Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 267, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1914 — GRANGERS ARE NOW UNDER ARREST [ARTICLE]

GRANGERS ARE NOW UNDER ARREST

Chicago Detectives Allege They Conducted Greatest Automobile “Fence” in Existence.

On an indictment returned in Chicago, “Hank” Granger, of Thayer, was placed under arrest today, according to the Chicago Herald. It is also understood that Andrew Granger, of DeMotte, spn of “Hank”, has been indicted and that his arrest .will take place almost any time. V- Should they fight requisition they will be placed in Jail in Rensselaer until the requisition papers are procured. They are charged with running the greatest 'automobile “fence” ‘in existence. A “fence” is a place where stolen property is taken to conceal it pending disposal. The Republican has been able to procure a yery good story about the automobile thefts and it is not improbable that the next few days will witness the arrest of several presumed to be a part of the automobile stealing gang. According to reports eight automobiles in the possession of Hank and Andrew Granger were returned to their owners last week and the detectives are on the~traek of hundreds of others. Probably there are other “fences”, but all are supposed to be located in Indiana and probably along the Kankakee river. According to one of the detectives a man has been found who went to Hank Granger to buy a eaij. Granger said they are “out on my forty,” meaning his 40-acre farm, which he is reported to often refer to and which is some place along

the Kankakee river between Illinois and Starke county. The man said he Was taken into the country, he did not know how far from Thayer, but he thought quite a distance. Concealed from the road was a shed which contained six automobiles. A m'an was at work filing off the numbers and shifting the bodies of the caTs. The purchaser said that cars were offered at prices ranging from $l5O for slightly used Cars to S3OO for brand new Ford touring cars. He did not buy, being afraid that he might later be called on to surrender the car. Several months ago the Adams & Kitchener ranch, west of Roselawn, was robbed. The furniture, silverware and clothing were stolen and later Charles Shinkle was arrested fpr the deed. Mr. Adams is a wealthy man and resides in Chicago. Shinkle gave bond, but last week his bondsmen withdrew and

Sheriff Dowling again placed him under arrest and he was in jail in Rensselaer for a few days, being again released Tuesday. He is said to have given up information to detectives which caused the automobile “fence” to be discovered. Tusdlay there arrived in Rensse-

laer L. W. Pietseh, Thos. T. North and Charies Hedge. All were special agents for insurance companies, representing some twenty-four companies that insure against theft. They were hot on the scent of any evidence that might Cause them to locate any stolen automobiles. They looked v at the cars which D. W. Wlaymire and A. B. Randle had purchased of Granger and stated that they expected to have men here who would lay claim to these cars. They say that since the first of January 1,400 automobiles have been stolen in Chicago and that 90 per cent of them were, Fords. They slay that the organization of the gangs includes a “boss thief,” the “common thieves” and the “fences." The boss locates the car and tne fence. He tips off the common thief where to get the car, tells him where to take it and the prfee he is to receive."- If it is a new car the common thief gets $100; if it is a second hand car he gets- SSO or more. The boss thief gets SSO for each car. The “fence” sells them for all he can get. The Republican is informed that many of chese cars were run into the Granger A Whittaker garage in Hammond and that Granger is a nephew of Hank Granger. attorney J. A. Dunlap, of Rensse-

laer, has been employed by the automobile companies to look after their business and he has been working in connection with the three special agents who are here. They say that some fifteen or twenty detectives are engaged in unraveling the a uto mystery and that a number if arrests will probably follow within a few days. \ Ogden T. MeClurg, the Chicago man whose big Cadillac car Was stolen in Chicago some time ago and which was found some two weeks ago in the possession pf Andrew Granger, of DeMotte, and was brought here and stored in the Central Garage, came down from Chicago today and brought With him two or three detectives. They

stopped at Thayer and report that the Chicago officers arrested Hank Granger. They found him, so they are reported to have said, with a new stolen car in his barn and that he was engaged in chiseling the number off. ’/ Mr. McClure's car had beCn left here until a hearing could he had in the circuit court on the action in replevin. He secured possession of the Car today, however, by giving a bond and in company with the detectives went to DeMotte, pm sumably to place Andrew Granger under arrest. They will return here tonight and remain until tomorrow morning.