Hammond Times, Volume 1, Number 301, Hammond, Lake County, 10 June 1907 — Page 1

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Ccntracl Subscribers 9297 SM Salss - - . 1000 Tela!, Yesterday 10,2Q7 EDITION VOL. 1, XO. 301. FOUR EDITIONS DAILY. HAMMOND, INDIANA, MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1907. ONE CENT PER COPY. ESPERATE NEGRO SHOT AFTER MARSE HENRY'S CANDIDATE. SMOOTH IGITY SWEPT BY KNER CHIME WAVE

SLACK CA

SOCCESSFUL SALOON HOLD-UP Edward McCluster, Celebrates His Liberation by Daring Robbery Carries Three Bullet Wounds.

HAD THREATENED THE LIFE OF SHERIFF BARTER

During Service of Sentence to County Bastile, Negro Had Been Unruly Prisoner, on One Occasion Making Desperate Attempt to Break Jail.

With two bullet holes in his side and one in his arm, Edward McCluster, the toughest negro criminal that the local authorities have ever had to deal with, was arrested yesterday after he had held up the patrons of Mike Lukoskle's saloon on Forsythe avenue, rifled the cash register and was shot by another negro while ho was attempting to make his escape. McCluster was released from jail at Crown Point yesterday morning at 7:30 and as he had sworn he would kill Sheriff Carter and the turnkey the first chance he grot they did not take any chances with him but armed themselves heavily. McCluster did not carry out his threats, however, but took a train for Hammond. It was not seven hours after he was released until the local police were notified that there had been a desperate hold-up in Mike Lukoskle's saloon on Forsythe avenue and that the robber had been shot. It appears that at the same time McCluster was released, Sheriff Carter also let out John Paskie and Alex Poleskle, two Poles who had been arrested for horse stealing. The three men. Carter believes, framed up a plan to hold up the Liiikoskie saloon, where one of the Poles had been working, for they entered the place together .and while waiting for an opportune moment played a game of pool. McCluster watched his opportunity and when the bartender was not looking grabbed the revolver from behind the bar and after firing two shots commanded all of the" men in the saloon to hold up their hands. The patrons of the saloon were so frightened that they readily complied with the negro's demands and were all searched. The cash register was then rifled and McCluster fled. lie had no more than reached the door when another negro, one of his victims, pulled a gun and rushing after McCluster fired at the fleeing hold-up and winged him the first shot. The wounded negro stumbled into a slough and fell into the water as though he was dead. In the meantime the rest of the men in the saloon had taken up the chase and when they saw McCluster had been wounded they nil rushed over to him to make him prisoner. It happened that Constable Jim Louden lives in the vicinity of the saloon and that Constable Ren Allen was visiting him. When they heard the shots they also started in pursuit of the fleeing negro. When Louden and Allen came up to the prostrate McCluster he was feigning death, but they took no chances and lifting him out of the water they started to take off his wet clothes. When the negro saw that the trick would not work he suddenly Jumped Tip and although he was badly wounded he put up the most desperate fight imaginable. He i n powerful fellow and it took four men to finally subdue him and put on the handcuffs. The police in Hammond had been notified in the meanwhile, but as there was no patrol wagon available it was found necessary to spend three quarters of a hour in an effort to g.'t a livery rig with which to bring McCluster to the police station. The police then turned their attention to locating the men who were supposed to be accessory to the crime. After some searching John Paskie and Alex Poleskie were arrested and again

It required a search of all the livery stables in the city to secure a rig in which to bring the other prisoners to Jail. The negro who did the shooting feared that he might be blamed for his act and disappeared. As a matter of fact the police are very much pleased that he prevented the escape of a desperate criminal. A pal of his was told that all they wanted of him was that he should act as a witness and as he has been a cook in one of the camps at Gibson, it is believed that he will be found and will appear at the trial. McCluster has had a bad record since he arrived in this vicinity from Birmingham. Ala. He was arrested in Gary where he attempted to kill a man with a razor. "While in jail, he is said to have been a most unruly prisoner. He threw a cuspidor at the jailer and was continually in trouble. He was discovered in the act of breaking out of jail and. as reported by The Lake County Times at the time, he was only prevented from doing so by Sheriff Carter., who put him back in a ceti after a hard fight. Ever since then he has had it in for Carter and the Jailer and has threat'ened to kill them both when he was released. Carter took no chances, how- ' ever, and kep a shot gun in a handy f place until he knew the fellow was out lf town. This morning the prisoner was re-

