The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-30
MAKES FAREWELL,
THEN, 10OT-TOOT,
FRANKIE IS GONE.
High Sheriff Meredith Takes
Townsend to See Grand
ma, Then the Youngster
Does Vanishing Act.
WAS AERoPLANE ysED
OR SUBMARINE BOAT?
{
Some Reports Say By Burg
lar Was Seen in pirigib|e
Ba||oon,/whi|e Others Say
He SWIM Away. i

Frank r6wnsend. the youHhful burg
lar, is agfin at liberty. having effect
ed his Escape yesterday afternoon
about 6To'clock. while in custody of
Sheriff Linus Meredith, al. the home
of his father. James Townsend. and
his grand mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Gaar
both o4 whom live at 3OSf North Sew
enth street. Sheriff MerSdith had in
tended to take the boy TO Jefferson
vile reformatory this morning to
serve an indeterminateEs sentence of
from one to fourteen years for grand
larceny, he having beeIlssentenced by
JudgesFox Of the circuft court yester-
day morning, when he admitted his
guilt of stealing sos and valuable pa
pers from the safe Of the Commons
Dairy company, South Fifth street,
Sunday night. IF
Young Townsend had been taken to
the Gaar-Townsend homestead by
Sheriff Meredith in order to permit
the boy to say goodbye to his grand
mother, who %is aged and infirm. The
boy, has evidently decided to make
permanent good bve to his grandmoth-
er, parent and authorities as well. No
trace as to the boys whereabouts
have been obtained, although the po-
lice and county authorities are conf
dent he will be in custody again with
in a week.
Officials Are Gloomy.
~s The police and the sheriff are about
the most gloomy persons in the city
today. They had taken great pride in
their achievement in breaking the
back bone of the court house gang by
the arrest of Townsend, Charles Lof-
tus, and Oscar Peters, only to have
their dreams shattered by the escape
of Townsend. admittedly the brains
of the organization. No stone will be
left unturned to effect his capture.
Sheriff Meredith today offered a re-
ward of $50 for the arrest of Town
send. Tracers. giving complete de-
scription, have been sent out to all
sheriffs and police chiefs in Indiana
and Ohio.
Townsend is described as being 10
years of age, five feet, four inches tall,
weight 155 pounds, florid complexion,
blue eyes, blocky build and pug nosed.
At the time of his escape he wore
light brown soft hat. black shoes and
colored shirt.
Court Orders Sheriff.
Upon the refusal of Judge Fox yes-
terday to allow representative of the
Plainfield reform school to return
with Townsend to that institution for
violation of his parole. Judge Fox or
dered Sheriff Meredith to take Town
send to JeffersoIville reformatory
this morning. Townsend begged per-
mission to bid his grandmother. Mrs
Elizabeth Gaar. and his father. James
Townsend, goodbye. Meredith hand
cuffed the boy and was taking him to
his home when. he was met by the
father. Mr.. Townsend expostulated
with Mr.. Meredith about allowing the
boy to visit his grandmother while
wearing handouts. Mr.. Meredith fin.
ally relented and took the cuffs off Of
him as they entered the house. The
boy stood chatting with his grand
mother. father and step-mother for
several minutes in the kitchen.
A Desperate Dash.
Sheriff Meredith finally ordered
Townsend to accompany him back to
the county Jail and stepped out the
kitchen door and down the steps.
Townsend was not prompt in obeying
and James Townsend ordered his son
to leave. Suddenly the boy pushed
his grandmother to one side and dash
ed into the dining room. He pushed
the door to and locked 1t, then rushed
up the stairs and jumped out a north
window into the yard of Thomas Muir
ply. From that time on all trace of
the boy was lost.
Mr.. Meredith searched the house
and vicinity thoroughly before going
to police headquarters where he an
nounced the news. The police, both,
Continued on Page Two.)