The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-09-29
DETECTIVES WERE
WITHIN 10 FEET
Of L|SKA
LATTER poDGEs sLEuTHs BY
STEPPING BETWEEN TEAM OF
HORSES LATEST THRILLING
CHASE FOR FUGITIVE FAILS.

BY the narrowest margin. Frank
Liska. wanted for the attempted MUIR
der or Detective Frank Wilkinson, cs-
capped being captured, early Sunday
morning. Detectives Stcinhebei and
Sullivan passed within 10 feet of him,
and Liska escaped scrutiny by stand.
ing between a team OF horses.
Liska was standing on the veranda
of saloon conducted by Albert
! Masch. q Belgian. on the Seven-mile
road. near the Center Line road, when
he saw the lights OF an automobile
down the road. Suspecting that the
machine contained officers In search
OF him, he quickly stepped In between
the team, and. In the shadow, was not
easily recognizable. Presently the
automobile dashed up and the detec-
tives hoped out and entered the Sd
loon. They inquired Of the bartender
II a man answering Lska's descrlp-
ton had been there. Liska was not
known there and the bartender evil
IDENTIFY did not follow the description
very closely for he replied In the mega
tive.
The detectives left the saloon at
once and continued on their way. AS
they walked out Of the saloon they
passed within a few feet Of Lska, but
did not see him. After they had gone.
Liska re-entered the saloon and joined
In the discussion following the ofncers'
visit. Jacob Spunke. owner OF the
team between which he had stood, saw
him step between the horses. but sus-
pected nothing out Of the way. He
was acquainted with Liska, but did
not know at that time that Liska was
the man sought, although the latter's
name was mentioned In the saloon
discussion, in Spunke's absence. A
son OF Frank Schloss. neighbor OF
Spunke. took part IN the talk. and re-
marked that his father knew Liska
well.
They ought to string up the - -
-" said the young man.
"You better look out or Liska might
get you," said Liska. And no one In
the place suspected that 1t was Liska
himself talking.
Liska asked Spunke II he could
spend the night at his place. and
Spunke was agreeable. Before Spunke
left, however, Liska changed his mind
and decided to go elsewhere. He evil
IDENTIFY feared the trail was getting
too hot. Here the trail ends. The po-
lice have no trace OF his movements
since he left the saloon early Sunday
morning.
Young Schloss said nothing to his
father about what transpired in the
saloon until Monday, as his father had
forbidden him to go to the saloon.
When he saw the papers containing
the account OF the assault on Wilkin-
son, he told what he had seen. how
ever, and Mr.. Schloss at once in
formed the police.
At daybreak. Tuesday morning, a
posse headed by Chief OF Detectives
Mcdonnell surrounded the farm house
OF Jacob Spunke on the Eight-Mile
road. about three miles east of Wood
ward.ave. thinking to find Liska there.
Leaving the rest OF the party to
guard the outside Of the house, Capt.
and Detective Fenton en-
tered the place, only to find Of course,
that Liska was not there. Thus the
second thrilling chase for Liska in
less than "a hours came TO dismal
end.
There was q man In the house all
right. The officers found him In the
guest chamber. and he was q much
surprised person when he peeped out
from under the covers to look into the
barrel of Fenton's rife. One glance
sufficed, however, to convince
Capt. Mcdonnell that the man
before him was not the one
sought. He was merely friend
of Mr.. Spunke who had come to the
farm to spend the night. 1t transpired.
After a thorough search OF the house
and premises, the posse returned to
the city, cold and disappointed.
AS he entered the house. Capt Nc
Donnell said to Spunke: I'VE want
that man you have here"
"All right, he's In there" returned,
Spunke, in surprise, pointing to the
bedroom where his visitor lay asleep.
The party comprised, besides those
Detectives Buhr, Stein.
hebel, Sullivan and Baker and PATROL
man Ryan. They left the city in
three automobiles early Monday even
ing. They went direct to the Schloss
farm and after hearing the farmers
story were satisfied that Liska was as
good as captured. Not wishing to take
any chances on Liska escaping In the
darkness. It was decided to spend the
night with Mr.. Schloss and to post.
pone the raid on Spunke's house until
daybreak.
The posse which left the city Mon
day night on a similar tip returned
empty harded and mud-spattered
shortly after o'clock. The trip was
uneventful.
Detective Wilkinson continues to
improve In st. Mary's hospital and his
recovery Is regarded as almost GER
tain. -ss---
cNNnuc AnC nD0vryNrDD