Hide Article Text (OCR)
rE PAGESTHREE CENTS,HOLDS LINCOLN MANPRISONER IN A ROOM#Fred Brown Watches Progress of Search for Him From Window;USES TWO GUNS ON JOHN RYAN0;Omaha Kidnaper Boasts to Prisoner That He Will Get” SeveralDRAWS $300 FROM LOCAL BANKMrs. Violet Dingman Makes Two Plucky Attempts to Capture Fugitive, But Fails When Bystanders Refuse to Aid,boxWhile police and hundreds of people were searching for Prod Brown, ex-convict and alleged Omaha kidnaper. Brown was taking It easy Tuesday evening in a room at 2049 O street, holding as his prisoner John Ryan, the occupant of the room, according to Ryan’s story. Brown held Ryan a prisoner In the room for several hours, leaving finally by the front door shortly after 10 p. m. Ryan's description tallies with the recent descriptions given by those who have seen Brown.Mrs. iVolet Dingman. 1633 P street, who knew Brown, recognized him when he passed her on the street earlier in the afternoon. She tried twice to hold him, but because bystanders would not aid her she was forced at the point of Brown’s guns to release her hold upon himrWatches From Window.Mr. Rya.D, who Is a bachelor and lives alone in the rooming house, said that about 5:30 p. m. Tuesday he noticed a man standing near the window in the hall watching the crowds below, He said that the stranger stood back from the window as tho he did not wish to be §een. Ryan approached him and asked him if he was looking for someone. A careless No’* was the answer he received. Mr. Ryan then went back to his room and when he looked out a short time after that he noticed that the matt was still there- Ho again offered hia assistance and thia time Brown said thatguns, Brown carries with him aof cartridges.Knock* Oh Door.Several times while the two were in tho room E. C. Bobbitt, Ryan's triend who lives in the next room knocked on the door to learn if Ryan was iu, Bobbitt said that he thought be had heard someone in the roomtwo or three tliuea but when he did not receive a reply to his rapping bn the door he thought that the noise came from another room, Ryan said that when the fugitive heard the knocking or heard footsteps in the hall he cautioned his prisoner to maintain absolute silence and appeared somewhat‘'Mgirtftned' Howe-ever when he cbuld-i^ar no one in the hall ho ‘allowed ^fiyan to talk in a low voice.Ryan said that the man wore a black slouch hat, dark,bine coat and brown corduroy trousers and that he looked just like the picture of him in possession of police. Bobbitt declares that he saw the-Same xnan in the alley behind tho rooming house Tuesday afternoon*Ryan at first hesitated to report the matter to the police because lie was afraid that Brown might come back and kilt him. Bobbitt, upon hearing of Ryan's experience notifiedthe police shortly before 11 p. m.% •Drew Money From Bank.Police say that Cr W. Robinson, a teller at the First National bank reported that Fred. Brown, drew $300. the entire amount lio had on deposit, between 1:20 p. m. and 2 p. Jn. Monday* He didn't particularly notice the description of the man except that he appeared to be In bad humor and In a hurry. Tho money waa paid In twenty dollar bills which Brown rolled up and Jammed into his pocket aa he hurried out * of tho bank, the police quote Mr. Robinson as saying.Large numbers of ‘.Lincoln people, joined the police Tuesday searching Brown. About 5 p, m. .Tuesdayforpolice were called to Twenty-first andP streets by Mrs. Dingman, who knew Brawn when he lived in this city. -Thewoman said that she had scon Brownon Twenty-first street between P and Q streets and knowing that he avian wanted by-police, spoke to hte- Whephe was looking for Mrs. Mitchell- Ryan f he stopped she said she threw bothinsisted that no one by that, raneJived there but the stranger refused to bo convinced.Going back to ills room for a second time for his pipe which he had forgotten he did not close the door tightly and when he turned around after getting inside the room found himself looking directly into the barrels of two rerolvei’3 m the hands of Brown.Brown Demands Silence.•Don’t say a word,' was Brown’s command as he closed the door.Ryan obeyed.Ho sat down on the edge of the bed and Brown remained standing. When lieXhad recovered from his surprise Ryan asked Brown to sit down. lie said that the stranger appeared restless and tired. Alt;sceptiDg Ryan’s offer he again cautioned him to remain ei lent.The remains of Ryan's supper were still on tho table and consisted of about half a loaf of bread, some potatoes and some bacon. Speaking in a whisper he offered what be had to Brown and, still keeping one gun pointed in his direction the fugitive starfbd to cat some of the food. The desperado said That he was too upser. and nervous to cat much. Later he went over to Ryan's bed and putting one of his guns at his side and keeping the other in his hand, laid down.Admits Being In Trouble.Ryan asked him if he had done something wrong and Brown replied that he had got into some trotible in Omaha a couple days ago. Brown then became talkative and told Ryan that ho had eluded