Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1912 — INDIANA STATE NEWS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANA STATE NEWS.

PORTLAND —A masked and armed man entered the Panhandle depot at Redkey, twelve miles west of here, and at the point of a revolver held up Frank Vantiburg, the operator, and robbed him of S3B and two watches. Fifteen dollars of the money taken belonged to the company, the rest being taken from Vantiburg and his broth-er-in-law, Albert Ludle, who was in the office at the time of the robbery. The robber made his escape with a horse and buggy stolen from the barn of Fay Crisler, near the depot. He is believed to have driven through Pennville two _ hours later, going northwest, but the rig has not yet been found. Railroad officers are working on the case, but have no clew or description of the man. The boldness "of the crime indicates professionalism!.

NEWCASTLE John Harris, married and with a large family, was arrested and l the police have the man who has been passing fraudulent checks on local business men the past few weeks. At first Harris stoutly denied his guilt, but after four or five victims had identified him, he confessed' that he was the guilty man. In defense of his actions Harris said he was oat of work and his family destiftue, ,ana that he hadi to have money. He was charged with issuing fraudulent checks and is in jail and the Merchants’ association will vigorously prosecute him. The arrest of Harris came about through a clew obtained by Miss Florence Archibald, employed in a local store, who had accepted a bogus check from Harris and had since been keeping a lookout for him.

NEWCASTLE —A plot w hich was revealed to Sheriff Kirk by Jesse Freelp on the way to Michigan City prison to serve a life sentence for murder, of an attempt to be made to break jail by several prisoners, including Freel, had he not beer, taken to prison so soon after his trial, caused the sheriff to make a rigid inspection of the jail, and this resulted in finding several places where walls and the window bars had Bben tampered with. No saws wdre found, as Freel said there might be, hut former searches always revealed a couple of fine saws, and how they got in the jail was always a mystery. An especial effort will be made by the sheriff to see that the jail is made as near impregnable as possible.