March 23, 1931: THEY WELCOME MOST TOURISTS BUT THIS TRUCK DRIVER MADE TOO MUCH OF A HIT, IT SEEMS

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on March 23, 1931

THEY WELCOME MOST TOURISTS BUT THIS TRUCK DRIVER MADE TOO MUCH OF A HIT, IT SEEMS

Ray and Martha Eschenbach, owners of a tourist camp on Dunes Highway, in Mineral Springs addition, northwest of Chesterton, are always anxious for patrons to stop at their place, but there are certain rules which must be observed.

When Clayton Merrill, an Illinois man, drove into the Eschenback place on March 18, at 9:30 p.m. his presence was not exactly desired, especially as Merrill failed to control his Reo speed wagon which was running at high speed, collided with a building, 20x34 feet, used by the Eschenbachs as a tourist quarters.

The building was completely wrecked, and damage in the sum of $450 was incurred. This is all set out in a complaint for damages and attachment filed today in Porter superior court by Attorney George R Williams, of Chesterton, representing the Eschenbachs.

Jan. 9, 1931: IF YOU SEE JOE TELL HIM ABOUT THIS Sheriff Burney Maxwell Seeks Locate Former Operator of Notorious Resort on Old Count.

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on January 9, 1931.

IF YOU SEE JOE TELL HIM ABOUT THIS

Sheriff Burney Maxwell Seeks Locate Former Operator of Notorious Resort on Old Count.

Where is Joe Manuro, alias Joseph Locrasto, once reputed Gary underworld vice lord, and former operator of the notorious Roamer Inn, on Dunes Highway?

Sheriff Burney Maxwell would like to learn Locrasto’s present whereabouts, so he can apprise him that he must serve thirty days in Porter county jail for violating a restraining order issued back in 1925 by Judge H.H. Loring, of Porter circuit court.

The supreme court recently acted on Locasto’s appeal and affirmed the decision of the local court that Locrasto must serve thirty days in jail and pay a $100 fine and costs.

But Joe’s absence from his old familiar haunts is holding up the carrying out of the punishment.

Sheriff Maxwell visited Gary and other places where Joe usually is found, but could not locate him. Gary police reported they had not seen Joe in several fortnights.

The last time the sheriffs glimpsed Joe was several months ago and he jokingly asked when he was going to serve that old sentence.

“That has all been fixed up,” Locrasto told the sheriff.

Last summer, federal agents were investigating Joe with the purpose of deporting him. The move has never crystallized into real action as yet.

Locrasto was arrested on numerous occasions by Porter county officials while in charge of the famous Roamer Inn. Once a padlock was placed on the resort, but the Mid-City bank, of Gary, which had a mortgage on the place, obtained an order dissolving it.

It is believed Locrasto thought this action also knocked out his conviction for violating the injunction, but this was slapped on before the order was vacated.

The question now is: “Where is Locrasto?” Sheriff Maxwell is anxious to know.

Nov. 22, 1930: CAPTURE LAST MEMBER GANG OF ROBBERS James Germano in Hiding Since Capture of Pals, Nabbed and Brought Here to County Jail. SKUBICH WAS ROBBERY PARTNER

Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on November 22, 1930.

CAPTURE LAST MEMBER GANG OF ROBBERS

James Germano in Hiding Since Capture of Pals, Nabbed and Brought Here to County Jail.

SKUBICH WAS ROBBERY PARTNER

James Germano, 22, alleged member of the Stillinovich-Magdos-Dago Dan gang of bandits wich terrorized the Calumet region, including north Porter county resorts along Dunes Highway until their roundup several months ago, was brought here to Porter county jail early today by Sheriff Burney Maxwell and Deputy Sheriff Freeman Lane.

Germano was the last member of the gang at large. He was captured Friday when he sought to return to Gary from Chicago, where he had been in hiding since his pals were corralled in a big roundup by Lake and Porter county officers.

Sheriff Burney Maxwell has two robbery charges to press against Germano. One is the Wigwam barbecue on Dunes Highway; the other the theft of $135 from a bureau drawer at the Andrew Holmgren farm, east of Flint lake, during a fire which destroyed a barn on that place last summer. 

Willie Skubich, 19, of Gary, recently sentenced to Indiana reformatory for a period of one to ten years, was a partner of Germano in the two robberies. 

Dago Dan, former leader of the gang was killed early this summer in a holdup at Berwyn, Ill. Nick Marley, another member of the gang, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison several weeks ago in Lake criminal court at Crown Point. Other members of the gang are in Crown Point jail awaiting trial.