The age-herald., 1902-02-12
VANHORN TAKEN AND IS BACK IN
 THE COUNTY JAIL CapturedEarIy Yesterday ing at Sligo Minee
 Near AttaIIa
FIRST DENIED HIS IDENTITY
When Told He Would Have to Return to Birmingham He Broke Down and confessed-He Had
 Been Sick.


 escaped from the county Jail January 20 with Frank Duncan, the convicted mur- derer of Officers Kirkley and Adams was captured near Attalla and is now back once more in the county jail VanHorn is the second to be retaken, A. J. Dye having been captured several weeks ago.
 VanHorn was discovered at Sligo mines a small village in Etowah county, about six miles northwest of Attalla on the Alabama Great Southern railroad. It seems that he has been sick there for about two weeks and that this fact was largely instrumental in his capture. Peo- pie began to gossip about a stranger hay ing recently arrived in the village and whose appearance talled with the de- scription of one of the escapes from the Jefferson county jail and this suspicion finally led to his arrest.
 Sheriff A. w. Burgin received a tele- gram early yesterday morning that Van Horn, or man supposed to be VanIorn, had been located and he left on the o'clock train for Attalla taking with him the night warden W. H. Ball to identify him, the sheriff himself not being fami- liar with VanHorn's appearance. The day warden is the one who usually sees the prisoners as his duties are to receive and discharge them, the night warden seldom coming in contact with the pris- oDers as they are usually locked up when he goes on duty for the night at o'clock At the hour at which Sheriff Burgn left, however. the day warden. David Mims, had not come on duty and the sheriff took Warden Ball thinking he might be able to identify the prisoner.
 His Identity Doubtful.
 On reaching Sligo mines the prisoner was found in possession of Deputy Sheriff Af |. | first denied being VanHorn and so posi- tive were his denials, and the further fact that neither the sheriff nor Warden Ball could identify him, his appearance having changed somewhat since he es- caped from the jail, that he was about to be turned loose and Sheriff Burgin sent a telegram to Deputy Sheriff John L. Barker saying wrong man." This was received at the sheriffs office about 11:30 and at 1:10 another telegram was re- ceived from the sheriff saying "I have VanHorn Will be down on evening local"
 These telegrams seemed to be reversed and it was at first thought by the officials here that the telegraph operator had got ten them mixed and that the sheriff's nrst telegram was to the effect that he had VanHorn and that the one saying he was the wrong man must have been sent later, the sheriff realizing that mistake had been made as to the man. The off cials of the telegraph company were seen and investigated the matter and said that the telegrams were sent as received.
 The explanation of the matter was that the man finally broke down and ad- mitted that he was VanHorn whareupon the sheriff sent his second telegram say ing he had the right man. VanHorn hav- ing at first denied his identity the sheriff was on the point of turning him loose. He thought it the wisest plan however, to hold him and bring him to Birming- ham where his Identity could be estab- lished, and acting on this idea and the assurances of Deputy Sheriff Wimpee that the man was certainly VanHorn and had said various things which left little doubt as to this fact, Sheriff Burgin in- formed VanHorn he would have to come to Birmingham. It was then that Van Horn broke down and admitted that he was the man wanted The sheriff then sent his second telegram.
 In Jail Once More.
 VanHorn, in company with the officers. reached Birmingham at o'clock last night and was immediately taken to the jail. Here he was given a bath before being allowed to enter the jail, and sup per was ordered for him from restau- rant he having had nothing to eat all day.
 In appearance VanHorn Is about nsedium height and well built He is a blonde and has become stouter since his escape, especially in the face which Is much fuller, and is one reason why 1t was at first difficult to identify him. When he reached Birmingham he had on an overcoat belonging, 1t is said, to A J. Dye. one of the men who escaped with him, and which Dye claimed after his re- turn, had been stolen from him. Van Horn refuses to talk about the where abouts of Duncan and George Bullard, the two escapes who have not been re- taken Sheriff Burgin has a clue. how ever, that leads him to think he will soon be able to capture Duncan and Bullard
 There is every probability that these two are not far off from the place where VanHorn was captured. The fact that Dye was retaken in this section of coun- try would lead to the belief that all four of the men kept together and worked their way along the Alabama Great Southern Railroad going north.
 VanHorn was placed under arrest by Deputy Sheriff Wimpee. In talking of the matter last night the deputy said:
 How Arrest Was Made.
 Pat Tucker and myself captured him at 5;SO o'clock this morning at Sligo mines. He had been sick there for about two weeks and was staying in a little house. Tucker saw him and recognized him from the descriptions. Others in the community suspected who he was and certain persons were preparing to swear out warrant for his arrest when Tuck came to me at Attalla and we went over there last night to arrest him. We hau to walk seven miles to reach the mines in time to arrest him first"
 VanHorn is charged with highway rob bery, it being said that he held up and robbed William Funk near Ensley. This is capital offense in Alabama, but the case against VanIIorn is said not to be a strong one.
 A story was also current at the time of the escape that VanHorn had first gone to Ensley and beaten man who trial which was held in that place. Van Horn could not be seen last night.
 Duncan and Bullard Together.
 Jeff VanIorn is said to have told Sheriff Burgin that Duncan and Bullard were together untL about two weeks ago, and that Policemen Smith and Paul Cole were right on their trail through the country north of Birmingham. He and the other escapes ate meals at the houses as told in the Age-Herald at the time He says the two policemen were within six miles of them at one time and that they were so tired 1t was almost impossible to keen going. Sheriff Burgin is said to have sent some deputies on trail which may lead to the capture of Duncan and Buliard VanHorn Is further said to have told how they escaped from jail and how long they were working on the bars