St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-06-29
F.B.I. Dragnet On
For Trio Charged
With DEPOT HoIdur

Bureau of Investigation was asked
last week to join the extensive
manhunt for three gunmen-robbers
who seized S37,72O in cash and
$430 in checks from a Chicago
Transit Authority bus deport. It
was one of the citys largest cash
robberies this year.
FBI agents will seek federal
warrants charging flight to avoid
prosecution against Roger (Ben) /.
Fleming, 35, who drove a CTA bus
until June 4; Ladd Larry Davis,
35, and Aaron (SHck) Wilson, %.
Fleming, who police believe mas
terminded the job, had been laid
off by the bus company because
his drivers license had been sus-
pended. He attended the Gary
branch of Indiana university.
The three were being hunted
by police in Illinois, Indiana,
Kansas, Missouri and Connecti-
cut.
Eight CTA employees who knew
the robbery was planned are in
custody. They told 1t. James Kelly
Of the West side robbery detail
that Fleming left after the robbery
to visit his father-in-law in Man.
haitian, Kans. This was confirmed
by Fleming's wife, Mary Jane.
Davis is believed to have fled to
Hartford, Conn, where his mother
lives, and Wilson is being sought
in st. Louis, where he has rela-
tives.
The three bandits, one shoeless
and wearing a white mask, entered
the CTA's Westside bus deport |
during the predawn hours. After
spending more than an hour in the
cashiers section, they looted the
vault, then fled with the money
and checks. Six CTA employees
were robbed.
The gunner appeared familiar
with the terminals operation,
employees said, waiting until the
last bus driver brought In his
receipts before fleeing.
Capt. Thomas McNulty, COM
mander of the Fillmore Police dis
trict, said the robbery might have
been the perfect crime had not so
many been in on it. He said the
three holdup men, in their quest
for weapons for the job, had con-
tacted the eight men being held,
and maybe more.
cNulty credited Patrolmen
Hessie Stewart and his partner,
Ned Miller, with getting the tip
that led to the first arrests. About
20 persons were questioned follow
ing series Of raids by police who
had been tipped that certain Fill
more residents suddenly had be-
come big spenders."
Fleming, police said, had been
planning the robbery Of the de-
pot for some time.
Identification Of the robbers was
disclosed after arrests Of the eight
men in the early morning hours.
The men being held are F1emon
Brown, 81; Douglas Macarthur
Gator, 20; Bonnie Brown, 20; VII
lie Jordan, 10; James HUMPHREYS,
20; Clarence Colbert, 20; Melvin
Jeffries, 25, and Eugene Stewart,
10, all Chicagoans.
Police said Flemon Brown, Gator,
Colbert, Jeffries and Stewart re-
ceived fees ranging from 81 to 5000
for supplying the bandits with 49,
caliber pistols and a IL gauge
sawed-off shotgun.
Police said Gator quoted Davis
as telling him, I'VE made $27, 900
and everybody got away clean"
The eta, however, placed the loss
at $37,720 and checks totaling
$3.50.
Gator said he gave $3.50 to
F1emon Brown, ~, for use Of the
shotgun. Brown took $40 Of the $50
paid for use Of a revolver, in which
several of the prisoners had an in
terest, and Colbert received So.
Help Wanted! Every week In