The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-03-30
b.'.ND|TS PLOT TOO KILL
Assassination of Lieut., Larkin
Planned, Thug ConfeSseS.
REVENGE WAS SOUGHT
James Formhy Admits a Scheme to
Seize PoIicemans Revolver and
Shoot the Offieer.-Had Robbed
at" Station in Chicaeo.-confes
sion Corroborated.


sion Corroborated.
A plot to aSsassinate Lieut.. James
Larldin of the Harrison street police
station, Chicago, was recently confess
ed BY one of the six youthful bandits
held at that station in connection with
two murders and many holdups, says
the Chicago News. James, alas
"Limpy." Formby admitted in the
Sweat box" that 1t had been agreed
among the desperadoes that the lieu
tenant be killed for revenge. The
police assert the reckless prisoner In
telling of the plot announced that one
more deabh would not make their pun
ishment any greater and that they de-
sired to get even" with the man who
had forced them TO admit their
crmes./
Almost every day for week four OF
the gang-Iames and William Form
by, Peter Dulfer and David Kelly
have been taken from their cells sep
arately and questioned under the di-
rection Of Lieut.. Larkin. BIT by bit
the details of the murder of John
Lane in saloon holdup and the kill
robbery at the end of the North
Western avenue car line have been
brought out, say the police
Formby is credited with having
made two confessions which all his
companions except Kelly admitted
h1
of two other members of the gang
were dfvulged, and the arrest of Har-
old Perry and John Palm followed in
Indiana. Formby brooded over the fact
that he had betrayed his companions
and finally hit upon a scheme which
he thought would set him right with
his friends. His plan was to kill
Lieut.. Larkin, the man who had in
duced the prisoner to confess.
The sight of a revolver protruding
from the hip pocket of a patrolman
while Formby was undergoing the
sweating" process gave the young
bandit his cue by which he hoped to
secure the death of the police officer.
When oportunity afforded he or one
of his companions was to seize a re-
volver from the pocket of one of the
policemen and shoot down their in
inquisitor. Lieut.. Larlin. This looked
comparatively easy. as when the
youths were brought in to be CUES
toned several of the policemen re-
moved their coats and their revolvers
were in plain sight. Formby. in tell.
ing of his latest plan to Kill, assert
ed the opportunity to carry it cut was
thwarted only by chance.
TELL OF AZ" HOLD-UP.
In written confessions OF their
crimes by Palm and Perry to Ueuf.
Larkn and Inspector LAWN, they tell
about the robbery of the North West
ern elevated station at Fullerton ave-
nue..
Perry's confession reads as follows:
az don't know just what night 1t
was that myself and Palm and Pug
gle Case decided to get some money.
We planned to hold up the elevated
station at Fullerton avenue. 'Puggie'
and | went inside while Palm stood
BudIu. ] OTucTtu Ulle CHS0lcT 10 nOlU
up his hands and he raised one of
them. Then | told him to raise the
other. While 'Puggie' stood outside,
] went in and searched him. took
HIS watch and go cents in money.
Then ! went to the cash drawer and
found 1T locked. The cashier told me
the key to it's was in his vest, which
was hanging on the wall. ! got the
key and got $3.50 out of the drawer.
"At this time Palm ran in from the
outside and said that a train was
coming, so we made our escape. Out
OF the money taken l got $3.50. The
watch ! gave to friend that | was
living with"
Palm in his confession corroborated
the statement made by Perry. Pug.
gie," whose name Is Fred Case, is now
serving time in Joliet for a robbery
in a restaurant three doors east of the
Harrison street police station.