two thousand people. He said that just before he had come up to Ryan’b rooming house a man in an Hinomobile waa following him and he had covered tfci-s fellow with a gun and ordered him to go,They’ll ‘get* me sometime,” Brown declared, but before they do 1 11 'get' several of them.”Rvan then asked him if he had killed anone. The bandit replied in the negative, R\an then »h«r the heat thine he could do would he to gi\e himself up and Ink© a chnncn on a short sentence in jail rather than kill someone and he dec I rex uteri.Brown asked for a newpaper and Ryan said 1m did not have one but would go into the necr room and get one. Hrown told him that, tho only thing for him to do was to stay where ho was. Then The .stranger got upand goirs over to thy window considered the advisability of jumping to tile ground. He ask'erl Ryan about i he hack enimncn and about the fiont on trance. Finally he decided that the jump was too high and started for the door. Rvan made a move to open the door and” was again covered -with the gun and told to get back into the mom with the remark, “I’ll tend to the door myself.Leaves by Front Stairs.Brown then went to the door and closed it behind him as he went out. Ryan said he could hear hun tip-toeing thru the hallwnv and down tho front stairs and beard the door slam 21s he went out. Before leaving Broun offered Ryan some money, of which the bandit scorned to be veil supplied. The offer was refused.You mav call him crazy if vonher,arms about him in an effort fn hold him. Brown broke away and covered her with a gun, backed awav and made his escape. The woman said that several men standing tiMi by ottered no assistance.Shortly afterward Mrs. Dingman said she saw the desperado »t Twenty first and O streets and again tripd to hold him. at the saone time calling for help. Brown broke away, gke claims.and ran Into a stairway at 2018 Owant tn M wa.s Rjan’s statement, hut he is s.ine in nix opinion !lar. -aid that rh• fugnix« lt;lnl not trv *« hold him up or sicid nn\thin.' from hrn Tior did h«‘ tn ki I hrn R .«n• I*'lai«d liM* III .rWl’i-'U tn In. f \« nstreet Police surrounded the building, but were unable to locate tb* man. A thousand people were attracted by the man bunt at this rlaceVarious -calls were received by tbe police and in each rare nothing developed. One call said that a men was seen running north on Twent — second street. Later three calls wer«* received almost simultaneously lrom addresses between Q and T streets on North Twenty-first street. Posse* thoroly searched tho vicinity from which thesQ calls carao without success.Answered Brown'* Description.Tuesday morning police were called to Havelock where a man answering: the description of Brown was reporter! to have been seen fn the railroad ards and a hurried trip was made to the oily. Jn searching tho box cars officers found a diminutive hobo who somewhat resembled the man wanted. After a short examination tho man was released, police having Kattafieri themselves ho was not the man wanted.Brown'ii old rendezvous while a resident of Lincoln were combed by officers and all of his former acquaintances and friends were questioned. The result, of Jhia investigation, according to officers. Is that the px-convict has not returned to any of his oh| haunts since leaving for Omaha. Most, of his friends stated tho last time thev had seen him was aboul three weeks ago.The pame information was received nt the William Decker homo, 2127 V street, whom Brown roomed while in tho city. The only additional Inform* tirm which police securer! »f rhls place was that Brown, upon leavingfor Omaha, had ordered bis mail :n be held at tho Decker homo until he returned.Wearing Serge Suit.Officers declare that the hand!! ha* changed clothes since his atfempl to Ftp*I the A. H. Fork car on Soufh Eleventh nicer Mnndav momins.UiHf time wj|nesses said ho was wealing a flannel shirt and Teariier ja^km The ia*r reports state that he l* we*? Ing a blue suit, dirty white shirt ami is verv unkempt Jn apppaTsnc. K* ports plate that he is carrying a gun and does not hesitate to show iLTTr was reported to have been seen going south on Twenty-first and Q streets about fi.HO p. m. Monday cm rymg a srnnll block bundle under his n rm.Early Tuesday evening polico were hw,'imped with calls from a I! parts offIo lt;MI V declaring lhat suspicious looklice mc.ctigated as many as possible.All Join in Search.The Ferrell made for Brown during the late afternoou called out police. rte and conn tv deputv sheriff*, railroad poh.ro, penlretuiarv official * a ml cumri- and irunv lt;iuzc ns Atcue I nr • a thousand peopb* wrr*rim l*j • ‘L,i t r«j ,i brill r*r-nl|. lb and■ i. . 1 3111 ■ nil IP. i »* * f I • r i all' * *11,Hi hern *■lt;*♦« J !** P'*»MCHIVE*
Newspaper Details
Lincoln Nebraska State Journal
Lincoln, Nebraska, US
Wed, May 31, 1922
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
IL, USA 02 Jun 2019
Other Publications Near Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln Evening Journal
Lincoln Daily Star
Lincoln Daily News
Lincoln Star
Lincoln Nebraska State Journal
