The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-10-08
Arrives from Florida in the
Custodyof Birmingham
Officials
GREAT CROWD ON HAND
TO WITNESS HIS RETURN
steel Saw Found In Lining of Pocket
of His Coat When Made to
Change Clothes at
County Jail.

Securely fettered with steel handouts
and surrounded by a Gordon of police and
detectives, Frank Duncan, tried and con-
demned to suffer death for the murder of
Policeman Adams and under life sentence
for participation in the murder of Police
man Kirkley, was brought to Birmingham
yesterday after an absence of more than
two and half years. and is now locked
in the strongest cell in the jefferson
county jail.
Two years ago last January the city Of
Birmingham was startled and amazed by
the daring escape of Frank Duncan from
Jail, while under sentence of death, and
now his return to expiate the crime Of
which he was convicted is of equally alb
sorbing interest.
Hundreds of men and boys loitered
around the Jail all yesterday afternoon in
an unsuccessful effort to see the famous
prisoner. The sheriffs office is being be-
seiged with applications to see the pris-
orer, but so far no one except police
officials and newspaper reporters have
been permitted to talk with him.
F1OW lucHtlty was DlSCoNCTcus
Duncan was arrested in Florida on a
charge of blowing bank safe at Tavares
Fla, and while awaiting trial there his
identity was discovered and Chief Of
Police Jones of that place hurried to Bir-
mingham with photograph of the pris-
oner. Everyone who knew Duncan inn
mediately recognized the photograph and
as soon as extradition papers could be
secured a party of Off ers lelt for Flor
ida.
The train bearing Duncan and the Of
ficers who went after him arrived at II :45
yesterday morning, and for an hour be-
fore that time the station literally
man who had defed prison bars with a
death sentence hanging over his head.
Some trouble had been anticipated in
removing the prisoner from the train,
but nothing out of the ordinary occurred.
Policemen in uniform and in citizens
clothes We're stationed in all parts of
the railway station, and all were on the
lookout for suspicious persons. When
the train arrived Chief Wier was the
first to appear on the platform. "Well,
boys, we heve got the real thing In here"
said the chief as he smilingly shook hands
with his friends. Then came the rest of
the officials with Duncan. In the party
were Detective George Bodeker, Sheriff
Burgin, Chief Deputy Stradford and Po-
liceman Burke.
Strong Handouts.
Duncan was held with strong hand
cuffs, to which was attached a chain.
Deputy Stradford had this looped over
his arm. The prisoner was quickly escort
ed to the patrol wagon, waiting outside.
and with the officers sitting beside the
prisoner the wagon was rapidly driven to
the county Jail. Hundreds Of people ran
through the streets after the patrol
! wagon, and within ten minutes after 1t ar
rived at the Jail a great mass of people
had congregated and were cranlng their
necks to get a glimpse of Duncan.
Once Duncan was safely inside the
walls the officers breathed deep sigh
of relief and hurried to their homes to
get some much needed sleep. They had
not slept for nearly twenty-four, so great
was their anxiety over landing Duncan
safe In Birmingham. Duncan was also
worn out and as soon as his clothes
could be changed he was taken to his cell
and allowed to rest He slept for nearly
seven hours and was then awakened for
supper.
| Duncan Had Steel Saw.
| While the officers were changing Dun
cans clothes they found steel saw
| blank in the lining Of the flap of his right
hand coat pocket. The saw was sewe6
in the lining Of his pocket and was dis
covered by Deputy Love while looking
, in the pocket for some tobacco for the
! prisoner The saw had no teeth on II
but was merely blank ready to be put
| In, brn OBJ These teeth could he
on in a short while with file
Duncan is looking better than when
/ he escaped from Jail, his face having g
ruddy color. He is of a jovial DISPOSE
! ton and does not hesitate to talk. He
| told of his escape. and walked around the
| corridor to show the newspaper men how
| he escaped He thinks the nitro-glycerir
| affair at Tavares a great joke, and laugh:
| heartily every time he tells 1t.
Soon after he had walked last night ht
| talked for a long time with newspaper
| men and the deputies. His story is giver
in another column of this page.
In ST. Augustine.
Duncan was arrested on the streets OF
| ST. Augustine, Fla, but was subsequently
| taken to Tavares, where he was charged
| MED by young man named Georg'
| Stafford. his pal. In the possession o.
| these two men was found a vaIise con
| tanning two large revolvers and a bottle
| of nitro-glycerin. They pleaded guilt,
| to the charge but sentence was suspend
| ed so that Duncan could be brought Il
| Birmingham Governor Jennings haC
| previously honored a requisition of th'
| governor of Alabama for the prisoner.
After the nitro-glycerin episode the Of
! ficers feared that some trouble woult
| occur on the way to Birmingham but a
| Brewton the sheriff of Escambia count,
| Joined them and later Deputy Sheriff Bel
| ser of Montgomery gave them much assis
| tance The officers, however, say tha
| Duncan gave them no ouble whatever
| They say he acted as peaceably as an,
| prisoner they ever handled. He wa
courteous at all times and the officerl
| asked that he be complimented on hi
| behavior.
L ,a,alxa that there he cha ancI