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fteen in stockftdca slroogt frani the' New. Jetsoy by IIq tonight.BADMAN CONFESSES^ 5 SAFECRACKING JOBSLee Casteel, Indiana badman captured hare after an armed robbery Wednesday, iias , admitted safe , burglaries or robberies at Bonham’s, Taylor Brothers Jewel-ry, Magnolia Paper Co., Prates* sional Pharmacy and the Shell Prescription Center, police said today.Castell, a bullet-scarred narcoticaddict with a long criminal record, made the verbal confession lftsf night after be was given a shot of narcotics toy a physician.Capt. Chris RaehnJ, chief of detectives, said Casteel was in misery yesterday and the shot was a medical necessity.Followed Crime NowaRachal also revealed that Casteel was a close follower of crime news in the Caller and The Times. He kept track of which places were burglarized and checked the places to see how easy another burglary would'be and if it would bo worthwhile from a financial standpoint.Another, gimmick Casteel report* edly used • was following the armored truck of the Armored Motor Service. - Rachal said Casteel followed the truck and checked the frequency of its trips to certain stores. From this he tried to figure the amount oi money delivered to the stores. .Rachal said he had been watching trips to Biel’s Grocery on North Beach, apparently planning n safe burglary there.Casteel . was captured at his North Beach trailer home after be held up the Professional Ptoar-• • . • • I ' rCasteel declared ho would hava shot, it out with police if they had arrived before, he had the Injection. Casteel, incidentally, still carries the scars of seven bullet wounds* received shooting it out with police,Detective Tom Coates and Detective Sgt. Frank Dolan 4 re handling the case. Detectives who helped capture Casteel include Goates, Dolan, Matt Pellegrino and Dewey Bridges,Dozens of watches left for repairs were taken in the Tayloj* Brothers burglary on Christmas Day, but Rjichal said Casteel didn’t have any ot them in his.possession. ..m 4Casteel said he entered the. jewelry 'store before daylight and worked in it all morning. He blew two safes with explosives, but didn't succeed in opening them. The watches were taken from att open.safe,liad ‘Drop' on OfficerCasteel said he was scared off by police before he. succeeded in opening the safe at Bonham’s, He said he saw Patrolman E, R„ Moon when Moon stopped by to check the door on a routine patrol. Casteel added that he had Moon in bis gun sight and could have shot hirp.At the Magnolia Paper Co.. lie opened the safe and took a small amount of money and stamps.He was interrupted by the night watchman at. the. Shell Prescription Center, and Casteel and the watchman each fired a shot. Neith* er was hit.
Newspaper Details
Corpus Christi Times
Corpus Christi, Texas, US
Fri, Jan 22, 1954
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Elyria P.
OH, USA 17 Sep 2022
Other Publications Near Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi Caller and Daily Herald
Corpus Christi Morning Times
Corpus Christi Caller
Corpus Christi Blacklander
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