Evening star., 1934-01-07
KLUTAS; GANCSTER,
KILLED IN GUNF|GHT.
"HandSome Jack" Trapped,
Shot to Death as He
Fires at Police.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, January 6.-Theodore
CFIandsome jack Klutas, desperate
and leader Of kidnapping band that
has preyed upon gamblers and others
in the Middle West for years, was shot
to death when States attorneys police
raided his hide-out in suburban Bell
wood late today.
Seven men were captured by the
raiders, one Of them identified as Wal
ter Detrick, escaped convict and mem
Der of the notorious Dillinger gang OF
Indiana outlaws.
Several machine guns, tear gas and
a quantity Of ammunition was seized
in the bungalow where Klutas roomed
and where he posed to the owner as a
Government Secret Service agent.
Klutas was moved down as he came
out of the bungalow and reached for
pistol in defiance of the commands OF
officers to surrender.
The seven were caught in or near the
hideout by the raiding officers. Finger.
prints established the identities OF
Kfutas and DERRICK, officers said. They
Immediately began investigation to as.
certain if others Of those held mignt
belong to the notorious band OF Dill
linger. Chicago police have sought tna'
gang for several weeks.
Officers released Ray NischwttZ, owner
of the bungalow, after they were con-
vinced he did not know the true
identity of his lodger.
For 10 days States attorneys ponce
had shadowed the bungalow where
Klutas was killed.
The slaying of Klutas climaxed a
seven-year search for the former Uni
yersity of Illinois student, who left the
campus to head the notorious "coilegl-
ate band" named in nearly a Dozen
kidnapings and extortions which netted
more than a half million dollars.
Melvin H. Purvis, head Of the loca!
nolice of the United States Bureau OF
Investigation, described Klutas ana MS
henchnlen as the "smartest" ganssters
in the Nation.
Three members of the gang previous
lv apprehended are due to appear In
court next week for their alleged par
ticipation In the abduction Of James
Hackett. Blue Island gangster. Another
reputed associate, Russell Hughes, was
slain two months ago in Peoria, Ill,
Kiutas' original home. One policeman
was slain as Hughes sought to eVaoe
arrest.
Two other alleged members OF the
gang. Eddie Wagner and Eddie La Rue,
were indicted along with the three
scheduled to 60 on trial Monday Tor
the Hackett kidnapping. They have not
been captured.
A quiet campaign by police resulted
In the apprehension Of Frank Souder,
Benton, Ill, Julian Jones of st. Charles
and Gale Swolley Of Peoria as members
of the Klutas gang some months ago.
They were held in private inprison-
ment while officers questioned them
and one, according to police, finally
talked"
He described, officers said, many
operations Of the gang from its first
KIDNAPPING, that of william Urban OF
Peoria, on through the abduction OF
James Ward Of Hackett, their No. 3,
and revealed that the brother-in-law
of a nationally known politician" also
was on their roster.
Jones had pleaded guilty to the sec
ond kidnapping OF Hackett-for which
the gang was aliegedly paid 81 800
and will receive a separate trial from
his reputed confederates. For others
Assistant States Attorney Nal Coghlan
today announced, the prosecution would
ask the death penalty.