Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1919 — BANK ROBBERS IN CUSTODY [ARTICLE]

BANK ROBBERS IN CUSTODY

Men Who Killed Tolleston Banker Are Nabbed. Chicago’, June 29.—Chicago detectives have won the credit of running down the bandits who two weeks ago held up the First State bank of Tolleston, Indiana, and killed the cashier, Herman W. Uecker. Seven members of the gang are in jail today. Five of them have confessed to participation in the robbery, the police say, and one has acknowledged that he fired the shot which killed Uecker. Two of the band are said not to have been directly concerned In the robbery, but to have operated with the others In extensive automobile thefts. The detention of the robbers had a romantic flavor. Information revealing their WenMty eame io Patrolman James Colman and Peter Bernacchl of the South Clark street station through a woman whom they had befriended last winter when they found her hungry and half frozen. Some days ago she telephoned the station, got Colman on the wire and told him whom to look for. In a few days the police arrested Lee Spiers of 5035 South Morgan street and "Red” Parker of 6515 South Fairfield avenue. Admission obtained from these two led to the arrest of the others. They are; Dan Trkulja of Gary, driver of the car in which the murderers escaped, Albert C. Batchelor of Chicago, a paroled prisoner from Jeffersonville.

Thomas Batchelor, Valparaiso, a brother of Albert and also a paroled convict from Jeffersonville. Nick Trkulja of Gary, brother of Dan, whose car was used in the escape to Chicago. Damjam Blellch of Chicago, who aided in the escape. Nick Trkulja and Blellch are held as accessories. Trkulja used his car at funerals and by chance was selected to drive the widow of the murdered cashier and her two children to the cemetery on the day of the funeral. Through the discovery of Trkulja’s car by the police seven automobiles stolen by the gang have been recovered, Chief of Police Forbis of Gary said.