The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-11
MORE COSTLY STOLEN
CARS, PEDDLED BY Ring,
FOUND BY STATE POLICE
One LaSaIIe Machine Is
Recovered Here, Another
in Louisville.
ON TRAIL OF OTHERS
Thirteen Autos Restored in
Probe of Interstate
Theft Clique.

iiiCll OilNfNCs
State police today recovered
two more high-priced automo-
biles stolen by the interstate
auto theft ring Of which Ed
ward Traugott, Harry and FL
mer Sussman, free on bond,
have been branded as leaders.
Both machine were La Sale
sedans and their recovery
boosts to thirteen the number
of stolen cars recovered.
An important development in the
investigation of the explosion which
Aug. 26 wrecked the w. Washing
ton st. clothing store Of Traugott
and Harry Sussnan also was prom
ised for this afternoon by State
arson investigators.
Prosecutor William II. Remy ques-
toned six persons today in his probe
of the explosion and fire. -Four were
said to be underworld characters,
one an automobile dealer and the
sixth was Mrs. Josephine Fairhead,
former city hall telephone opera
tor and Twelfth Ward Republican
worker.
"The investigation is leading to
everything Deputy Prosecutor John
L. NiblaclS, who is aiding Remy,
said.
One of the cars recovered was
found at Louisville in a garage,
where 1t presumably was hidden
when the auto theft gansters learned
police were on their track.
1t was returned here today by
State Policeman Charles Bridges,
who went to Louisville to check op-
erations of the gang there.
Expect More Recoveries
Whenever it was impossible to sell
the high-priced cars stolen in Chi
cago and Cleveland here they were
taken to Kentucky, Bridges and
Robert Humes, State police chief,
believe.
At least another thirteen stolen
cars will be recovered as the check
of the theft ring activities is con-
tinued, Humes said.
The second car recovered to6ay
was found in possession OF an In
dianapolis man. Names Of the per-
sons who purchased the machines
at low prices are being kept secret
until after the Federal grand jury
probe of the ring. Many of them
will be taken before the jury.
The car found here was stoler
in March from 1. Walden, Chicago,
and the other machine from A.
Deutsch, Cleveland.
Freed on Bond
With Traugott and the two Suss-
mans under arrest on Federal auto
theft charges and at liberty under
$4,000 bond each, the Federal grand
jury, which began its session today,
was expected to consider the evi-
dence against them and probably
return an indictment.
The present grand jury session is
to close Saturday, however, and if
Albert S. Ward is unable to prepare
his case for the jury before that
time a special jury session to con-
slider the Traugott case may be
called later. Ward refused to dis
cuss his plans.
Traugott, sought since Saturday
when an affidavit against him was
filed by the Department of Justice.
surrendered to Federal authorities
Monday afternoon. Harry Suss-
man, TrougotU's partner in the W.
Washington st. clothing store which
was wrecked by an explosion and
fire two weeks ago, and Elmer Suss-
man, Harry Sussman's cousin, we're
arrested Saturday.
United States postal inspectors al
so ate probing possible connection
of the alleged Traugott gang with
the safe robbery at the Pettis Dry
Goods Co.. several months ago.
Some postal funds we're taken in
the robbery.
G4OoNNQVOA AeGAAAJt III AAAo AnNo-
tioning of underworld characters.
also was to seek to quiz persons
mentioned as peggy" DOC" and
"Steve" by Harold Libowitz in his
delerium.
In Serious Condition
Libowitz, charged with arson in
connection with the fire, was
found, his clothes aflame, back of
the store Immediately after the
explosion.
He is under police surveillance at
Methodist Hospital and is said to
be in very serious condition. AL
though exact reports of his con-
dition have been kept secret by
his family, it is understood the
pain temporarily, has at least de-
ranged his mind and that he is
near death
Frank S. Feeser, automobile
dealer, also conferred with Remy
today and viewed Harold Wright.
st. Louis gangster, against which
a habitual criminal charge was
filed today. in an effort to Identify
him in connection with some autc-,'