Thursday, December 9, 2010

Ex-Soldier arrested charged with theft

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Record on Thursday, December 9, 1920.

John F. Connors, police chief, arrested Wilbur C. Holcomb, of Jackson, Tuesday evening and locked him up on a charge of grand larceny. An overcoat belonging to Richard Hurdley was taken from the high school last week and a man dressed in a soldier’s uniform was suspected. Tuesday evening about 6 o’clock Superintendent A. C. Erickson telephoned Chief Connors that the man was seen here by the high school janitor. After notifying the patrolman Connors took his car and combed the city, landing his man on Cross Street, where he was getting ready to take the (interurban) car. An overcoat was found which answered the description of Hurdley’s coat, but which Holcomb said he stole at the Masonic temple Tuesday evening. Lynn Schaffer later notified the police that he had his coat stolen and identified it. Holcomb then confessed that he had stolen Hurdley’s coat and said he sold it in Detroit. Chief Connors took Holcomb to Detroit Wednesday afternoon so he could point out the store, as he said he did not know the name or address of it. A charge of larceny over $25 will be preferred against Holcomb.

Holcomb was arraigned Wednesday evening and waived examination. He was bound over to circuit court and his bail was fixed at $1,000.

Family awakened by morning prowler

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Friday, December 9, 1910.

Officer Walter Pierce was called to the home of S. T. Glanfield at 414 Ellis Street (now Washtenaw Ave) Wednesday morning, about 3 o’clock in response to a burglar alarm. The girls in the house claim that they were awakened by some one prowling about under their window on the west side of the house. The family were all aroused and a hunt made for the man but he could not be found, they therefore called an officer who found tracks going from the front of the house under the windows to the rear of the house but the man was evidently frightened away before he had succeeded in making an entrance. The girls were so badly frightened that they were unable to go to bed the rest of the night but insisted in sitting up and kept the light burning bright till daybreak.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Officer hurt in making arrest

This story was published by The Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, December 8, 1930.

After warding off arrest for approximately 15 minutes, and injuring the left arm of Patrolman Coy Ranking in a tussle, John Goodman, 325 First Ave., was finally subdued at 6 o’clock Saturday evening and taken to jail.

Goodman was arraigned in Justice A. M. Vandersall’s court this morning on a charge of resisting arrest and injuring an officer, and after an examination, was bound over to circuit court, Ann Arbor, with bond set at $3,000.

According to Patrolman Rankin who signed the complaint against Goodman, he received a report at 6 o’clock that Andrew J. Watson, owner of a pool room on E. Michigan Ave., and Goodman were having difficulty; Gooddman who had been ordered oout, kicked two windows out of the front end of the stairway as he was departing.

“I arrived at the scene as Goodman was coming out of the store and ordered him to halt,” stated Patrolman Rankin in court today. “Instead of that he ran up an alley, and it wasn’t until we reached the rear entrance of a meat market that Goodman finally halted

“After handcuffs were snapped on Goodman with the assistance of Watson and Dale Franklin, I was leading him to the police booth, when he tripped me, and clamped down on my arm, which I had locked in his causing us both to fall to the pavement, and injuring my arm.”

Patrolman William Franklin was then called and Goodman was placed in the police car and taken to city jail, only after another struggle.

The x-ray picture of Patrolman Rankin’s arm revealed that no bones were broken although the elbow and forearm were bruised severely.

According to Watson, Goodman had been drinking and made abusive remarks in his pool room, which resulted in ordering him out.

Goodman has appeared in municipal court previously. He was arrested Sept. 23, 1928 for being drunk and disorderly and was fined $10.

Solider with stolen coat is in lockup

This story was published by The Daily Ypsilanti Press on Wednesday, December 8, 1920.

Lynn Schaffer lost his $90 overcoat at the Masonic Temple, Tuesday night, and Chief Connors recovered it for him. However the chief wasn’t looking for that particular overcoat but for one young Dick Hurdley lost at the high school last Friday.

The story is an interesting one. When Hurdley missed his overcoat the police department was notified. Investigation showed that a man in the uniform of a soldier was in the building an hour or two before the coat was missed, but so much time had elapsed that there wasn’t much hope of finding the thief or the overcoat.

But Tuesday night the janitor told Supt. (of schools) Erickson that the same solider was around the building again, and Chief Connors was told. He immediately started to find the man and finally located him on Hamilton Street, with a soldier’s bag, in which was an overcoat, and a knit blanket that might have been taken from a baby carriage.

Young Hurdley’s father identified the overcoat as belonging to his son, but when it was tried on, it was too large, though having the same general appearance.

The solider told conflicting stories as to how he got the overcoat and about “waiting for his brother.” Connors went ot he Masonic Temple, where there was a function, and left word that if anybody missed anything to let him know. About 11 o’clock Schaffer called up and going to the city hall, found it was his coat the soldier had.

In the prisoner’s pocket was found a receipt for an article of apparel which had been left at a cleaning establishment in Detroit, and tody Connors went to Detroit to see what the ticket represented, thinking that perhaps it might be Hurdley’s overcoat.

The prisoner gives the name of Wilber C. Holcomb. He claims to be from Camp Custer. He is now in the city hall jail.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

House and contents burn, family away

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Saturday, December 3, 1910.

The home of Charles Dale, who resides three miles east of town, was entirely destroyed by fire Friday afternoon about 4 o’clock. The family were away from home at the time and little of the contents were saved. The cause of the fire is unknown. It was first discovered by neighbors who saw smoke issuing from the roof and immediately phoned other neighbors who went to the rescue.

One of the men broke in the windows and made a brave attempt to save the piano but was overpowered with the intense smoke and was obliged to abandon an attempt. All that was saved was a few pictures and furniture and a gold watch. The cellar contained over 500 head of cabbage which was burned with the rest. It was insured in the Washtenaw Mutual Company.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Man ill is shed at hospital site dies, no inquest

This story was published by the Ypsilanti Daily Press on Monday, December 1, 1930.

(The Ypsilanti State Hospital was still under construction when this story was published.)

No inquest will be held into the death of an unidentified man who died at University Hospital Saturday night where he was taken from the site of the new Ypsilanti State Hospital. An autopsy performed Sunday at University Hospital revealed that death was caused by edema of the brain. Coroner E. C. Ganzhorn ordered the autopsy.

Ambulance from here was called when it was reported that a man at the hospital site had been stricken suddenly ill. He was found by attendants in a shed in an unconscious condition.

Due to the unusual circumstances Dr. Granzhorn impaneled a jury in case an inquest would prove to be necessary. On it were Emil Susterka, Walter Herrick, Roy Miller, Fremont Peterson, Nelson Boutell and Glen Murdock.

Identity of the man has not yet been established. He wore a Detroit city Gas Co. employee’s badge, bearing the number “C-6667.” He had a small gold rivet through the lob of his right ear bearing the initial “W.” On his left forearm an American flag had been tattooed and on his left forearm a crucifix. He was about 45 years old, with closely cropped black hair, weighed 175 pounds and was 5 feet, 10 inches tall.

A check of the badge number at the gas company’s office in Detroit Saturday night showed that no employee during 1930 had been assigned the number on the badge found in the victim’s possession.