The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-09-16
MANY JOBS
INSTATELAI
TO GANG HELD
One of Them Gives Officers
Tip on Murderer of Devils
Lake Policeman
ALSO SELFRIDGE BANK
May Have Stolen Bismarck
Mans Car-Gang Escaped
From Rugby Jail

Confessions have been wrung from
some members of a gang of bank
robbers, under arrest in South Da-
kota, that may clear one North Da-
kato murder and many North Dako-
ia robberies.
One of the yeggs, according to
story in the Aberdeen American
News Of Sunday, has promised to tell
who shot and killed policeman in
Devils Lake, North Dakota, few
months ago, as soon as he has re-
ceived his sentence.
Information was given according to
the newspaper. about robberies at Ft.
Yates and Selfridge, North Dakota.
where banks were entered. "Devils
Lake Red" under arrest. is declared
to have been in the Krem, North Da-
kota, bank robbery. They are said
to have stolen an automobile in
jamestown, probably that Of Harry
Clough of Bismarck. Other robber-
les in North Dakota may be laid to
the gang.
Five Of the gang are said to be
those arrested at Kenmare, North
Dakota, and who broke Jail at Rug
by, North Dakota, while awaiting an
officer to bring them to the North
Dakota penitentiary to serve five
year sentences for burglary.
Three Picked Up
Three men, James Ryan, aged 40,
alias "St. Louis Billy; William
Berg, 36, former alleged Minot boot
logger. and Ben Mahowics, %, alias
George Duane, are said to have pro-
fessed willingness to enter pleas Of
guilty to a charge Of burglarizing
the Greenway, South Dakota, bank
some time ago. The acceptance of
pleas of guilty was held up for furth-
er investigation.
The Aberdeen newspaper says that
w. S. Gordon. agent for the South
Dakota Bankers Association, said
Friday night that one of the men
had promised him that as soon as he
got his sentence he would tell who
shot and killed a policeman at Devils
Lake, N. D. few weeks ago. The
policeman was shot over the left eye
and instantly killed when he sur
prised a gang of men about to make
an effort to rob the postoffice
there"
The men were arrested at Selby,
S. D. on suspicion. They were taken
to the Aberdeen Jail for questioning.
They confessed, according to the
newspaper, and "told of series of
bank and store robberies and career
of crime that was romantic in its
crudeness"
Only Part of Gang
The paper says the trio is only
part of gang Of eight that made
it's headquarters in little shack
near Mobridge last winter, engaging
in many thefts, one of them an au-
tomobile. "Still later" the story
goes, "they were arrested for bank
robbery at Krem, N. D., three of
them escaping Jail while awaiting
sentence. Before being arrested at
Krem they abandoned the Slater car
and it was found on May 26 at Minot,
N. D."
Ryan gave the most clear confes-
sion, the newspaper says, the story
reading:
"The proposition was put to him
that he could take one of two things.
Either plead guilty and receive the
minimum, five years. or plead not
guilty and get the maximum. He
asked for few hours in which to de-
eide but the authorities were insist
ent.
Tells Sordid Tale
Then he reconciled himself and
settled down to relating a sordid
story reeking with criminal misdeeds.
including the raiding of many coun-
try banks and stores.
He took the beginning of the story
back to the little rendevouz near
Mobridge where the gang of eight
plotted their robberies. He named
the five other men who were in the
gang as Fred Cline, alias Eau Claire
Whitley, alias White Cline, alias AL
Superior Whitley, whose real name
is said to be William Roader; John
Linden, alias Devils Lake Red, who
has served terms at Saltwater and
Bismarck; Dan Morris, George Arm
old. alias Sharkey, Herman Richman,
alias Rich.
All five men are we'll known by au-
| thorities all over the country. Cline
is known generally as Whitley Cline.
At the time of the Slater car theft
he was believed to be the ringleader
He is an old timer and an expert
"soup man." having played part in
robberies at Lebanon, Onaka, Ft
Yates, Selfridge and Ladner, B. C.
The latter wah his biggest job. He
got $135,000 on this job. Devils
Lake Red was in the Krem, N. D
bank robbery and several others and
he is now in Jail at Stanton. N. D.
on a burglary charge.
| Stole Car At jamestown
Then, the story says, the men en-.
gagged in attempted bank robberis,
in South Dakota and failed. Thl
gang split up at the little shack nsa,
Continued on page u