Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 188, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1919 — YOUTH HELD ON MANY CHARGES [ARTICLE]

YOUTH HELD ON MANY CHARGES

EDMOND MURRAY FACES AUTO THEFT, ARSON, FORGERY AND OTHER CHARGES. (Edmond Murray, 23, until a few weeks ago employed in this city by an electrical firm, was arrested iin Lafayette early Saturday morning and taken to Mo non to answer to charges of arson, auto theft, burglary and forgery, preferred by Archie Lee, a former resident of this city and a son of Walter Lee, of Mt. Ayr, and Wolcott parties. It is said that Murray drove to the electrical shop owned by Mr. Lee at Morton at 11:40 o'clock Friday night and told the night policeman, James Wilson, that he was assisting Mr. Lee in doing some electrical work at Reynolds and had come for some supplies. He unlocked the door and began loading the electrical goods into his Ford touring car. To decieve Mr. Wilson he pretended to list the goods on a pad. After he had plaiced ahnost the entire contents tof the store in the car, he drove away. A short time later Officer Wilson again made his rounds and discovered the electrical shop 'on fire. Calling Mr. Lee, he succeeded in extinguishing the flames. It was not until then that Mr. Lee discovered that the store had been robbed. He then obtained a description of the mlan from Mr. Wilson, and* knowing that Murray’s mother jived in Lafayette,. notified the authorities at that city to be on the lookout for Murray. Two officers went to the Alpha Gamma Rho bouse in -West Lafayette, where Mrs. Murray and her > son have (been staying this summer. Murray ran to the fire escape on the second floor, 'leaped out, and ran up the street almost a block and then took to the fields. The officers pursued him and after a lively chase in which the authorities ran into a foaibed wire fence and were (badly scratched and their clothing tom almost to shreds, they succeeded in capturing Murray when he slipped and fell. The electrical goods which the young man had taken were found in the oar in a foam three doors frotm where Murray lived, and it was also found that the car which he bad used belonged to Ray Phillips, of Lafayette, and had been taken Friday, August 1. It was learned that the officers at Monon were in search of Mturray for passing worthless checks at Wolcott' and, as the charges filed there were graver than those filed in Lafayette, he was allowed to go to ( Monon with the officers, Where he (was given a preliminary hearing and taken to MontioeQk) for trial. It is said that Murray admitted taking the automobile and the electrical goods, but denied having set fire to the shop. Edmond Murray formerly lived in California, and claims to have been in the army. His father died about four months ago, and the family then came to this city, leaving here a few weeks ago to make their (home in Lafayette. Relatives started the young man in the electrical business at Wolcott; (but he* failed. Murray went from Monon to Lafayette several days ago, where he was instrumental in organizing the Lafayette branch of the American Legion, and was made one of the committeemen of the order. He formerly lived in Fresno, California, in which city he states that be was chairman of the World war veterans’ organization. During hds residence in .this city Murray made many friends and gave all the impression that he was an honest, upright young man, and his recent actions have come as a great surprise to them.