodeker and re-
turned to him. These securities were
is said to have showed fight before
surrendering them.
Members Skyscrnper Gang.
The two hunted men are members
of a "skyscraper" gang, who have
robbed offices in other cities SINH
larry. A recent sob" in Cleveland.
o., was done by the same criminals
who looted the power company safe
here, according co George Bodeker.
There a cement companys office safe
was robbed, but the booty was later
recovered in Chicago, he said.
The method of these fellows" Mr.
Bodeker said, lis to get line on the
receipts of some big company. Next
they break into the office, smash the
lock of the presidents or treasurer's
desk searching for a copy of the
safe combination. Finding it, they
avoid use of explosives in opening
the safe"
These methods were followed the
night the power company office in
the Brown Marx building was robbed.
Two offices of the Tennessee compa-
ny, that of President George Gordon
Crawford and the treasurer, the
treasurer's office in the Yolande Coal
and Coke company's suite and the Of
fees of Adams, Roe and Norman
ransacked. When no copies of safe
departed empty handed.
Opposition In Chicago.
The Birmingham detectives met
the same opposition in Chicago lately
meted out to Henry Hill, Jefferson
county chief deputy, who went to get
prisoner. Not only were they
denied help. but were faced with in
dications that led them to believe no
official help would be forthcoming
The way they recovered the $4,000
from the broker who had the bonds
was by threatening immediate court
prosecution if he did not give them
up.
Information was gained during the
trip that convinced the detectives
they were trailing a well ordered
gang. for they received a tip in Chi
cago that another broker would sur
render other papers upon payment of
the money he put out for them. This
offer the Birmingham men declined
Il cannot speak too highly of the
work of the Bodeker detective
agency" said Attorney Martin Mon
day. There was nothing worthy the
name of clue left to trace the thieves
by and the recovery of the bonds in
distant city is an excellent bit of
work. We are counting on Mr.. Bode-
ker and his men not only getting the
rest of the stolen property. but the
culprits, too"