SOUTH CHICAGO

LIKE WHITE CITY Dust From Cement Works Touches up Houses and Stores With Enamel. South Chicago was turned into a white city last Saturday evening and Sunday found even the inhabitants looking about to find what had come over the section. Houses were turned in the night from their original color to a beautiful tinge of white that shone in the morning sunlight like a coat of enamel. Fences, storefronts, and in fact everything along the streets throughout the business section was of the same color and gave South Chicago the . .ipearance of a ghost city. While it was pretty to look upon, it was not enjoyed in the least bit by the people. Windows were almost made useless by. the change and the housewives were, compelled to bring out the pall and scrubbing brush before they wended their way to church. Electric wires and cables looked ...as though Jack Frost had layed a heavy hand upon them, and the sidewalks gave all the-appearance of a frosty morning. ' ' The cause of the phenomena was the east wind primarily and the cement works of the Illinois Steel company secondly. With this combination, the dampness of the houses added the final touch and the result was more than was expected. The fine dust from the works was borne upon the east wind nnd carried across the' city settling upon everything out of doors. It stuck to the houses and objects like glue owing to the moistened conditions, and soon hardened to almost an enamel. It was washed off a bit last night in the heavy rain but is still visible. SHOOTING SHROUDED fl DEEP MYSTERY Wound Received by Ernest Rachou; Facts Concealed From Police. A very mysterious shooting affair was reported to the police last evening in which Ernest Rachou of 1SS South Central avenue, Chicago, was shot in the back with a weapon, presumably a revolver, in which a 22-call-bre cartridge was used. It is said the young man has been in the hospital for several days and that three of his friends visit him frequently, but they are trying to keep the matter quiet and so even the police did not know of it until last evening. It is understood that the shooting took place in Hammond in a saloon, but the name of the place could not be obtained. It is not known whether the affair was an accident or the result of a quarrel, but t"he police will probably investigate the matter. Rachou was not dangerously injur ed, it is said, nnd yesterday he was taken to Chicago by his friends. ported to be much improved and a superficial examination of the wounds indicates that they were made by u single bullet and that the one in tho side is not deep enough to be fatal. The bullet is thought to be in the arm where it is supposed to have lodged after it had passed through the side. HIT BY BOOMERANG While attending Pawnee Bill's wild west show on the north side Saturday afternoon, Lottie Tapper, the little daughter of A. II. Tapper, was struck on the head by a boomerang thrown by an Austrialian, who was with the circus. The little girl was sitting with her parents on the west side of the tent when the Austrialian lost control of his implement of warfare causing it to sail out in the audience, striking the little girl. She was taken outside where her wounds wera dressed. ,

CLEVER CROOKS

EHENDED Five Flim-Flam Workers Caught in South Chicago. KIT fTRIAL BY JURY Men Are Identified by Victims Thrilling Chase With Horses on Commercial Avenue. After a thrilling chase along Commercial avenue, early Saturday night in which five Aim flam artists in a light two seated carriage and three policemen in a light delivery wagon figured, the crooks were captured at the point of the officer's pistols and are now locked up at the South Chicago police station. The men worked in a gang, and all have been identified as old timers at the art by the police, and fully twenty store-keepers from all parts of Chicago, and surrounding towns will be on hand today to identify the men as having worked the game upon them. The five men blew into South Chi cago Saturday afternoon with a fast little black mare and a light two seated wagon. They started operations at once and while two visited the store of Mrs. J. Mamkrowski, at 742 Commercial avenue, the other three went along to 8736 Commercial avenue where they went Into the store of Mrs. S. Maguesweski. The methods employed by the men was the same in both places. They purchased a small article valued at about 10 cents and offered a $10 bill In exchange. As the women counted out the change, the second man would direct some question at her to attract her attention, and while she I was not looking the other crook would reach into the change and abstract a large bill, generally a five spot. They would then demand the full chance and when the "woman would refuse they threatened her with arrest. After working the two stores they went once more to the store of Mrs. S. Stern, where they met their downfall. After working the game at this place, the police were notified of the occurrence at the other stores and came upon the scene. The crooks saw the approach of the wagon and at once jumped into their vehicle, whipped up the horse and fled down Commercial avenue. Three of the officers jumped out of the wagon and ran to the sidewalk where a horse, attached to a light wagon was dozing peacefully. After waking up the animal they gave chase down the street, and after a few blocks rapidly overhauled the thieves, owing to the fatigue of the little black horse from its long drive from Chicago. Once abreast of i the pirate vehicle the officers drew their revolvers and told the men that if they did not stop they would shoot. This was enough to make the men understand what was wanted and the- drew j up. They were taken to the South Chi WEATHER FORECAST. Showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and tonight probably followed by fair Tuesdaymoderate temperature.

