Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-05
ALARM IN H|LLSDAlE
Fugitive From St. Elizabeth
Causes a Panic.
BRANDISHES BIG CLEAVER
Residents Give Him Wide Berth and
Notify Police.
CAPTURED WITHOUT TROUBLE
Surrenders Knife Without Protest
and Later Returns to Hospital
Under Guard.
CAPTURED WITHOUT TROUBLE

Usually when person VIII" has es-
capped from the. Government Hospital
for the Insane is seen about the streets
Of Anacostia or Hillsdale there arc
plenty of residents who are more than
willing to arrest him and get the re-
ward of So offered for his capture. but
such not the case this morning
regarding Harrison ]. Rnkler. He was
armed with a big cleaver he had OBJ
tanned from the kitchen. and no one
cared to tackle him.
RtnkIer was first seen hurrying along
Sheridan avenue. He wore only shirt
and pair of trousers, and was brandish-
ing the eleaver threateningly. The resi-
dents consequently fell back as fast as
they could, seeking the protection of
closed doors and showing no desire to
get the So which they could obtain for
a few minutes police work. They had
heard him say something about cary
ing them Some of the more fearless
ones managed to scale back fences and
hurry to the eleventh precinct to warn
the police.
The Police Warned.
Hes got a cleaver and will kill ev-
erybody if you don't get him in
hurry" almost breathlessly shouted one.
Behind him were other frightened
ones, and every one had practically the
same warning to give.
II know he's bad man from the
west" said the last excited and fright
ened resident of Hillsdale to reach the
station. Il know it because that's the
way they do out there
Capt. Anderson was in the station when
news came of the dangers which confront
ed residents of Hillsdale. He directed
Sergt Ready and Policemen c. ]. p.
Weber and II. l.. Smith, mounted. to hur-
ry to the neighborhood In which the flu
gitive had been seen. In few moments
the three officers were riding along the
road after Rinkler. Before Selling him
they tried the effect of diplomacy. Rinkler
was spoken to about the weather and
when he replied was asked where he was
going.
Going to town" he responded. making
no show of any hostile intention.
Suppose we go along together" sug-
gested one of the policemen.
VERY good Rinkler replied. and con-
tinued to walk along the road between
two OF the horses, keeping the cleaver
concealed.
Would you mind letting me have what
YOU have there asked one of the police
men, the others being alert for attack in
case any sign of violence was displayed.
Certainly not. Rinkler returned. Il
have no further use for the cleaver.
Taken to the Station.
He handed the knife TO one of the men
and continued to walk along the road
with them. When the three policemen
and Rinkler neared the station Rinkler
was asked to accompany them to the sta
ton, telling him he was to be detained
until he could be returned to the hospital.
He seemed to realize that he had been
outwitted by the policemen. and he ac-
companied them to the lookup without
offering objection.
II forgot to leave the cleaeer behind
when ! came away from the building,
was the explanation Ire offered regarding
his possession of the knife.
An attendant took charge of him and re-
turned him later to the institution.
Rinkler said he had served a number OF
years in the army. He had been in the
Philippines and other possessions and
had become SO i'll that he was sent to the
hospital. Rinkler was an inmate of ~
building, but had been working in the
kitchen at r. building.