The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-04-23
Van TASSELL
IN CHICAGO? ?
Police Assert That he Had
the Boldness to Attend
the Hansen Trial.
RUNS FROM OFFICER
Man Now Being Tried Admits Com
plicity In Austgen Robbery
Will Know Fate Today.
Especial to Lake County Times.,


Chicago, April 29.-Believing that
Guy Van Tassell. companion of Charles
Hansen in the murder of Policeman
Luke Fitzpatrick last November, is in
Chicago and that he had the amazing
boldness yesterday to enter the court
room where Judge Pinckney was try
Ing his alleged accomplice, the police
are instituting a vigorous search for
the fugitive.
Pushing his way into the courtroom.
a stranger resembling Van Tassel i'm
mediately attracted the attention of the
police. When an officer ran toward
him he ran and though pursued. es-
caRed. Van Tassen has been a fugitive
since Hansens arrest and the police
have received a report that he was
seen in Chicago yesterday morning
Hansen. who has been on trial for
nearly a week, Will probably know his
fate today The closing arguments
were begun yesterday afternoon and
were concluded this morning
Hansen Accuses Van TasseII
In his closing argument Assistant
States Attorney Short asked for the
death penalty. Before arguments were
begun Hansen took the stand in his
own behalf and declared the shots
which killed Fitzgerald were fired by
Van Tassell. He said he and Van Tas-
sell Were standing together when Fitzs-
patrick seized him.
Ny revolver fell from my pocket"
Hansen asserted. "and had no weapon
While we were struggling together
Van TasseH shot the officer"
Hansen admitted that he had been
q convict and that he and Van Tasseil
had broken into and robbed a grocery
In fTanfnsond rrd., Few n0urs before
Fitzpatrick tried to arrest them.
Escape Plot Feared.
Unusual precautions were taken at
the beginning of court yesterday by
Chiep Deputy Sheriff Steinert, who had
been warned that Hansen might try to
escape. or that there might be an at
tempt to free him by former compan-
ions
Two deputies. instead of one, were
assigned to guard Hansen, and orders
We're given to search him each morn
ing and afternoon before he was taken
into court. During the trial his guards
sat one on either side of him.
Corroboration of the rumor that Han
sens friends stood ready to aid him
should he seek to escape was given, |
men to the courtroom in the afternoon
One had entered and the other. who !
resembfed Van Tassen was entering, |
when Policeman Burke, who was in the /
room started toward him.
Pursued by officer.
As he saw the officer approaching the /
stranger ran out and down the stairs,
Burke. with his revolver in his hand,
following. The stranger reached the
ground floor and was out Of the build
ing before Burke reached the bottom
who resembled this stranger, but when
he was searched no weapon was found
on him.
As result of this incident, and the
report that an attempt was to be made
TO release Hansen, the guards about
the prisoner was increased today
More policemen will be asked for, to
be ready in the courtroom and corridors
should any incident similar to that of
yesterday take place
The story Of the murder of the po-
liceman at the Madison avenue station
of the South side Elevated Railroad
was retold yesterday BY several brother
officers of the murdered man. Police
man Halligan of the Woodlawn sta
tion identified a revolver taken from
This was six shooter, and
two of its cartridges had not been dis
when Hansen was arrested I
The other bullets. the state contends
were fred into the body OF Fitzpatrick.