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Show Armed Robbery Thwarted By Cedar City Police, Suspects Held Conspiracy Tip-off Made By Gang Member A conspiracy to commit an armed robbery was thwarted by the Cedar City Police Depart-mont Depart-mont shortly after midnight Tuesday, May 15, when an undisclosed source contacted the police office. . Following the arrest of two men of Phoenix, Ariz., Clyde Arnold Ar-nold Weldon, 20, and Robert C. Harke, 25, a supposed attempted attempt-ed robbery of the Safeway store In Cedar City Wednesday morning morn-ing was disclosed and one of the two, now held In the Cedar City Jail, signed a statement to the ef feet that the robbery had been planned. Leaves Hotel The informer, who reported be-lng be-lng with the two men proposing the robbery, came into the police offices on Lincoln Avenue near midnight Tuesday and revealed the proposed plans of the men. He told police that he had left the room In the Cedars Hotel where trie men were planning the robbery. He told the officer on duty, Jack Miller and an insurance in-surance Investigator from Salt Lake City, Robert M. Robinson, that he had left the room on the pretext of- moving hts car which he told Weldon and Harke I he had left parked In a violation I area. At approximately 12:05 Wednesday Wed-nesday morning Miller and Rob-Inson Rob-Inson entered the hotel and made the arrest of the two men with no violence . although a pistol was on the bed where one of the men was lying. At 12:13 a. m. the two were booked In the local police station sta-tion and locked up with a charge at "Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery." v A preliminary hearing has been , asked by the two suspects and that wlU be conducted this afternoon. af-ternoon. Thursday, at 2:15 p.m. before Justice of the Peace David A- Smith. Acting county attorney attor-ney Orvtlle Isom will prosecute the case and Harke Indicated that he would serve as his own defense. :-: Starr Told A signed statement by 20 year old Weldon tells the story of what was being planned by the two men. That statement Is as follows: . . That on May 15, I planned wiih iwunt C niukS and (name disclosed) to pull an armed stlckup of the Safeway Market In Cedar City. We planned plan-ned to do this at 6 a.m. of May 16, by going In the back door and holding up an employee who had the combination to the safe. We figured that the take would be anywhere from six to 10 grand ($6000 to $10000) In cash. We figured we might have to handle four employees, then we would tie them with rope and lock them In the freezer. (Continued on bock page) SIGNED STATEMENT (Continued from Page One) Harke and I planned to do the actual heist . . ."We planned to use secondary roads to get into Nevada. "Our plans - for this holpup were made In our room at Cedars Hotel. We were going to stay up all night pjaylng cards in our room and at 5:55 a.m., May 16, go direct to the Safeway Market Mar-ket for the Job. "At about 12:30 a.m., May 16 Harke and I were In the room when two officers, Miller and Robinson, came to the door. Officer Of-ficer Miller took my .380 colt automatic pistol which was lying ly-ing on the bed beside Harke. Both of our guns were loaded. We offered no resistance to the officers. of-ficers. "The officers have not mistreated mis-treated me or forced me In any manner to make this voluntary statement. Weapons Picked Up Officer Miller and Robinson took from the two men the .380 automatic colt pistol, as mention-1 ed In the signed statement and In addition a Lamll. 380 auto., Spanish make; a swish blade knife, small screw driver, fine, installed copper wire and four boxes of ammunition. In addition addi-tion today officers shipped to Phoenix another K-38 Smith and Weston revolver. This afternoon Judge Smith will decide If their Is evidence enough to substantuate the conspiracy. If the evidence is sufficient the pair will be bound over to District Court for trial. If convicted the maximum sentence sen-tence is one year In the county Jail or 91000 fine or both. If evidence evi-dence is not substantial the pair wiU be released. . Both men have Just recently been married, officers indicated. One was married in late March and the other Just three weeks' ago, April 26. |
