The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-21
fire VICTIMS
BROTHER Held
AS CAR Thief
Arrest Betram LiboWitz
for Theft of Buick
in Cleveland.
DEATH CAR WAS HOT
Ownership of Machine in
Machine Gun Staying
Is Fixed.
DEATH CAR WAS HOT

Authorities closed in on two more
Indianapolis men today in the in
vestigation of the interstate auto
mobile theft ring.
City detectives arrested Bertram
Libowitz, 81, of SO N. Jefferson Ave-,
on a warrant charging vehicle TAX
ing, filed by Prosecutor William H.
Remy.
State Policeman Charles Bridges
announced it has been definitely
established that the Buick car in
which Ewald Eckerle, alias Shan
non, was machine gunned to death
near Clinton, Ind, Aug. 81, had
been stolen from Cleveland, Ohio,
and had been in the possession OF
Homer Wright, now held on an ha-
bitual criminal charge.
New Links in Chain
The two moves provided new links
in the chain connecting the theft
ring, a huge liquor conspiracy and
the Traugott clothing store, 215-17
w. Washington st. Aug. 26, which
Federal, State, county and city au-
thorities have been forging fo1 four
weeks.
Libowitz is the brother of Harold
Libowitz, %, of 80 N. Jefferson Ave.
Harold died in Methodist Hospital
Sept. IL of terrible burns received
in the Traugott explosion. He was
found beneath flaming timbers by
firemen who rushed to the fire in
the rear of the store.
Harold Libowitz was a prisoner
in the hospital, being charged with
arson, but his brother, Bertram, at
tempted to prevent authorities from
questioning him. He used every
means to keep Harold from talking,
until he finally was locked up on
a charge of interfering with officers.
Bertram Immediately filed suit for
damages against two deputy State
fire marshals who had reported his
attempt to keep them out of Har-
old's room.
Bond Set at $4,000
The affidavit against Liowbitz
charges that he and another man,
for whom detectives are searching,
on Feb. 8, 1928, stole the Buick car
of William T. Hudson, 3131 Wash
ington Blvd, Cleveland, Ohio.
Libowitz's bond was fixed at $4,000
by Criminal Judge James A. Col
lins. He was arrested by Detectives
Dugan, Colder and Brickley.
Witnesses against him listed on
the affidavit are George Henninger,
department Of justice agent; Dugar
and Bridges.
Libowitz was arrested at the Rom
er Lighting Fixture Company store,
l06 s. Meridian ST., where he was
employed. He was taken to Remy'S
Office, questioned and then taken
to the Federal Bldg. for further
quizzing.
Bridges announced that the car in
which Eckerle was murdered was
stolen from Edward M. Katz, 8001
Franklin Pl., Cleveland, Ohio, Feb. 4
1928. Difficulty in tracing the car
was due to its having parts taken
from three different Bucks, Bridges
said.
Wright and Eckerle were close
friends, Wright having moved into
the apartment Eckerle had occupied
here as Shannon. They are believed
to have been members of a rum
running gang and authorities have
investigated the. theory that the
bullets which moved down Eckerle
were meant for Wright.
Quiz Klan Organizer
This is one of the first definite
1A.Ss of Wright with the auto theft
ring, authorities said.
Wright also was a close friend
of Edward Traugott, part owner OF
the wrecked store. Traugott is
under arrest on a charge of being
in the theft ring conspiracy.
Robert F. McNay, former Ku-KluS
Klan official and more lately or
eanizer of the Red Star political
movement of former KlanSmen, was
questioned today by Federal agents
and Charles Bridges.
Bridges has peen seeking McNay
for several days. Receiving infor-
nation that the former Klansman
would reach the Traction Terminal
Station this morning, Bridges met
him there and escorted him to the
Federal Bldg.
1.-THE alleged stolen car which
State police took from Ray Huffng-
ton of Terre Haute, brother OF
Joseph huntington, present Klar
grand dragon, passed through Nc
Nays hands, according to officials
Huntingdon BOrrOws Car
NIcNay readily discussed the mat
ter, it is said, declaring that the
car, Lincoln sedan, came to hin
as security upon a $1,000 note.
He said, according to officials
that a man, brought to him by
mutual friend, wanted to borrow
$1,000. He took the $1,100 note anc
the car as security. The car, Off
.cials say, was registered IN McNay';
lame.
McNay let Huntington borrow the
car and lost it when State police
took 1t from Huntingdon, according
to Bridges McNay since has not
seen the man to whom he says he
loaned the money, police declare.