The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-14
RALPH c. PALMER
PLAYS TWO ROLES
Arrested in This City as Vag-
rant, He Later Dons
Good Clothes.
WANTED in DES MONIES
FOR STEALING MONEY
When Seen in Company of a
Blonde Woman by Jailer,
He Makes Escape.

Beyond shadow Of doubt Ralph G..
Palmer, who absconded from Des
Moines, Ia, on March last, is either
IN hiding in this city or has been clever
enough to give the police and bunch
of private detectives the slip since $3.50
O'Clock Friday afternoon. There's q
good hot story in the case, if one takes
the facts as they came, and are still
coming. Here they are:
On April 80 Detectives Chase and
Burt of the police department arrested
shabbhily dressed stranger, who failed
or refused TO give a satisfactory ac-
count of himself, and locked him up on
the charge of vagrancy. At head
quarters the young fellow gave the
name of Carl Johnson, and said he was
20 years of age. On the following day
Judge Diehl gave him a "hoater y
which means that he was ordered to get
out OF Salt Lake within twenty-four
hours. or take the alternative Of serving
q good stiff term in the city prison.
johnson disappeared, and nobody
around headquarters thought anything
more about him until about O'Clock
yesterday afternoon. AT that hour the
following circular, with picture Of the
wanted man, arrived from the Des
MONIES Chief of Police:
''One hundred and fifty dollars re-
and detention of Ralph G. Palmer. until
an officer can reach him. This man alb
seconded from Des Moines, Ia, Fri
day, March 8, 1907, with funds be-
longing to the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul Railway company.
"The above photograph is the exact
likeness of him, and the following is
his descriptions: Twenty-three years
old; about six feet tall, weighs 160
pounds, gray eyes and a clear white
skin, perfect teeth, has dark hair, and
is clean shaven Wears seal ring on
the third finger Of his left hand, and
does not smoke or wear glasses, and
when last seen wore gray fedora hat
and black sack suit. On account of his
height, clearness of skin, good eyes and
general physical appearance he would
attract attention.
Information as to the whereabouts
Of Palmer should at once be wired. to
John R. Pruyn, General Agent, United
States Guarantee company, lS4 La Sale
street. Chicago, Ill.,, or D. j: Tompkins,
Secretary, Ill Broadway, New York
City,
Recognized by Ripley.
This circular would have attracted
only the usual attention which is caused
all over the world had it not been
for the fact that copy Of it fell under
the sharp eve of Jailer Earl Ripley.
The instant that all-seeing sleuth got
ocular demonstration of the document
he coughed up three cloves and gasped:
"That's Johnson. That's the guy we
had in here the other day for vagrancy.
Holy Moses, why didn't 1 hang on to
him and cop that little old $150l ~
At 4 clock in the afternoon Ripley
was passing the corner of Main and
First South streets when his eye fell
upon a swell couple crossing the street
from the direction OF McCorn!ck 9
bank. Notwithstanding the fashy front
made by the man. Ripley at once recog-
time, Johnson, the vag. and Palmer,
the absconder, Quick and certain as
was the officers recognition of the
criminal, the latter was no whit behind
him. He met the Riplian gaze un.
hinehingly for single instant, and
then. whispering a word to his woman
companion, darted from her side In the
direction whence they had come The
officer was after him like shot, and
pursued and pursuer had a merry run
for it up Main to South Temple and
west on that thoroughfare to the corner
of West Temple street. Just before
reaching the corner named, and when
the officer was in the act OF reaching
out his hand to grab the putting fugi.
humping the officer heavily, knocking
him off his feet and Interfering with
his progress to such an extent that the
thief was enabled to reach cover before
fhe lost ground could be recovered.
Ripley hash t doubt that the 1nterfer.
ence was the intentional act OF pal of
the man he was chasing. He is satisfied
he would know the fellow IL he is lucky
enough to see him again,
Depots Watched.
While the depots, and all other usual
points of departure from the city have
been and are being carefully watched,
II il possible that both Palmer and his
woman friend, as well as the pal who
sayed him from capture, have managed
To shake the dust Of Zion from their
feet. If they are still here, however,
it is next to q certainty that they will
soon be behind the bars.
It ia known that the man Palmer, who
is regarded as no common criminal,
went to Omaha from Des Moines, and
nrobablv remained in that city until
something like week ago, when he
bought a ticket for Salt Lake, Arrived
here, he donned the clothes of yag-
rant, and it was In this guse that
| he was taken into custody on April B,
! II the information TINT he was wanted
! had arrived during his brief term in
custody, he would today be on his way
to the penitentiary, However, it is not
! believed that he can long AVOID arrest.
In his hurry to get his hands on the
absconder when he encountered him, on
! Main and First South street yesterday,
Officer Ripley. was unable to take care
| savs. however, that she was we'll
| dressed, a decided blonde and, beyond
! doubt, a newcomer TO town.