The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-15
FARMER SEES
Van TASSEL.
Murderer of Fitzpatrick
Said to Have Turned Up
Near LaPorte.
DRAG NET THROWN OUT
Comrades of Dead Police Officer Conn
mence Work on New Clew-
Hanson Still Alive.

Especial to Lake County TimeMl.
LaPorte, Ind, Jan. 15.-Charles
Wheeler. farmer residing near this
city, reported to the local police this
morning that he has entertained over
night a man who tailed exactly with
the description of Guy Van TasseI who
is wanted for the murder Of officer
Luke Fitzpatrick of the Chicago police
force, and for completely in the blow
ing OF the safe in ]. ]. Austgen's store
in Hammond on Sunday night. Nov IS.
Wheeler is positive in his identin-
cation. Wheeler's house is in this Sec
tion and it was familiarity with il
that first aroused the farmers suspec-
ion.
The man came to my house Sunday
evening"" Wheeler said And asked
for something to eat 1 gave it to him
and then he insisted on staying all
night. told him I could not do SO
without inconveniencing myself and
family, but he still insisted declaring
that he could go no further I came
to believe that myself as he had a
terrible cough and looked TO be in the
last stage Of consumption. He pleaded
and threatened by turns and at last I
cons ented to let him set by the fire.
His appearance, his language and ae-
tions commenced me at once that he
was the same Guy Van Tassel tor
whom the police had ben looking. StiII
/ wasn't quite sure.
There was very little sleep for me
that night. can ten you" continued
| Wheeler. I'm the morning the man
asked for razor. He didn't ask for
it either; he demanded it. with a sort
of sfclxIy grim he tried to assure me
that he did not intend to commit mur-
der or suicide that all he wanted was
a shave. 1 gave him my shaving kit
and he shaved himself clean. without
any more words he left. / thought
afterwards that / should have held
him. but there was no help in sight and
to tell the truth, I was glad to get
rid of him. He told me before I left
him alone the night before that he
had plenty of money a short time be-
fore. but had to spend 1t all. am
quite sure now that it was Van Tassel."
Chase is Resumed.
Wheeler consented to accompany the
police on their search for the myster-
ious guest. A dragnet has been thrown
out and 1t is probable that the man.
whether he be Van T"ssell or not, will
be rounded up before night.
Story of the Crime.
The contents of the above special
was telephoned to the Woodlawn sta
tion, out of which Officer Fitzpatrick
Travelled, and at once two detectives
were despatched to LaPorte to join the
chase.
Charles Hanson, who was wounded
by Fitzpatrick before the policeman
gave up his life is still occupying a cot
in the hospital department of the Cook
county jail When he was picked up
on the night of the killing he made,
what he thought was his dying state
ment. In this he implicated Van TasseI
as his pal in the Austgen burglary in
| Hammond
After detailing the Austgen job he
continued:
Sixty-third street and Madison avenue
at about lis. After getting in the
depot the police officers grabbed me
and we two scuf1ed I got away
from the officers. but was shot"
Before the Death
Fitzpatrick Unidentified Hanson as one
Of his assailants. Van Tassel made
good his escape and since has been at
large.
For a hardened criminal, Van Tassel
is unique. He is a helpless consump-
tive and even while STEPPED In crime
has lectured his pals on the sinfulness
Of intemperance and profanity.
i Hanson and he framed up the Aust
gen job just after having been re-
leased from the Michigan City prison.