The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-14
0DELL IS TIRED OF LIFE
Arrested on Charge Of Forgery He
Tried to Commit Suicide.
HE USED A STRAP IN HIS CELL
Was Cut Down by Ono Of the Station
House Lodgers Just In Time TO
Save His Iifc-Checks
That lie Forged.

Frank Odell alias James Baird. etc,
etc. etc, tried to commit suicide in the
central police station at O'Clock last
| night by hanging himself. He was cut
down by one of the dodgers just in time
| to save his life.
Baird was arrested Saturday night by
Lieutenant John Davis. on Wyoming
avenue, while he was fleeing from Off
Ger John Moir. Saturday afternoon
BaiT went to the shop of Tailor l..
Klein. at 209 Penn avenue. and pur-
chased q s. pair of trousers. giving in
payment a check for Sl4 drawn by w.
i. Hallstead to the order of James
Baird.
He received 81 change and next APP
peared in the tailor shop of III. Klasen,
on Linden street. and ordered suit of
clothes. The tailor asked deposit be-
fore accepting the order and Baird pro-
duced another check, alleged to have
been drawn by MIR. Hallstead, this time
for $40. He told Tailor Klasen that he
would leave a deposit of so on the suit
and asked for the balance in cash. Mr..
Klasen was suspicious and put his GUS
toner off with 81, telling him to come
around later and he would give him
the other s..
Check Was n Forgery.
AS soon as Baird departed Klasen
went to Mr., lHallstead's residence and
learned that the check was a forgery.
He proceeded to police headquarters
and left a description of the forger, and
Lieutenant Davis started after him.
The next heard of Baird was at Schank
& koehler's shoe store. on Spruce
where he purchased pair of shoes
and rendered a Hallstead check in pay
ment. 1t was not accepted and he
paid cash for the shoes.
Kramer Bros clothing store. on
Lackawanna avenue. next attracted his
attention, He purchased SIS over
coat. gave S3j Hallstead check in
payment and received 500 in cash. Fif-
teen minutes after he left the store
Lieutenant Davis traced him there.
During this interval the Kramers had
arrived at the conclusion that the
check was 4 forgery. Half an hour af-
terward Baird returned to the store,
gave back the money and coat and
asked for his check 1t was denied him
and he started to leave the store.
Baird as a Sprinter.
Patrolman John Moir was standing
at the store door and as Baird passed
out a clerk whispered to the officer,
disclosing Baird's identity. The latter
saw the action and began to run with
Moir in pursuit. Baird turned into
Wyoming avenue, and started diagon-
ally across the street, running into
Lieutenant Davis arms at Lewis,
Reilly and Davies shoe store.
He was taken to the police station
and locked up. In small alligator
satchel he carried was shirt the shoes
he purchased in Schank e. Koehler's, a
picture of Miss Carrie Kendall. of i16
Mulberry street, a memorandum book
with her name and address in 4 num-
Der of places on it, cards of several
young ladies who reside in"the central
city. and book issued by the North
western Life Insurance company. con-
tanning signatures of men prominent
in business and professional circles all
over the country. Among the sigma
lures was that of Calvin Seybolt, OF
this city.
- suffered Great Mental Anguish.
After he was in the cell for a time
Baird became very much depressed.
and to the prisoner in the next cell
expressed a desire to end his life. He
told the officers he would never wear
the shoes he purchased. and gave them
to any one they would fit. During
the morning Miss Kendall called at the
central station and secured her photo
graph; and in the afternoon the prison.
er sent for Miss Davis, who resides
on Linden street. west of Penn ave-
nue.. She responded and spent some
time conversing with him.
Toward evening Baird became very
much depressed, and the prisoner In
the next cell. to whom he confided his
troubles, knew that his neighbor was
desperate, and when he heard peculiar
noises coming from the cell he decided
that Baird was trying to destroy him
self, and sent one of the dodgers TO the
cell to investigate. His surmise was
correct. Baird had removed the strap
binding the mattress and made moose
of ii. This he fastened to the upper
bunk, and. standing on the lower one,
Jumped off He had almost succeeded
in strangling himself when discovered.
Lodger Cut Him Down.
The lodger pulled out his knife and
reaching through the bars succeeded In
cutting the strap by which Baird was
suspended, allowing his unconscious
form to fall to the floor. Another lodger
apprised Sergeant Deter of what had
occurred and Surgeon Fulton was sent
for. When he arrived Baird had pe-
gun to revive somewhat and soon had
almost entirely recovered from the eff
feet of the choking, though, his neck
was red and sore where the strap
pressed it.
For hours after his attempt at self
destruction Baird rolled on his cot
moaning and weeping declaring he did
not want to live; that his troubles are
more than he could bear. He has been
in the city for about week. On Oct.
he registered at the Arlington hotel,
on Spruce street, as James White, of
Allentown, and on Oct. 10 registered
again as white, New York" He left
the hotel Saturday evening after sup
per taking his satchel with him, saying
he would not return.
His Right Name Is OdclI.
The prisoner is a tall, good looking
young man, apparently between % and
30 years Of age. He has scar on his
neck which leads the police to suspect
that he Is the same individual who.
few years ago, under the name of Hill,
did some clever forging in this city.
The prisoners right name is Frank
Odell His parents are dead and he has
two sisters residing in New York, who
are well to do. For time he was a
brakeman on passenger train on the
Central Railroad of New Jersey. rum
ming into New York, but Is unable to
give q satisfactory account of himself
for the last few years.
He will be given hearing this morn
ing.