The Portland daily press., 1897-05-03
UNDER THE BED
Was Where Mrs. Dodge Saw Lad
Hiding.

AAAulhSs
The Doors We're Then Locked and the Po-
Sight OF Revolver.
Mrs. Alexaner B. Dodge, who lives at
perience Saturday AFTERNOON and one
which she will not care to have repeated
right off. 1t resulted In the arrest of a
young fellow named Ferris by Officers
6killings and Hanson who also had q
rather interesting hunt for the young
man.
1t was about O'Clock Saturday after
noon when Mrs. Dodge went Up into the
sleeping chambers of her house to make
up TIE beds. She had been working some
minutes In one of the rooms when she
thought she heard noise as II someone
were beneath the bed and mastering up
courage to look under 1T she saw man,
who was huddled up in one corner and
doing his best to keep out of sight. Mrs.
Bcdge did not stop to ask any questions
Of the intruder nor did she wait to give
him a chance to explain how he hap
pened to be::there, but she ran down stairs
and told her husband that "a burglar
was hiding up stairs under the bed"
Mr.. BODICE at once suggested looking
all of the doors in the house ana making
the fellow a prisoner while he went for
the police. This plan was at once adopted
and while Mrs. Dodge and some of the
neigh bors stood guard outside of the
house to prevent the burglar getting out
Mr.. Dodge ran down the street to find
the police officers.
In . few minutes he returned to the
house with Officers Skillings and Han
son aad having opened the front door the
officers entered the house and locked the
door behind them. Then commenced &
hunt for the burglar" The first place
that the officers looked for the man was
under the bed but the fellow was not
there. Then they visited every part OF
every possible hiding place without sue
cess. The officers began to believe that
Mrs. Dodge bad been mistaken when she
thought she had seen man beneath the
bed but the plucky lady was certain that
she had not been mistaken and 80 the
search was continued.
Finally one of the officers discovered q
hole III the wall behind bell. This hole
was just IS inches square and large
enough to allow mans body to pass
through. 1t ope ned into the air space
beneath the caves of the house, though
there was not any too much room for a
man to move about in it. The place was SO
dark that the police officers could not see
very we'll and SO light was brought.
By the aid of this dark object could be
seen crouching behind a chimney in the
extreme end of the attic. Officer Skill
nngs called to the man to come out of
the hiding place but he did not move
Again the officer spoke to him and or
dered him to come out but the dark fig
ure behind the chimney did not show
any disposition to obey the command.
Come out of there, - said Officer Skill
lings, cor will fire.
The policeman drew his revolver rs he
spoke and pointed it at the dim outline of
the man behind the chimney. At first
the man behind the chimney did not
seem disposed to obey the command.
"Oae," Officer Skillines began to
count. "Two." and at this the
man crawlad out intos plain sight
and squeezed through the hole in ths
wall.
He was not very large man and his
clothes were covered with cob webs and
dust. His face was pretty pale also and
evidently the sight OF the revolver had
shaken his nerves little. He declined
to say why be was in MIR. Bodge's house,
how he had entered it and " hen, or what
be intended to do there. He dill say how
ever that his name was Fred Ferris and
thathe lived on Paris street. He was
lockedup at the police station.
In the evening young Ferris's father
called at the police station and told the
of1osrs chat he was sure that his son hao
not entered Mr.. Bod ge's house with AIRY
feloniouH intent. Mr.. Ferris said that
his son had lieen work ing for J. F. Cor
rlGy, Une plcDuf6 USmoF, anu tnnG ne nau
no reason for trying 60 rob any. house
and the father did not believe he would
do such thing. Deputy Sterling told a
PRESS reporter that he did
not think young Ferris intended to steal
any property In Mr.. Bodge's house rs lie
had none on him when he was arrested
and had shown no disposition to take
anything while he was in the house. 1t
was the opinion Of the deputy marshal
that the boy, who Is only 16 years old.
had become dazel and entered the house
Of Mr.. Dodge without knowing whure be
WAS.
Just what disposition will be made of
the young man has not yet been decided
upon.