The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-25
DARING CAREER
IS ENDED FOR
EX-DETECT|vE
William RugenStein, for II
Years UnderWorId'S
Foe, Is Dead.
FIGURED IN GUN FIGHTS
Police Pay Glowing Tribute
to Perseverance in
Man Hunts.
picture on Page 2.)

William Rugenstein, 40, retired
city detective, whose record for
daring has few equals in the In
dianapolis police department, is
dead.
A career of twenty-one years
battle against the underworld,
marked by numerous gun fights
with criminals and the capture of
scores of bandits, ended early to-
day when Rugenstein died of
pneumonia.
Retired on pension four years ago
because of physical disability,
Rugenstein left behind him the
reputation of being master de-
tective, known for his vigilance and
perseverance.
His death is mourned by scores of
fellow officers.
Rites Set for Wednesday
Funeral services will be held at
l 80 Wednesday afternoon at the
home and at 2 at the Capitol Ave-
nue. M. E. church, of which Rugen-
stein was a member, with the Ma
sonic and Moose lodges in charge.
Burial will be in Washington Park
cemetery.
Survivors are the widow Elenor;
daughter, Mrs. Wilma Bourne,
and two brothers, Emil A. and Otto
H. RugenStein, both members of the
indianapolis fire department.
Honorary pallhearers will be Ma
ior Herbert Fletcher, Captain Jess
McMurtry, Detective Chief Fred ST.
mon and Detectives Harry Trick
John Giles and George Stewart.
A native of Germany, Rugenstein
came to America with his parents
at an early age and was appointed
to the police force April 10, 1907
He was one of the first drivers OF
the police emergency car. and fig
ured in many gun battles with ban
dts during the early part of his
career.
Had Enviable Record
''He was one of the best emergency
drivers we ever had" Simon said oil
him.
Time meant nothing to Billy
After he was made detective in 1916
his work was his first interest. He
worked night and day when hot or
! the trail of a criminal"
Rugenstein was credited with ex-
posing and capturing such notorious
criminals as Norman Price, bank
robber; William E. Cronkrite, leader
of a gang of auto bandits; William
L. Winter and Forest Reynolds
leaders of a gigantic car theft gang
and Howard Serf, auto theft ring
leader.
Rugenstein and McMurtry served
as partners for six years in the de-
tective department, during which
time they wrecked operations of the
Bridgewater bank bandit gang, one
of the largest ever exposed in cen
trail Indiana. Rugenstein captured
the gang leader thirty minutes after
receiving the case for investigation
| in 1924.
BattIed Bandits On Circle
Seven members of bandit gang
perpetrating the Greenwood Qnd)
bank holdup several years ago were
caught by Rugenstein. All are Serv-
| ing nriSOn terms
One of the most sensational
catches ever made by Rugensteir
occurred on the Monument Circle
when Rugenstein and McMurtry ir
1918 staged gun fight with three
bank bandits while standing on the
running board of the bandits speed.
ing car.
RugenStein was knocked from thu
running board and fell dazed int
the street, from where he fired a
the car, periling McMurtry's lif,
and critically wounding one of tn
bandits. All three were captured
Since his retirement, Rugensteir
engaged in the hobby of building
cement bird baths for friends ant
relatives.