The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-27
SEEK 7OL|Nk
train BANDITS.
BOMB SQUADS
Police Recover $4,000 of
$4,000 Loot Taken in
Mail Car Raid.
PLANNED FOR WEEKS
Gang PraCtiCed 5 Days
Prior to HoIdup to Work
Out All Details.
By United Press


CHICAGO, Feb. 27.-Reported
connection between the gang of
mail bandits which held up a train
in the outskirts of Chicago Satur-
day and the bomb squads which
have spread terror in Chicago for
weeks was traced by police today.
Meanwhile, fifty postal inspectors
concentrated on recovering the
missing $115,000 of the $133,0O0 loot.
They have found $4,000.
Arrest of at least two more per-
sons involved in the holdup, and
recovery of all the loot was ex-
pected before night, postal officials
sadi. A score already were under
arrest. Five members of the actual
hold-up band of seven are held.
Charles Linlpy) Cleaver con-
fessed member of the holdup gang.
was familiar with bombs, police dis
covered, and it was intimated he
might have had connections with
gangland leaders. William Dono-
van also confessed.
Five Women Are Held
Run1or connected well-known
names with the operations of the
bandits, who were blamed for two
bank robberies in addition to the
mail train hold-up. But if there
was evidence to support the rumors,
police concealed it.
Five of the suspects held by po-
lice were women.
The arrests In the Saturday rob-
berry and subsequent statements OF
the suspects, police declared, solved
the recent 100000 robbery at
Ravenswood National Bank, Chi
'cago, and several other bank rob-
berries.
Investigation revealed, according
to police, that the robbery, accom-
plished in twelve minutes, was
planned for weeks and practiced for
five days preceding the robbery.
Donovan confessed he had ridden
the Grand Trunk train five success
Sive days in order to learn the train
crew and the times Of arrival at
various points along the route
through Chicago suburbs.
Find $4,000 of Loot
Saturday he was the lone
passenger for whose discharge the
train stopped at the lonely Ever
green Park flag station. Police said
Donovan also confessed he pulled
the emergency airbrake to aid his
six confederates.
The first arrest was made at
Cleaver's home, where police re-
covered $4,000 of the loot, secreted
in a flour barrel, sugar sack and
Innings of overcoats and dresses. A
quantity of nitroglycerin also was
found, police said.
Cleaver, an eX-convict recently
freed in connection with the Slay-
ing of two policemen, was arrested
along with his wife, and four men
and two women who called at his
home while police were there.
1t was believed the loot, which
had been divided in eight small
shares of about $4,000 each, was
to have been divided at this meet
ing in the Cleaver home. The eighth
share was laid aside as a defense
fund, police said.
Dynamite Is Discovered
Another raid was made at the
home of Virgil Litzinger, nephew OF
E. r. Litzinger. chairman of the
Cook County (Chicago) board Of re-
view. Litinezgr, wanted in connec-
ton with the murder of a saloon
keeper, was not at home, but police
arrested his wife and brother.
Other squads raided the home OF
Frank and Michael Meccina, ex-
plosive experts employed in Chi
cago quarrries. Five loaded guns
were seized. The Meccina brothers
were alleged to have manufactured
the explosives for the dynamiting OF
the car.
An emergency quantity Of dyna-
mite, placed by the bandit gang, was
found by police under the platform
of the st. Maria Station, near the
scene of the robbery.
The wife of William Donovan, In
a statement to police, named her
husband as a participant in Satur-
days robbery and in a similar rob-
berry year ago in which mail
train was robbed of $135, 900.