San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-11
Property Valued at $1,000
Stolen by Gang Of Juve-
niles, Police Say.
FOUR ARE DETAINED
Boast Of Their Achievements
and Expect to Get Sus-
pended Sentences.

closely on the heels OF the apprehen-
sion of an alleged bandit gang last
Monday. The roundup of the second
band of alleged outlaws was followed
| by a Qualification meeting at central
police headquarters, in that authorities
feel the backbone of criminal activities
here has been broken.
The arrests, regarded as the most
important in months, were made by
Chief of Police Albert o. Van Ripper
Sam Street, chief of the detective de-
partment and Detectives Duke Carver,
Walter Harvey and BOatwright
The gang, members of which arc
scarcely ont of their teens. has con-
fesscd to having staged approximately a
| dozen big rObberies in San Antonio
and nearby towns.
Steal Property Worth $1,000.
The loot stolen police estimate. APP
prOximates $1,000. Four automobile
loads of stolen plumber have been re-
covered and hauled 20 detective head
quarters, the recovered goods represent
ing valuation of about $4,000.
Under the supervision of Chief Van
Ripper and Captain Street, plain clothes
men and police worked throughout We'd
nesday night, following the capture of
the trio, in recovering stolen property
and in hauling it to central head
quarters. 1t was not until 3 o'clock
Thursday morning that the task was
completed.
Admit Many RObberies.
Detectives resumed the work Of re-
covering stolen goods Thursday, the
prisoners having stated their intention
of assisting the police IN restoring prop
erty to victims by pointing out to them
individuals and stores where, they say,
they disposed of a considerable portion
of their hauls.
The prisoners, police say. confessed TO
having staged the burglaries at the
store of A. c. TOudouzp. 1908 South
Flores street; the Beacon Hill Phar-
macy the Evergreen Drug store. The
Il. d n. Auto Supply Company. South
Flores street; the wholesale robbery at
the Lavernia Mercantile Company the
White House Garage, Pereida street ::
j. j. McCabe's blacksmith shop and
others.
Tipped on Proposed Sale.
The police patrol, the emergency car.
Chief Van Riper's car and two detec-
tilf department cars were required TO
haul recovered goods to Headquarters
Because of the great mass of stolen
plumber, the prisoners, though willing.
police say, to assert it, were unable TO
accomplish the task. The store room.
Captain Streets office and the cor
ridOrs of detective headquarters were
damned and crowded with loot equiva-
lent 10 or larger than the stock car
ricd by many business concerns in San
Antonio. 1t consists of great piles of
automobile castings, cases of shotgun
shells. inner tubes, clothing, motor ac-
cesSories, oils, grips and suit cases.
hosiery, cigars. cigarettes, fountain pens
AMI automobile tools ard blacksmith
supplies.
1t was the bCldncss with which the
prisoners disposed Of their loot, authori-
ties say. that brought about their ar
rests. Early Wednesday afternoon de-
tectives learned of a p-obosed deal
whereby a load Of automobile castings
were TO be sold. Shortly thereafter
Chief Van Ripper and Captain Street
brought about the first arrest. Later
in the evening Detectives Carver nabbed
the two remaining members of the
gang.
Depend on Suspended Sentence Law"
The boys admitted having staged the
series of burglaries that caused such
shock TO the nervous system Of the
police. Shortly after the confessions
police began collecting the loot, finding
great quantities hidden unoer houses,
IN attics in vacant structures and scat
tered in various parts Of the city.
The prisoners took their capture good
naturally. In fact they did not feel
the least bit discouraged and frequently
expressed themselves confident the "sus-
pended sentence" law would get them
by"
One Of them startled officers by his
candid admissions in his career of
crime.
Stealing is an awful habit" he
laughingly told detectives. when you
get the habit You want to steal every
thing you see.
Anyway" he added. Crime is not
looked upon as the disgrace it was years
ago. People soon forget these days.
1T was great going while it lasted"
he resumed. rs n group of plain clothes
men surrounded him and listened TO his
frank confession you know" he said.
Il went to church recently and listened
to preacher deliver lecture on some
thing that sounded like-'Ye Shall not
Steal That preacher came near get
ting my goat. In fact, l decided not
to steal again, Lut / met the gang that
afternoon and when they said, Let's
get some easy money why, just for
got all about the preacher.
Tells How IL Was Done.
at sounded like ! was in q boiler
makers shop" he added after a short
pause, when we were trying to kick
in that safe in TOudouze's store. We
pounded it with sledge hammer and
il made some noise. ePople out there
must be dead when they go TO sleep.
"And. because we just had a flivver.
we had to make four trips before we
could haul off the stuff VIC stole. We
would have about cleaned out the store
but n dairyman zane up and we couldn't
go back. When we robbed the Beacon
Hill drug store. we had to run and hide
three times. Too many people stay up
late in that neighborhOod and policemen
kept riding right by ms all night.
- H. IL