Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 182, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1914 — YOUTHFUL THIEF TAKEN TO VALPO [ARTICLE]

YOUTHFUL THIEF TAKEN TO VALPO

Capture of Boy Dilts May Lead to Other Arrests—Apparently Followed the Business. Roy Dilts, who was captured .Monday morning by Sheriff Hoover and William Ervin, court bailiff and deputy sheriff, is quite certain to prove a very important capture, for evidence was secured that gives indication that he is one of a gang of horse thieves that have been op erating for some time in northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois. , s The Republican was able to give only a vague account of the cap ture in a previous issue, as neither Sheriff Hoover nor Deputy Ervin were in town at the time and Dilts was reluctant to talk. Since the paper was published, however, the complete circumstance of the stealing, the pursuit and the ultimate capture of the thief (have been learned. The mare and rig which were stolen belonged to Henry Bagels, [ who lives 3V 2 mile! southwest of Kouts and about 8 miles north of Wheatfield. He had driven to Kouts Saturday evening to do some trading and the horse was stolen at about 9:30 o’clock. Mr. Bagels missed her at about 10. He lost no time in examining the track and found out which way she had been driven. He procured an auto and set out in pursuit.' "She was taken very near his home and had veered out of the roa d at that place in her effort to go the route she was used to traveling. At every crossroads the auto was stopped and Mr. Pagets examined the tracks to ascertain which road was taken. She was driven into Jasper county, through Wheatfield, west past Kersey, then to the corner south of DeMotte mid then to Pair Oaks and Rensselaer. Mr. Bagels and the driver of the auto kept up the chase until almost to Pair Oaks. The driver of the ear said that they must be on the wrong track as It would be impossible -for the home to have kept ahead of them with the short start it had had. Mr. Bagels reluctantly turned beck, although when he did so he was’ within a half mile of the horse and the thieves had he only known it The next day Pagels procured another automobile and again took up the trail and Sheriff Hoover was notified Of the theft and the fact that the stolen property was thought to be in thireounty. Monday morning Sheriff Hoover learned that a young man with a rig of the description given had been in McOoysburg Sunday and had gone to the home of a man named Chapman in Milroy township. He went to Ohppmon’s, only to learn‘that the thief had been there and removed the top from the buggy and cut the blinds off the bridle and then left for the home of a man named Wenrick, south of Wheatfield. Sheriff Hoover and Deputy Ervin hastened in pursuit. Their auto stuck in a sandhill near the Wenrick farm and they had just climbed out of the machine when Diltz, on the back of the horse, came galloping Into sight. Sheriff Hoover recognized the horse at a glance, notwithstanding the fact that Dilts had cut off her mane and talk He stopped Dilts and asked him to help them boost the auto out of the sand and as soon as he climbed off the horse he was placed under arrest Sheriff Hoover brought him to town, turning the marg over to Deputy Ervin, 'who went to Mr. Wenrick’® to get, the buggy and harness. He found, however, that the harness was not there, but that Diltz 'had traded it for an old set of harness to a family named, Galbraith some 7 miles away. Mr. Ervin went after the harness and found that Diltz had made an even trade, which looked a little as though the Galbraiths'might have surmised that, the property was stolen,' for they hod given a set of harness worth practically nothing for an almost new set. Dilts evidently wanted to dispose of everything that tallied -with the description of the stolen property and this led him to cut the mare’s mane and tail. Sheriff Ltodall and Deputy Forney, In the meantime, had arrived from Porter county, and they were very glad when they learned that Sheriff Hoover had made the capture. They worked with Diltz for some time, finally securing a confession from him. He said that another young main had been with him, that they had gone to Lacrosse to steal a >horse but had not found one And had then gone to Kouts. He said that his pal had come with him to Rensselaer, that they had seen the automobile pursuing them and that it was within a half mile of them a time or two.

He said that his pal had taken the early train Sunday morning at Rensselaer for Hammond. He gave his name and the officers at Hammand were notified to make the arrest. Diltz informed the officers that the stolen horses are marketed at Chicago Heights, South Chicago, Blue Island and sometimes at Judyville. He said that there was to be a big sale of stolen horses at Blue Island Thursday of this week. Diltz was very anxious that his mother should not learn of his trouble and this led him to make a confession implicating others and it is possible that a regular nest ol the thieves may be uncovered.

Sheriff Lindall and Deputy Forney took no chances with the young thief in taking him hack to Valparaiso, but placed him in handcuffs and regarded him as a very important capture. In searching Diltz’s effects a notebook was found which seems to contain some further incriminating information. On one page is written: “Horse placed in pasture May 7, get him and take him to” and then a penciled route is drawn on the book. Another page says: “Horse in pasture May 7 to June 7” and this also is followed by a zigzag route. Another page a little sentiment about his mother, saying: “Mother, you may never clasp me to your heart again*"

A record in the book shows several entries of S2O and one for $59 and another for SIOO. It fa believed that these are amounts he has received for stolen horses. Deputy Ervin did riot arrive fn Rensselaer with the horse until Monday evening. The poor animal was About all in, 'having been bruised some by her long and hard drive. She is 14 years of age but is a high-class animal and was.a race horse before being taken for a driver. The owner threw his arms about her neck and wept for a moment when he saw her and realized her abuse. He decided to leave her here for a few days so that she can rest up before being driven, back to Kouts. Mr. Pagels returned to his hqme thte Tuesday-morning by train. It is not improbable that Roy Donnelly’s mare was stolen by some of the same gang -and it might behoove Roy to make a trip to Blue Island and the other places mentioned. ' • ft fa hoped that Information can be secured that will result in the arrest of all the guilty gang. Diltz, who was born in Rensselaer, is said to be about 23 years of age, although he gave hte age as only 20. He was convicted with another man of stealing a team at Chicago Heights and after serving 6 months in an Illinois prison was paroled. Evidently he went right back Into his old habits and this time be should be sent up for a long time. Len Griggs, of thte city, who fa his uncle, states that young DHtz also stole a team of horses from the rear of Eger's store In Rensselaer several years ago, but that the team was recovered and he was not punished on account of hte youth.