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SCRAMBLE FOR Gary the Scene of Wild Rivalry in Matter of Public Privileges. LOCAL 1 Ifl'fiT P. W. Meyn and A. M. Turner Among Applicants Who Covet Rights of Wav, Etc. Peter W. Meyn and A. M. Turner of this city, who are supposed to be representing a crowd of eastern capitalists, were added to the rapidly increasing number of franchise seekers who have been besieging the board of trustees of Gary ever since it became known that some traction franchises were to be awarded and that the company offering the best terms would be given the privileges. It was understood that the board was about to award the franchises and accordingly at the meeting there was a not-able gathering of the representatives of the capitalists who were willing to construct the lines. The board approached the matter gingerly, however, and after some discussion it was finally postponed until the next meeting in order to give representatives of the various companies an opportunity to amend their franchises and the city attorney to bring in an opinion on several points which were raised. Matter Is Postponed. Two members of the board were ready to take immediate action in the matter but it was finally agreed to postpone it until others could submit franchises. President Hanna of the Chicago, Lake Shore and South Bend interurban asked for a franchise to supplement that he already has through Gary He evidently expects the other lines to be used as a feeder to the interurban which is now being built through Gary. Besides Mr. Meyn, whose effort to secure a franchise was mentioned above. Mr. Castleman of the Lake Shore Traction company, signified his intention of filing an amended franchise and Mayor Darrow of LaPorte said he would do likewise. The scramble for franchises was an interesting one and the rival traction representa tives are watching each other closely in order to avoid giving each other an advantage. Besides those mentioned above were the several other well known men present, among them being Senator Bowser, cago police station where they were locked up. In court this morning before Judge Glrten, the men demanded a trial by jury, and as a result they will be sent down town this evening. In the meantime the report of the arrests was sent broadcast and many people from surrounding suburbs came on to Identify the men. They gave their names as follows: John Kline, James Deegan, William Henry, John Reardon, and James Kelly. They were all identified by the officers as old timers. From memorandum slips and books taken from the men it is thought they were Just starting out on a tour of the country about Chicago and western Indiana, and that their route took In Hammond and surrounding cities and towns.

RUSES

Berryman in Washington Star.

