Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1949-03-04
POLICE LAUDED FOR
SPEEDY CAPTURES
Andrews Also ConfeSSes To
Burglary of Oak Billiards
ParlOr; Beiitski is Held

Quick work by Police Chief Jack
Shelter and Patrolman Don Ever
EFT solved the armed robbery case
which alarmed the east end Friday
night, and has already cleared up
another burglary through confess
sion by one of the two local men
arrested by the police.
Bound over to the grand jury
under $1,000 bond each, after hear
ings in Mayor Carl Becker's court
Monday afternoon, are Elmer An
drews, 25, Erie Gardens, and Nick
f. Belitski, 26, Maple street.
Andrews pleaded guilty to arm
cd robbery and Belitski pleaded
guilty to aiding and abetting in
armed robbery, Police Chief Shelf
fer stated. Belitski was charged
with having planned the robbery,
after Andrews made a full confess
sion.
Since their arrest, Andrews and
Belitski have not been permitted
to talk with each other. Andrews
is confined in the county Jail, and
BelitSki was confined in the city
Jail
Victim of the armed robbery
was Mrs. Helen Belitski, mother
of Nick, who was baby sitting at
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. John
Banchich, 120 Maple street, while
the Banchichs We're away.
Mrs. Belitski told police that she
and the youngest Banchich child
were alone in the house when she
heard someone rapping at the
door. The two older Banchich
children were playing outdoors.
When Mrs. Belitski went to the
back door, she noticed masked
man attempting to gain entrance.
She told police that the man
shouted and cussed at her, but she
refused to open the door.
The masked man then used his
gun to smash the glass in the door,
reached inside and turned the
latch. Mrs. Belitski screamed and
ran. The bandit went directly to
where Banchich's money box was
hidden under a desk, grabbed the
chest containing the money and
valuable papers, and left, she told
police.
Mrs. Belitski became hysterical
and her screams attracted neigh
bors who notified the police. Taken
by the armed bandit were SAILS
in cash and valuable papers be-
longing to Banchich. All was re-
covered by the police.
Police were Immediately suspic-
ious of Belitski, but investigation
showed that he had been sitting
in an uptown pool room while the
masked man performed the job.
When police learned that Andrews
had picked up Belitski at the pool
room, shortly after the robbery,
they checked the Andrews auto
and discovered gun and 10
sticks of dynamite, complete with
detonators.
AS the gun belonged to a bro
ther of Andrews, the brother was
questioned but eXonerated. Chief
Shelter compared glass scratches
on the gun with glass in the door
at the Banchich home, and also
compared footbrints in mud at the
rear of the home with Andrews
| shoes.
After Elmer Andrews was pick
ed up by the police, and question
ed, he signed a confession. The
! $41150 in cash was found hidden
in the attic manhole of his home
at 72 West Loop, Erie Gardens,
while the bonds and other papers
belonging to Banchich were found
hidden in some bushes along OF
tawa Drive.
The chest which contained the
money and paper was thrown in
the Portage river, Andrews told
police. The papers were returned
to Banchich and the money was
j held as evidence. Photos of the
Continued Page 2, Col. y