The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-07-14
CHASED CLEVER THIEF
OVER HALF THE WORLD
John I. Thompson in Salt Lake
Jail En- Route to Port
land.
LEAPED FROM TRAIN IN
AN ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE
Detective Day Pursues ThOmp.
son Abroad on Charge of
Stealing $4,000.

John t, Thompson, a fugitive from
justice for three years for the alleged
theft Of $4,000 from a Portland, Ore,
saloonkeeper, who finally was run to
cover by Detective Joseph Day of Port
land at Liverpool, England, spent sew
erai hours behind the bars Of the Salt
Lake City jail Saturday. Thompson, in
custody of Officer Day, arrived here
over the Rio Grande Western about
clock Saturday afternoon and left for
Portland over the Oregon Short Line at
l:45 o clock Saturday evening
thompson is wanted at Portland on
charge of grand larceny. Three years
ago be is charged with having stolen
$4,000 from saioonkceper there named =
"Billyp Winters. Winters, according
to the story, went fishing one day and
left Thompson, who was considered
trustworthy, IN charge. When Winters
returned from his fishing trip the sa-
loon was closed aud Thompson and the
$1,000 were gone.
Then began a chase for Thompson
that was destined TO last three years
and lead more than half way around
the world, although the reward offered
is only $l00- Thompson s trail was y
clrcWtous one before he left United
States soil, carrying him from Oregon
TO the southern boundary of the United
States and then back across tho couu-
try to The Canada border, Montreal, on
the 81, Lawrence river, from which
place he took ship for England
Day Takes Up Chase.
Almost three months ago, April %,
Detective Day took up the chase OF
Thompson from Montreal and followed
him across the sea. The chase led
through Liverpool and London. Eng
land; Paris, France, aud Edinburgh,
Scotland, the nliniou of the law being
hot upon the trail of Thompson. who
appeared TO be IN ignorance OF the pur-
suit and whose flight seems to have been
without method Several times tho
sleuth arrived in a place to find that
his game had been gone but a few
hours. Finally tho detective learned
that there was mail IN the postofice al
Liverpool for Thompson and he sta
toned himself in lhe Office to wait.
When Thompson appeared and called
for his letters be was placed under ar
rest, ending the long chase
Considerable delay and expense were
experienced in obtaining the papers nee
essary TO get Thompson out OF England;
then the long homeward journey began.
Day watched his man like q hawk. and
reached Thursday. Just outside of the
Colorado city, as the train was nearing
Burnham. Thompson made desperate
attempt 10 escape, endangering his life
in the effort at liberty. Day unhand.
cnfed Thompson to allow him TO enter
the toilet room, and when the prisoner
came from the toilet he rushed to the
platform before Day could stop him
and hurled himself from the train, which
was running at a speed o. forty miles
an hour, the yestihule door having been
opened for the station at Burnham. Day
returned to Denver to take
up the chase.
Thought Thompson Crazy.
Several persons witnessed THOMPSON &
leap from the tram, but thought. he was
crazy. He visited DR. Horace S. Coop.
er Office at Durham, got his wounds
dressed, paying the physician with
aashy pin resembling diamond, hired
a horse and buggy, drove 10 station
eleven miles distant and rebosrded tho
train, His recapture followed on u
Union Paclfic train near Cheyenne about
Jwentyfour hours later
The capture was effected by a brake-
man on the Union Pacific train. He
noticed Thompson acted like a man who
had been badly hurt, but thought he
vas pickpocket and was sbamming.
Soon Thompson bought a newspaper. but
instead of reading it, held it up before
lis face and continued TO glance about
he car surreptitiously over the top OF
he paper After a while he laid the
PAPER down and the brakeman got il
md read it. The story of Thomson q
'scape from the train near Denver and
'is description, which The paper con-
aimed, attracted the brakeman s eye,
md he had no trouble in identifying
Thompson. When he walked over and
harged Thompson with being the es.
aped prisoner, the latter confessed
thompson was hurried back to Denver
nd turned over to Day. who had not
EFT there. Saturday no brought his
prisoner on to Salt Lake City
Thompson does not have the appear
nee OF beng criminal He is
cotchman. IS years old, slight in sta
urc, smoothfaced, with scant, gray
air. Il reporter for The Tribune Wis
ted HIM at the local Jail Saturday aft
rnoon, but he had nothing to say. His
lght arm, which was broken at tho
boulder, was supported IN sling, whilo
is left hand was over his face which
c refused to uncover. There is a good
Ized wound on his head, and ko ap.
oared to be in great agony. Day asked
lat care be taken in feeding him that
is committing suicide with his knife.
Exercised Eternal Vigilance.
Day is glad that he is nearly at his
'urney's end, comparatively speaking,
ternal vigilance has been tho price
'er since be left England with Thomp-
m The latter's condition is not IA.
'rable and this is causing the detect
e some worry. off he dies before L
It him back to portland' said the
elective Saturday, ''his body will be
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