The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-23
Confession Is Claimed in
WooIverton Case by
Authorities.
NINETEEN ARE NABBED
Police SWoop in Concerted
Raids in Three States to
Land Suspects.
rimea SnncinI

HARTFORD CITY, Ind, April
23.-Kidnaping of Howard A. Wool
verton, 81, prominent South Bend
(Ind) industrialist, last winter, was
believed solved today with the spe-
tacular roundup and capture in
three states of nineteen men and
women, alleged members of one of
the most highly organized criminal
gangs ever exposed in the midwest.
Confessions of bank robberies.
numerous abductions and other
crimes extending into half a dozen
other states have been obtained by
investigators, following capture Of
the suspects in a series of raids
Friday afternoon and night, it was
said.
Confessions to completely in the
Woolverton kidnapping have been
obtained. from some of the pris-
oners, authorities said, and the VIC
tim and his wife today were to view
the suspects and attempt identifi-
cation.
Arsenal Is Found
Woolverton, captured while mo-
toring with his wife, was held for
$4,000 ransom, and was released
several days later, after at least
part OF the ransom demand was
paid.
Police from three states partici-
pated in the series of raids lead
ing to capture of the suspects, four
OF whom are women.
Gunplay marked one of the raids
IN Chicago Heights, where the
heavily armed Investigators seized
twelve men and two women. In
the hideaway, officers found a small
arsenal of revolvers, high-powered
rifles, Sawed-of Shotguns and am
munition. More than Twenty-Five
revolvers were seized.
The raids, planned carefully and
executed quietly, took place stimuli
taneously at Chicago Heights. Ra-
cine, Wis; Lafayette, Ind, and Pen
dleton, Ind.
They followed several months OF
intensive undercover work by mem
pers of the Chicago secret six" and
police OF Illinois, Indiana and Wis
conSin.
Sequel to BIackford Case
Pat Roche, chief investigator for
Cook county, Illinois, said the ar
rests came as a sequel to the recent
convection OF Ira Barton, former
Blackford county sheriff, as a mem
Der Of a gang of bank robbers OBJ
Grating out of Chicago.
Seven one-time members of the
gang have been convicted of felony
charges and are serving prison
terms. according to E. L. Osborn.
chief of the Indiana criminal iden-
LITIGATION bureau.
Clews obtained in connection with
activities of the gang, of which Bar
ton was member, led to discovery
OF operations of the gigantic ring,
Roche said.
Names of six of fifteen persons
arrested in the Chicago Heights raid
as the officers descended on the
three cities, were revealed here to-
day.
They are Jim Barrett, attorney
and proprietor of two roadhouses
and alleged leader of the gang:
Tony Longo, charged with being i'm
pllcated in the second robbery of
the Citizens State bank here last
fall; Isadore Gaby, accused of par
ticipating in the Dunkirk, Ind, bank
robbery last December; Mario Ran
ero, suspected bandit in the Citi
zens bank holdup; Joe Barrett aud
John Dimascio.
One Man Wounded
Barrett, who said he is not re-
lated to Jim Barrett, was suffering
from bullet wounds inflicted wien
he was taken for a ride" recently.
Those arrested at Pendleton are
Fred Papattio and Mrs. Lorenz
Cappah. At Lafayette. Thomas
Goslin and his wife were arrested.
The raiders at Chicago Heights
descended on homes, restaurants.
roaohouses and known gathering
places OF the captives, and only one
man attempted to evade arrest. He
was halted when officers opened fire
on him.
Among cities where authorities
believe banks have been targets of
the gangs raids were Dunkirk
Gas City, Portland and MONTPELIER
Ind; Flossmoor and Western
Springs, Ill, and Burlington Wis
Loot in these robberies totaIed
about $4,000.
Roche said he believed Tomnie
Hayes, one-time member Of the st.
Louis Cuckoo" gang, slain with two
fellow gangsters last week In south
ern Illinois, had participated in the
gangs operations.
James r. Emshwiller, prosecutor
OF Blackford county, where Barton
was arrested and convicted. said
authorities had positive" evi-
dence against the suspects in con-
nection with the Woolverton kid
MAPPING and at least seven other an
auctions in the midwest.
None of the women is implicated
directly with the Woolverton kid
mapping, authorities indicated.