JUMPS H OH BRIDGE Carl Peters Dives Into Oily Waters at Ninety-second Street Bridge. WINS A LARI5E WAGER Would Not Take a Dare From Friends and Spoils His Clothes Wager Will Buy New Ones. Dared by his friends to jump from the Ninety-second street bridge in South Chicago, yesterday afternoon. Into the dark and oily waters of the ! Calumet river, Carl Peters a well known resident of this district bet $50 that he would and when the wager was accepted, he leaped into the river with his best Sunday clothes, and after swimming around a little landed on a pier and collected the money. The little stunt was witnessed by several hundred people on their way to the circus and the plunge caused a sensation. When Peters came to the bank dripping wet, little the worse for his plunge except that his clotheB were ruined completely, he was given a great hand by the audience for his daring. The bridge is fully 40 feet over the surface of the water which runs swilftly at this point. The draw was open at the time to allow a vessel passage, and Peters with his friends was on the west end. The bet was no sooner made than Peters without waiting to divest himself of roat, hat or shoes, dived off the end of the pier and landed with a splash. He was gone for a few seconds and soon appeared blowing the blue oil that spreads over the top of the water along the river from his mouth. He swam around laughing and after he landed went home to change his clothes and to wash the oil and slag from his face. He was $50 richer and can now afford to replace the suit of clothes and the apparel destroyed. Messrs. Knapp and Haynie of the firm of Knapp. Haynie & Campbell, counsel for the Gary & Hammond Traction company, and Engineer Reynolds, of the Gary & Western. Broadways Paving Considered. Among other questions considered by the board, was the matter of letting the contract for the paving of Broadway. Four bids had been filed by Mr. Ford of Cedar Rapids, la., Mr. Harvey, formerly of Elwood, Ind., now of Gary, T. W. McRea. of Gary, and M. II. McGovern of Chicago. The bids were opened and it was apparent from their reading that the two local men had far underbid the two outsiders. The matter was taken under advisement and the contract will be formally awarded next week at the regular meeting. Some little time was then spent discussing the improvement of Broadway south of the Pennsylvania and the improvement on Monroe street north of the same road. The entire community south of the Wabash is filling up so rapidly that the lack of graded streets and highways is very apparent by the efforts of the residents to get them improved. Mrs. Brinkhoff returned to her home in Mulberry Saturday after a few weeks' visit with her sister, Mrs. Clark Learning at her home in South Ilohman street. - .

Middle of the Road Policy

Pursued by Candidate for Governor. CHANGES HIS POLICY Abandons Radical Reform, Flirts With Taggart Forces and Thus Hopes to Lure Democracy. (Special to Lake County Tim en.) Indianapolis, June 10. L. Ert Slack of Franklin, quasl-reformer, state senator, wearer of the Prince Albert and the white carnation, upholder of the school teachers, the women and general gentleman bountiful to all comers, is giving out a carefully prepared impression these days. It differs from the original impression of several months ago, because, perhaps, circumstances have changed. Anyhow it differs. As all Indiana knows, L. Ert Slack is a candidate for the next guberna torial nomination at the hands of the democratic party. Time was when he was glad to have been reckoned as anti-Taggart. True he says that he has never taken a lead ing part against the astute and wily democratic national chairman, and his name was never mixed in the ill-fated "For the Restoration of the Majority Rule" club that was hatched In the second district. Taggart smashed this abortive attempt quite completely, but there was a time when it appeared to have some show of success. And when there was some chance of success, I Ert Slack, candidate for democratic nomination for governor, was in very close touch with the league. In fact, during the early part of the last general assembly the senator from Jollnson ana sneiuy was strong as a reformer, one with a big 11. His friends thought that he stumbled a bit now and then, as the best of us do, and then came the wonder as to what he was playing. Game la Out. Later developments have shown what the game is. The altogether reform game didn't get the goods delivered to Slack. So it is from . now on a pro gram, of modified reform. Just reason able reform reform in a small way and after a homeopathic fashion. For now Slack refuses to bo known as the anti-Taggart candidate for the democratic nomination. UC course there is a real Taggart candidate Samuel Ralston, of Lebanon; and na turally, it would seem that Slack would take the anti-tack. But he refuses to He is still a reformer, but a mild one He does not run in the Tagart harness nor does he run in contra harness. He is between the proverbial devil and deep blue sea, and the situation he thinks to be a winning one. All that Slack asks is that the Taggart people do not fight him tooth and toe nail. If they will promise not to fight him, he says that he will win; they do not need to help him Just lay away, and he is pretty sure that he will win the nomination. Now, it is not regarded as being at all likely that the Taggart crowd, charmingly accommodating as Its leader is, will willingly agree to this little Slack program. He says that under these conditions he will win. There, is no question but that the Taggart bunch do not want him to win at least not as much as they want the Hon. Samuel Ralston of Lebanon to win. In fact, the Taggart wing will probably take no arrangements of Mr. Slack as being final, and will reserve the right to make any little changes that occur to them. And In these arrangements, what will become of Mr. Slack backed unreservedly by none? Ernest Holtz reported to the police that two boys had stolen his pony on the south side where he had the animal tied to a tree. A woman living near the place saw two young boys about 1C or 17 years old come and cut the rope and taking tho horse start west, supposedly for West Hammond, The West Hammond police were notified and are on the lookout for the animal. TEAMSTERS TO

Stockyards Drivers Want Four Cents More per Hour and Will Strike if They Don't Get It.

