The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1908-11-05
DESPERATE FUGITIVE IS
HEADED FOR This CITY
Bezemer Eludes Posse and
Is Given Aid by
Eumbermen.


bioodhounds. Sam and Brady, hot
upon his trail. and pursued by a
relentless posse. the capture Of Leo
bezemer alias "Whistling Rufus"
who. on Oct 20. chained r. p. Eng
lish. a wealthy Mt Vernon logger
to a tree and demanded $1,000 for
his release. Is but matter OF few
hours, according 20 adyices re-
ceiyed here this morning over the
long distance telephone from sil.
yana.
u Do believed that the would.be
niackmailer and kidnaper Is in hid.
Ing Ia the thick brush between
Marysville and Everett. For the
past nine days Charles Harmon.
sheriff Of skagit county. and
I posse Of deputies have worked
night and day IN an effort to cap
turc bezemer. but aided BY friends
and deceiyed By enemies. the sher-
~ and his men have followed
many a toriuous trail and have been
I ffFsH 80 AN"AA EAAHAtts
sloochounds Take Trait.
Late yesterday afternoon Harry
McDefmott and his biO0dhounds ar
rived Ia Sllvana The hounds. Sam
and Brady, attracted much atfen-
ton because Of their sensational blt
OF Work when they led searching
party over trail seven DAYS old
70 the body Of Fred ". Kloeber.
who losi his life In the mountains
near Green River Hot Springs a
few weeks ago.
a number of shlnRle weavers and
mill hands gathered about the mar
y az Silvana yesterday. and when
y was learned the McDermott
hounds were 10 be- used IN an effort
20 capture Bezemer. the lumberrnen
unWitungly revealed a plot 20 foll
the officers Of the law.
sheriffElset in Hunt.
In the posse with McDermott
were sheriff-eiect c. w. Stevenson.
Of skagit county. who stopped
watching election returns TO ala in
the capture Of the kidnapper. w.
bardsiey. turnkey at the county
jail. Mount Vernon. Deputy sheriff
X X. Durham. who was shot sew
ersi days ago Ia general fuslllads
when the posse Was pressing Beze-
mer hard. Deputy Sheriff r. s. Il
1 kins and Fred Franstead.
The mutterings OF the sullen
shinEieweavers and milihands grew
deeper. and for a time Il appeared
That q serious clash would follow.
Prom the actions Of the mill hands
u was evident that they were set
upon placing every obstacle in the
path OF the pursuers
Hounds Get Scent.
Despite the lack OF cooperation
on the part OF the shinElemen. Nc
Dcrmotts bloodhounds Immediate
~ took up the scent and followed
the trail south for distance OF five
miles south 20 Lakewood. There
the trail ended. bur II Is the firm
opinion OF Sheriffelect Stevenson
that Bezemer climbed into a buggy,
presumably furnished by confeder-
ates and made his way 10 the delta
OF the Skagit river In the region
north Of Everett and south OF
Marysville
For the past eight days the
would-be blackmailer has been
hack-tracking between Mount Yer.
non and Marysviile From reliable
sources Il has been learned that
Bezemer has been provided with
provisions and lodgings By mill
hands who live at Midtown. Days
camp. Pilchnck. Milldale and Stan
wood The lumbermen have organ
ized a sort OF underground railway.
and so successful have been their
efforts that the pursuing party has
not been able TO trap the hunted
man.
Sheriff-elect Stevenson is quiet
~ gathering evidence against ner-
emer's ahettors and several ar
rests are likely to follow.
Heads for Seattle.
That Bezemer is headed Tor Sc
attic where. It is claimed, he has
many friends who would shield
him from the law. Is the belief Of
the posse A few nights ago Bez-
emer was given food az the home
OF a supposed friend. and while
there declared he would get TO Sc
attic by hook or crook
why don't YOU board n through
freiEht2 was asked
"That damned posse Is right on
my heels and every train is being
watched. Bczcmer Is said 20 have
replied There is reward OF
$3.50 for my capture, but Harmon
will have to so some 10 get me.
I've got a few friends In this neck
Of the woods myself"
shortly before 10 o'clock this
morning MeDermott's bloodhounds
started south from Lakewood 70
pick up the trail The trail from
Silvana 10 Lakewood which the
hounds followed yesterday was so
fresh that IL Is believed Bezemer
is on the last lap Of his dash for
liberty
Members OF the local police de-
partment have been appraised OF
the gidnaper's attempt 10 reach
Seattle II he eludes McDermotts
hoodhounds and reaches Seattle,
every patrOlman and detective will
be on the lookout
Bezomor IS about % years old.
five feet nine inches In height. has
black hair. usually parted in the
center, dark eyes and is smooth
shaven One or two fingers are
missing from the left hand The
lddnaper Is rather handsome and
OF pleasant manners. He Is easily
excited and when excited displays