Omaha daily bee., 1898-11-17
CERTAIN OF THUGS CAPTURE
Detectives Return from a Chase on False
Scent After Geppnsr and Haller.
THANKS Mr.. CHURCHILL FOR HIS RIG
One of the Men Addresses Him an
Apologize Letter Saying He
Was Forced 70 Take the
Buggy.

the desperadoes who fought pistol battle
with Captain Cox and four detectives who
attempted to arrest them Monday noon, are
still at large, but the police are confident
that the fugitives are almost within the
grasp OF the law and that to capture them
is a matter OF only a few days.
Clues we're discovered yesterday afternoon
which established with certainty the fact
that Geppner and Van Haller after leaving
Plattsmouth travelled in q different direc-
tion than was supposed by the detectives
following them, and Acting Chief of Police
Donahue, working in conjunction with
sheriffs along the route the men took, was
able to learn Of their movements up until
yesterday noon. 1t Is now known positively
that the fugitives. after abandoning A. c.
Churchills phaeton at Platte, walked to the
outskirts OF Plattsmouth and there climbed
aboard an eastbound freight train on the
Burlington railroad. 1t Is thought that
Geppner and Van Haller were afraid to
travel farther east than Red Oak, Ia, for
when the freight train arrived in that city
they left It and, walking to the Washing
ton hotel in the central part of the town,
they registered there and retired to a room
to rest. On the hotel register Geppuer
signed the name r. H. Askwith and Van
Haller registered as +. G. Fell. This was
about 2 o'clock Tuesday morning and when
the men went to their room they asked to be
called at z o'clock.
After being walked at the hour appointed
both men appeared in the hotel office and
passed the morning writing letters. They
did not go outside until nearly noon, when
they paid their bill and departed, one going
to the postofice to mail the letters and the
other walking in the direction OF the depot.
This was the last time they were seen.
Sheriff Rhodes of Fremont county was the
man who discovered that Geppner and Van
Haller had been in Red Oak nearly twelve
hours, and learned how they had passed their
time.
Thanks Churchill for His Rig.
One Of the letters written by Geppner at
Red Oak was addressed to A. c. Churchill
and was received by Mr.. Churchill yester-
day morning. In 1t Geppner explained how
he came to take the horse and phaeton, say
ing that he was forced to do so by circum-
stances over which he had no control. He
also expressed his thanks for the use Of the
vehicle.
Captain Cox and Detective Dempsey re.
turned last night at o'clock from Weeping
Water. Neb. Geppner has relatives there
and it was thought that he and his COM
panion might apply to them for aid, but the
officers learned with certainty that the fugi-
tives had not been there and were not in
the'state. One result of Captain Coxs trip
to Weeping Water was the discovery that
not very long ago Geppner had made two un-
successful attempts to blow open the post
Office safe there. On the night OF August 30
the first attempt was made, but 1t resulted
in failure. Two weeks later a second at
tempt was made, but It also proved unsuc-
cessful, Geppner either having been fright
ened away before tho job was finished or
else 1t was too much Of task for him. This
information was secured from some Of
Geppner's former pals.
The police say that the men cannot pos
sibly escape. They do not now think the men
have gone to st. Louis, as was supposed, for
the reason that Geppner has committed
many crimes there and fears arrest II he
should be seen by the st. Louis police.
1t was reported at the police station this
morning about o'clock that Geppner and
Van Haller had been seen shortly after mid
night at the house where the two men lived,
TO North Fourteenth street. Sergeant Her,
Detective Whalen and other officers imme-
diately went to the premises to make an in
vestiga.ion, but after conducting q thorough
search and finding no traces Of the men they
returned convinced that the report was n
, hoax.