Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1919 — HAS CONFESSED TO BURGLARY [ARTICLE]

HAS CONFESSED TO BURGLARY

Jesse Smith, Former Constable, Returned From Lafayette to Gary. Gary, Ind., July 1. —Jesse Smith, aged thirty-six, formerly a Gary constable, returned here from Lafayette by detectives yesterday, has confessed that he robbed a local poolroom on May 13 with two others and obtained $2,500 cash and Liberty bonds and two diamond rings. Statements of Lee Spiers and Red Parker, held with three others for ./the murder of Herman Uecker, cashier of the First State bank of Tolleston, led to Smith’s arrest. They said they helped Smith, but that he framed the burglary. The safe in the poolroom formerly was owned by Nick Trkulja, implicated lit the Tolleston bank holdup, who, f it is said, gave Smith the combination. The police took into custody ! Peter Goadanovich, who has admitted, they say, that he conspired with Smith to have his own (Gozdanovich’s); auto, stolen soy Smith, and then collect theft insurance. Smith was to receive $l5O for stealing the machine, the police say.