Chicago, June 10. They are at it again those stock yards teimsters. By a unanimous vote they have decided to strike unless the packers grant them an increase of four cents per hour. Today an ultimatum was served on the packers by the drivers union. The situation also will be considered tonight by the teamsters Joint council at 10 Clark street. The council will be asked to guarantee its support. Negotiations between teamsters and packers have been in progress three weeks. Conferences have been held without result. It is said the packers offered to renew the old contract with tha same scale of waeea. and that the

After Weeks of Quiet, Police

Department Has Its Hands Full. DRUNKS AND BRAWLS These Are Many But More Serious Offenses Add to the Records of the Day. After several weeks of quiet, a crime wave swept over Hammond yester day afternoon that threatened to en gulf the local police department who are struggling along with half as many men as the law allows and are handi capped on every hand by the refusal of the mayor and city council to pro vide working facilities for the polled department. , After 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon when the report of tho holdup and, shooting at Gibson came In, there was not a moment's rest for the police de partment until late In the evening. Police Kept Ruar. It seems as though the telephone bell rang every two minutea and trouble would be reported in some part of tha city or another. There were three fights reported within five minutes. At 43 Sibley street a fight was re ported, and an officer hud no sooner started to put a stop to It, than an other was reported at 6113 Sibley street where some Jews were fighting over the sale of a cow. An officer was sent out to stop the disturbance there, when the report came In that two young men were having a fight at tho corner ot State and Sohl street. Crowd of Speetatora. When the officer arrived he-e ho found a crowd of several hundr- J people watching a fight in whlc i Otto Doebler, a bully. Jumped upon August Hamann in a quarrel over a dog. At every opportunity the officers picked up drunks on the streets and were compelled to almost carry sodden soaks to the police Htation becauso there was no patrol .wagon in which to load -them. r: - Then the report baity q in that the IZrbi freight office has been broken Into and two officers were sent out to investigate the matter. There was found to be nothing much to the story but tho time of two officers was taken up and there were other drunks to be taken care of. Wires Cut For Third Time. Some one reported that the wires at the G. H. Hammond company's old plant had been cut again and an officer was compelled to make an investlgatlon. He found the report true. In the meantime the jail was filling up with prisoners. The cells were filled and the men were put In the corridor of the Jail as' they came In. Drunks got to fighting with each other and had to be separated. The officers were kept on the Jump every minute. The officers who had been scouring the neighborhood in the vicinity of Gibson in an effort to find the men who had been seen with McCluster, tha man who held up the saloon on Forsythe avenue, finally brought them In and they had to be put In the place usually reserved for the women. lut Clone Window. The drunks made so much noise that they could be heard all over the neighborhood and the officers were compelled to close the windows. The stench from the clothes and breaths of a dozen hoboes and drunks became almost unbearable but there was no alternative and so these habitues from the under regions were compelled to put up with. It. It was not until lat In the evening when the Sunday orgies were over that the worn out officers were permitted to i have an hour's respite. There were other matters too numerous to mention that were called to the attention of the police, but the following are the cases that were thought Important enough to book. Walter Basney, drunk; William Pulman, drunk; Otto Doebler, fighting; August Hamann, fighting; Ed McCluster, robbery; John PaskI, accessory; Alex Poleskl, accessory; Ignatz Orshletz, drunk; Frank Farley, drunk; Frank Landls, drunk; F. R. Lienan, disorderly. STRIKE THURS union refused. The employes are asking for an advance of 4 cents an hour. It is the first increase asked since tha big stock yards strike in 1902. The present scale of wages is from 19 to 33 cents an hour and embraces all classes of teamsters from those on the carts to the six-horse delivery wagons. The men have asked the packing firms to Increase the wages of all classes uniformly. After the teamsters' strike at the stock yards five years ago the union of drivers became partly disrupted. During the last few years, however, the men have been organizing quietly. In the event of a strike about 400 men would be involved.