A Gun at His Head

But Roedder's Arm Was Grabbed and Saved Him.

Arrested for Stealing

A Bicycle from Wurster and Kirn's Bicycle Office.

He is a Smooth Gentleman just from Germany and is Well Posted on Bicycles. He Waived Examination before Justice Duffy.

The person who stole the bicycle belonging to Ernest Wurster out of the shop of Wurster & Kirn, on N. Fourth ave., has been found it is claimed in the person of Hans Roedder, a high school student. He was brought before Justice Duffy Tuesday afternoon and waived examination. He was bound over to the October term of the circuit court and in default of $500 bail was committed to jail.

The warrant charges Roedder with the larceny of a Record bicycle valued at $60 April 14. It was taken out of the shop on the night of that day. The owner Ernest Wurster had been in the office that evening and upon leaving locked the front door as he believed. The door was found open by the police about 10 o'clock and Mr. Wurster notified. He went to the shop and immediately discovered that one of his new bicycles was taken. Marshal Sweet and some of the other city officers believed it was taken by a professional from out of town. Mr. Wurster had his own suspicions however, and he kept working on the case until it resulted in Roedder's capture Tuesday afternoon. The latter is a very bright young man who arrived from Germany last year and entered the high school. He roomed and boarded with his brother Edwin Roedder. He was a very fluent talker with agreeable manners and he made friends with everyone he came in contact with. It was generally remarked that Roedder was very forward and made himself at home where ever he was. He became a friend of Oscar Wurster a brother of Mr. Wurster, who is also attending the high school and often called upon him and took meals at the house. He called often on Ernest Wurster and borrowed the key to the office and sat there by the hour claiming to read a bicycle journal. He was quite an expert and repaired bicycles for people. To disarm Mr. Wurster's suspicions, he had his friend Oscar Wurster fill out an order blank for parts of bicycles. These were just the same as those of the bicycle stolen. He said he would send it away and get the parts to put a bicycle together which he wanted to send to a younger brother in Germany. Some days later he claimed the parts had arrived. This Mr. Wurster quietly investigated and found was an untruth. He felt so much self confidence that Tuesday he called on Oscar Wurster about noon and stayed to dinner.

Constable Schall and Mr. Wurster went to Roedder's room, No. 152 E. Ann st., Tuesday afternoon. Roedder was much surprised to see them and at their proposal to search his premises. They wanted to see what was in a big German made chest. At first he said he had no key, but upon their insisting he found a key. He took the things out and threw them across the floor. When he was putting the articles back the first article he took hold of was a paper box. Upon opening this Mr. Wurster recognized two pedals and another part of his bicycle. Mr. Wurster and Roedder went into an adjoining bed room and talked it over. Roedder wanted to know what Mr. Wurster would take for his wheel, and when Mr. Wurster said he could not settle the matter, Roedder said there was nothing else left for him to do but to shoot himself. He pulled out a loaded revolver, but before he could do anything Mr. Wurster caught him and in the tussle the revolver fell on the bed. Constable Schall rushed into the room and secured the revolver.

In the evening his brother had an interview with him at the jail. He told his brother not to ask any questions or talk simply to get him bail. He suggested his brother deposit $500 in the bank and thereby secure the necessary bail.

The young man seems to be a bicycle crank. He was one of the best posted men on wheels in the city, being able to recognize instantly the make of any wheel that he saw. Recently an acquaintance told him of a notice of a number of stolen bicycles sent out by a sheriff. He was very much interested in this.

He showed Mr. Wurster and Constable Schall a book in which he claimed to have a copy of the order he sent away. Mr. Wurster called his attention to the fact that they were of a different make than those he had on hand.

This case, on account of the prominence of the young man, has caused much talk. He expected to spend the summer in Grand Rapids, while his brother was to leave for Europe on Monday next.

His former home was in Baden. According to Roedder's various stories his father was a miller, a railroad contractor and a forester.

The case against Hans Roedder for larceny has been disposed of to the satisfaction of the parties.