Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-17
SHEVLIN'S ESCAPE.
Said to Have Been Gained
Through a Technically.
A LONG AND VARIED CAREER

Youthful Crook. . Terror to the Chicago
Police, Arrested Over Two Hundred
Times But to Land Him in the Reform.
atory Proves An Impossibiiity.
Here is an interesting bit of infor-
nation, concerning the youthful
crook who was convicted at the last
term Of the circuit court, from the
Chicago Tribune:
Eddie Shevlin. said by the police
te possess q charmed life, arrived in
Chicago late yesterday afternoon,
after brief visit in Rock Island.
Edward Murphy and James Duffy,
who accompanied the accomplished
West Side youth to the Illinois city,
did not return at the same time,
their presence being desired at
Joliet.
Notice OF the homecoming of Shev-
lin did not cause pleasure to Chief
of Police Badenoch's men, who for
over six years have endeavored to
send him to the state reformatory at
Pontiac for a long term. Their
dreams came nearer realization in
this instance than ever before.
"A writ of supersedeas from JUS
tice Carter, of the supreme court,
was the means utilized to save the
young crook from Imprisonment.
''Shevliu, together with Murphy
and Duffy. was convicted at Rock
Island ~ days ago by a jury in Judge
Glenn's court. The trio were
charged with having held up James
b. Walker, a citizen of Davenport
during the progress of Buffalo Bills
Wild West show. A diamond pin
valued at 5000 was secured.
The evidence introduced in the
trial was to the effect that the ac-
cused, together with Minnie DAILY,
had followed the show and systemat-
ically robbed the crowds in attend
ance. A picture of Minnie Williams
and transcript OF her record was
introduced at the trial. This saved
Shevlia from Maj. McClaughry's
schools.
murphy and Duffy were sent to
the peniteutiary and Shevlin was
sentenced to the reformatory. In
formation as to his fate was received
with great satisfaction by central
station men.
''Shevlin has been within hearing
distance of the reformatory a score
OF times and decided not to stop
there if he could avoid it. When the
| jury decided his case he instructed
Attorney X. A. Wade to carry his
case to the supreme court.
Found a Tecbnicalitv
1.-The lawyer found a technicality in
the Introduction o! the rogues' gal.
lery picture of Minnie DAILY. She
was not on trial. consequently the
law said evidence against her should
not have been introduced.
Judge Carter granted the super
sedeas on those grounds. and Attor-
ney Wade started for the Rock ISL
and jail. When he arrived there he
was informed that Shevlin was on
his way to Pontiac. The lawyer has.
tened to the depot, read Judge Car
ter's paper to the sheriff, and in
sisted that Shevlin be returned to
Jail to await the arrival of his Chi
cago bondsman. This was done, and
Shevlin arrived in lis home city yes
terday.
| assistant Chief of Police Ross
was disguised when he learned OF
Shevlin's good fortune last night.
"'We have tried to send him down
innumerable times he said. but he
always escaped on some pretense or
other. He's not only lucky, he's
more than lucky. He has powerful
friends here. and we hoped he would
be punished for the Rock Island Job.
OF course we are disappointed
| "News of Shevlin's escape and re-
turn to Chicago was communicated
to the detectives at the central sta
ton. He will be watched constantly
while in the city. but the police have
given up all hope OF convicting him.
although but 90 years OF age, it
is said he has been arrested over 200
times. and his Rock Island exper-
fence was the nearest approach to
punishment he ever experienced"