The morning call., 1894-03-24
FREOERICKs PLAYS possUM.
To Keep Out of Jail He Pretended
He Was ParaIyzed.

hS w 10 Tdi diy Ecu.
There IS very strong suspicion that
even after Fredericks had been put to bed
in the Receiving Hospital he hoped to
make bold dash for liberty. 1t is quite
clear that his complaints of suffering were
very much exaggerated. For a man as
bloodthirsty and desperate as he has
shown himself 10 be he was most careful
OF his own aches and pains. Whenever he
was touched just after his capture and in
The hospital ward he squlrmed and COM
plained "You hurt me-" While he Law on
his couch he declared that his whole right
side had been paralyZsd; that he could
not move arm or leg. DIR. Somers knew
that this was not true, and the group about
the bed was convinced that the man was
playing possum, most probably in the
hope of being allowed to remain in the
hospital, where at least the doors were
not locked and barred. Once actually in
Jail his chances for escape would be far
less encouraging.
Captain Lees was extremely anxious to
have him behind the bars. The fellow
was by FAR too dangerous a man to be al
lowed 10 spend night in the hospital
even though guarded by policemen.
when we get him into the prison we
know that we have him secure" argued
the Captain. So he went down into the
hospital and told the Police Surgeon that
Fredericks would have 20 he moved.
Make him get up and dress then," said
the doctor. There is no reason why he
can't walk into the prison himself"
81 can't move" pleaded Fredercks.
"Oh, yes, you can; we'll prove it to
you." was the inexorable reply.
The coat and shirt that had been stripped
from tie captive were upstairs in Captain
Lees office and were sent for. During the
wait Fredericks talked about nj, injured
eye. He insisted that it must have bean
struck by bullet.
"No," said Captain Lees, "it was no
bullet at all. 1t was piece of the glass
through which you fred at Herrick. If it
bad been bullet you would not be talk
ing about it now"
1T would have been better for me IL il
had been" replied Fredericks."
II think So" the captain readily assented.
Yes, it would have been better. A
poor man has nothing to live for anyway" i"
The tone in which this was said was
more expressive of the mans despair than
even the words. At that moment he
wished most heartily that he was dead.
An officer came in with the coat and
Sergeant Lindheimer produced a brand
new blue shirt.
Come. get up and Dress" said the doc
tor. and fIedericks slowly raised himself
and put on his clothing. He Strengthened
and between two officers, followed 5y Can
tain Lees and several others, left the ward.
The hospital steward took a long breath
and said, Thank God for that"
The prisoner was escorted through the
basement into the prison and walked with
out assistan ce. A big blanket was wrapped
about his shoulders. In this guise. with
his bandaged eye aud dissipated counte.
nance, he was woe begone specimen of
the class which kills liz anger and cows
when caught. He was charged with muir
der on the prison-book and then locked up
in one of the innermost cells of the prison.
He lay down on the bed that had been
fitted up for him, the big door was swung
to with clang and he was left alcne to
ruminate over his murderous exploit aud
his chance of proving insanity.