The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-19
Deserter Confined in Residence
Walks Out of Bedroom VIM
dow at NighI
Southern Pacific Detective IN
Meantime Takes Charge
of His Passes
Wires From Tucson Make Ii
Plain That Wealthy Deserter
Is Well Cared For

THAI powerful influences We're be
hind Private Ernest Ackers OF the
"A United States signal corps. both
in his desertion from the Presidio and
in his escape after having been ar
rested ia Yuma. Ariz., and turned over
TO the custody of Marshal J. H. Cod
frey. were plainly shown in dispatches
received from Tuscon.
Ackers openly admitted that pri-
vste car had been put at his disposal
on the Southern Pacific tracks at San
Francisco. but declared he did not use
it preferring TO travei by the regular
passenger train
Ackers was arrested last Monday by
Constable Martinez OF Yuma He was
dressed in fashionable gray suit and
was walking about the streets when
the officer apprehended him. He had
arrived there that day on the Pullman.
Detective Takes Passes
When Martinez went to make the
arrest Detective Andrews OF the South
era Pacific mysteriously appeared on
the scene. and. though he acted as if
he did not know him. took an imme-
diate interest in the case and finally
requested that the four transconti-
mental railroad passes found on Ackers
he turned over to him. To this the
prisoner offered no objection. The
railroad detective on obtaining the
passes disappeared. and Ackers was
later turned over TO Marshal J. II. Cod
frey of Tucson.
Instead Of locking him up in jail. as
SIS the usual custom. Godfrey piseed the
frisoner in his own residence. It was
arranged that he should be turned over
10 the military authorities on the fol-
lowing Thursday. but on the night be-
fore Ackers spoiled the plans by open
knE the window Of the bedroom and
kra king away.
Why there was no guard put over
him was a question which could not
be answered by Godfrey. He was
nice fellow" said ne, ~and / did not
care to lock him up"
Money a Mystery
From all indications the Southern
Pacific detective had been with him
from the time Ackers left san Fran
cisco. when he deserted his post Ack
ers had $4,000 with him. yet when ar
rested in Yuma he had but 81. Where
she remainder Of the money had gone
was another mystery. Having but 81
with him De could not have Travelled
very far after making his escape, but
though several days have elapsed since
then, nothing has been heard of him
The general impression is that the
greater part Of his money was being
kept by some other person. the com
mon belief being that he had handed
IL over TO some railroad agent in case
OF gust such emergencies.
with the railroad detectives appear
ance in the case. together with the
easy chances allowed him of escaping.
the army officials are more than ever
convinced that he was being helped
by the strongest Of civil Influences
and vigorous measures Will be taken
10 bring about his recapture.
Ackers, after admitting that pri-
vate car had been waiting for him in
81 Francisco, said he had Joined the
sTshy in disgust He said that the act
followed a bad period on the race
track. He declared his cause for de-
sertion was that he was going east to
get married.
The war department has taken un-
usual action in his case, and yesterday
telegraphed a full description Of his
appearance 10 every possible place.