Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1916 — CONFESSES ROBBING L. & H. DRUGSTORE [ARTICLE]

CONFESSES ROBBING L. & H. DRUGSTORE

Stewart Short Makes Sworn Statement and Tells Wabbly Story Implicating Others. Stewart Short, 17 years old, son of Mrs, Garland Grant, was taken in charge Monday evening by Officers Critser and Parks and after reaching the office of Deputy Prosecutor Samis confessed that he had robbed Larah & Hopkins’ drugstore on the evening of March sth. He said be had secured $43 from a tin box after prying open the back door with a pick and that he had divided the money with an accomplice. He later made affidavit to a written statement prepared by Mr. Sands. Short mentioried the names of several others as the ones who had helped him commit the burglary and James Godfrey was taken in charge and left in jail for an hour but he stoutly maintained his innocence and a statement from his father, who said himself and son had spent that evening together and were in their room in the Nowels house when Short came in, cleared young Godfrey. Short later said that he had lied about Godfrey and implicated another young man who easily proved his innocence. Short then said he had lied again and declined to tell who had been with him, saying that the man would kill him.

Short told of other escapades, including the stealing of $6 on one occasion from the money drawer in O’Riley’s bakery and $1 from the home of a neighbor. His mother had made these amounts good arid kept him out of trouble. He was taken before Judge Hanley once and was admonished that his conduct would get him into serious trouble If he did not mend his ways. He had promised to do so. He had had some trouble at Kendalville also. His stories were so rambling and he was picked up on so many mis-statements that it was difficult to tell what was true and what false. He said that he would sooner go to the penitentiary all alone than to “tell” on his accomplice and efforts co get him to make a full confession were unavailing. For some time Short has had a room in the Nowels house and has worked at odd jobs for Dr. Horton. His mother, who went from here Kentland, where she purchased a millinery store, is now running a 5 and 10 cent store at Milford, 111. She kept the boy’s board paid and expected to have him join her as soon as she became permanently settled. He was treated liberally by Dr. Horton, who had taken a liking to him, and offered to give him help in getting an education. Dr. Horton says he had trusted the boy implicitely and had never discovered a dishonest adr.He the jail when the -boy made his confession and Stewart showed some emotion because he did not want Dr. Horton to know about it. Short was arraigned before Squire Dean this afternoon and bound SSOO. «