Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17
BULLETS THICK AND FAST
Fred Sinus Takes Two Shots at Officer
Wilson on Street.
DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE ARREST
Omcer Gives Hts Man Hot Pursuit
Despite storm of Hot Lead
simms Appears 20 Have
Bad Record.

Fred simms, In an attempt to escape from
the oficers who had arrested him yesterday
afternoon, shot Ave times at Patrol Driver
Wilson at short range. None OF the shots
took effect, and Wilson rearrested the man
and took him to Jail.
= simms made his escape at the rear door
Of the jail, Just after he had been taken
out. OF the patrol wagon. Ohicer Baldwin
was holding him, and suddenly simms
jerked loose and ran. Wilson, who had
stepped from the seat Of the wagon, started
in pursuit. When slmms reached the cor
ner OF Eleventh and Farnam streets, he
drew a revolver and began to IRE as he
ran. Wilson kept on after his man, and
when almost upon him slmms stopped.
turned and fired point blank. Wilson then
grabbed him and took the revolver.
2 Wilson was unarmed at the time simms
was shooting at HIN, and did not strike the
man, simms surrendering after he had
emptied the revolver. Three Of the, bullets
struck the pavement. one the building occu-
pied by the Country Publishing company,
and no trace Of the other was found. A
large crowd was attracted by the shooting.
and Wilson was heartily cheered for his
bravery.
slmms was arrested, in company with
William Ryan, as a suspicious character, In
. car at the Webster street depot by on
Ger Bloom. Ryan was taken in charge by
Sergeant Dempsey. While slmms was be-
ing taken to the patrol wagon he jerked
loose from Bloom, and ran into the saloon
OF Hans Petersen. The latter held him until
Bloom arrived. After that he gave the
ofhcers no trouble until the jail was
reached.
Identified as Highwayman.
Soon after simms was locked up Reynold
Blanchard, aged II years, identified him as
the nan who had yesterday afternoon held
him UP and robbed him Of $1.65. The boy
told the police that he met simms near the
Webster street depot, and the latter asked
him to step into the alley back of a saloon
near there. Blanchard did SO, and, he said,
Eimms, grabbed him and took his money.
Simms is said to be from Des Moines, and
The police believe that he Is a pickpocket.
Friday night he became disorderly in a
restaurant near Twelfth and Douglas
streets, and was arrested by ofacers McCar-
thy and Fisk. He resisted arrest, and a
hight followed, resulting in simms getting
n black eye and a bruise on his neck. He
was fined. 81 and costs IN police court.
After being released he made the threat
that the next oficer who tried to arrest him
would have trouble.
Patrol nriver Wilson has recently re-
sumed work on the force after having been
suspended for seven days for using unnec-
essary force In making an arrest. He was
reported by City Comptroller Westberg.
Charge Against simms.
The arrest OF slmms, together with Will
liam Ryan. also giving his home as Des
Moines, was on account of a description
given the police by Joseph Bliss, a South
Omaha commission. merchant. who accused
the two Of taking his diamond shirt stud
hs he was leaving a train at the Webster
Street depot. As Mr.. Bliss, accompanied
by Mrs. Bliss. was about to leave the car
two men barred the door and as he passed
they brushed against him a moment. A
short time afterward he missed his diamond
pin. which was Of considerable value, and
notified the police. At the station last
night Simms and Ryan were brought Out
for the inspection of Mr.. and Mrs. Bliss
whO both identified the pair as the men in
the car doorway. The man Blanchard, who
claims to have been held up by Simms, ii
held at the city jail as a witness.