Evening star., 1933-12-24
AIDE OF D|LL|NGER
TAKEN IN CHICAGO
Captured Gangster Confesses
Part in $25, 900 Bank
Robbery.
By the Associated Press.


CHICAGO, December 23.-Hilton o.
Crouch, 90, member of the notorious
Indiana gang headed by John Dillinger,
was arrested here today and confessed,
Police Capt. John Siege said, to partici-
patton in a bank robbery at Indianap-
oils along with Dillinger and Harry
Copeland. another member of the band,
in which about SIS, 5,0oo'' was taken.
The robbery referred to, Siege said,
was that Of the Massachusetts, Avenue
Siege said the confession followed
less than an hour after Crouch's appre-
hension in front Of an apartment as
the "Dillinger squad" of police detailed
with orders to kill or capture the gang
closed in.
Woman Is Seized.
Also seized for questioning was
woman giving the name of Miss Violet
Barretta. She was taken as she sat in
taxi in front Of tavern. Siege said
she lived at the same address as the
Surf street apartment where crouch
had been living. A tavern keeper who
said Crouch had been his partner
stated that Crouch had married the
girl, waitress, in the place.
In Crouch's possession, Siege said,
was .45-caliber pistol; a $40 counter
felt bill on the New York Federal
Reserve Bank, and a Christmas card,
reading: ITO my dadee from your
b2hee."
Bank R0bber and Killer.
Dillinger. paroled from the Indiana
prison on robbery charge, is one of
the most hunted men in the Nation
He Is accused as a bank robber and
killer and was said by Siege recently
to have joined his forces strengthened
last September by the escape of 10
inmates Of the Michigan City prison
with the Chicago Terrible Touhy"
gang.
Copeland, one of the members of
Dillinger's original band, named by
Crouch as q participant in the robbery
Of the bank, ran afoul of the law in
Chicago while intoxicated in November
He was rushed across the Indiana line
and put back in his cell at Michigan
City few hours after his capture.
Crouch, according to Capt. Siege,
said his share Of the Indianapolis rob-
berry was $500. Crouch also used the
names of Price and Milton Krause,
Siege said. He was suspected as one
of those who aided in the Michigan
City prison break.
Three Gangsters Slain.
Chicago police with Crouchs arrest
wound up a week of activity directed
against gangsters. Thursday night
three men, all with long criminal rec
ords, were shot TO death by police in
battle In q North Side apartment as
they sought members of the gang
headed by John Dillinger
Word that the Dillinger gang, blamed
for recent raids against banks in In
diana, Wisconsin and Illinois, had
teamed up with the Chicago mob
headed by Tommy and Roger Touhy
was received by police some weeks ago,
they said.
The men killed by stege's squad
Thursday night were Louis Katzewitz,
Charles Tittlebaum and Sam Ginsberg,
all criminals, identified by witnesses
who viewed them in a post mortem
"show-up" as killers and robbers.
The apprehension Of Crouch came
as result OF the police warning to be
on the lookout for % automobiles said
to be used by the Dillinger gang.
Siege said one Of the licenses was
traced to an address on Surf street.
Today squad went to the apartment.
secreted itself inside, and another de-
ployed about the front of the building.
When the automobile showed up the
omcers outside approached the man
who surrendered without resistance.
Recognized License Numbers.
The car which figured in the capture
was sighted by a police squad familiar
06nYe Af
machines said to have been used BY
Dillinger mohsmen earlier in the day.
They halted it and were told by George
Drumm, its driver, who is a tavern
owner, that he had purchased the car
from Price" giving the Surf street
address.
The 'Dillinger squad" proceeded to
the apartment and the seizure of
Crouch followed.
Drumm said he was "astounded" to
learn that Crouch was a gangster.
he said. "Thst is. so far as l I knew, n'an I
met him several months ago and he
always seemed like q nice fellow. About
wen, I'd had 'isf a lot OF y Of ezpenses- expense
taxes and all that-and had spent
about $1,000, so I cut him in for
third He was very industrious
worker.
About month ago he married
Violet, who was waitress In the place.
He wouldn't allow disreputable charac-
ters hanging around the tavern"
Police said they were convinced
Drumm did not know the true identity
of his partner and did not plan to
hold him.
Siege said he would turn Crouch over
to Indiana authorities for prosecution
on the bank robbery charge after fur