New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-14
SLEUTH|NC IN AN AUTO.
Driver of Detective BurnS'S Gar
Tells Story of Dash West.
HE WAS SWORN TO SECRECY
Mcnamara Was Rushed Out OF
Indiana, but He Forgets
Their Destination.

William j. Burns. the deiec''Ne VINO
rounded I'D and arrested the alleged pr'n-
cinals in dynamiting outrages which nave
hee, nerperrated throughout the United
S,..ee during the last two years. is the
FIRST detective who has found practical use
ror tho automobile race driver and the rae
Ing automobile -
Frank +. FoX OF Indianapolis orNer
who 10 actively engaged in the sport ana
member Of the Pope Hartford team nom
mated 10 drive in the 5oo-mile international
sweepstakes at the Indianapolis Mo'or
speedvay on Memorial Day is Inc man
who drove the high powered machine "hich
carried John j. Mcnamara. secretar! ana
treasurer Of the Iron Workers lnterna'ion-
Al Union. out Of the state OF Indiana be-
fore his friends could get process OF law 10
stop the procedure.
Rurns has been arrested in Indianapolis
ON the charge OF kidnapping Mcnamara
and Fox is also under bond. charged with
being an, accessory. Fox drove -W mics
ont Of Indiana TO the west in less than SIX
hours. making better than forty miles an
hour over strange country roads I'm the
DARK He tells an interesting story OF the
Wild ride with the prisoner and his guard
az detectives and police. but refuses 10 di-
vtlse the spot where he left his human
cargo.
The driver said he was given orders TO DIS
obey speed laws and to drive the machine
from the state as quickly a possible, re-
eardlcss of damage TO the automobile or
danger TO the lives Of its occupants. lie
fxf. I,,Gf
knowledge OF his destination. lie had been
told lie was "a drive several hundred mics
and he was ordered to be prepared for &C
cidents Of any nature.
The story Of the race driver follows:
Burns called me at my garage. saying
he wanted tho most powerful machine IN
Indianapolis TO take q party OF men a iohS
TRIP. lie said he wanted some one TO
drive who would he willing To take chances
on -oirg through a knothoie. If necessary,
and that he wanted driver who could
keen what lie would see TO himself
Il felt that there was something in the
Air. but 7 did not know what il was. or
course al that time | knew nothing OF the
detectives plans. but | am in the garage
business: ! have cars for such purposes
and | decided 10 go whatever should fol-
low ] was ordered to have the car at
Police Headquarters early in the after
noon and TO have the machine loaded 10
the guards with gasolene and speed juice.
was requested also TO place the top up
and TO have curtains on the car.
n must confess when the detectives be-
can TO swarm from Police Headquarters
leading a man with handouts on him was
rather surprised. l Immediately believed
some we'll known citizen with political or
other influences had got in trouble and
that friends were spiriting him away be
fore the law could get good hold on him.
J did not know Mcnamara. He appeared
20 be an intelligent well-to-do man and
these things strengthened me- in this belief.
When Burns came from the building he
must have believed when he saw the cur
tains on the car that it was filled with
men who we're not his friends. Anyway
before had an opportunity to realize
what was going on he HAD run TO the
machine. and after throwing the curtains
back had Inspected its interior TO see that
{, was empty Before had time to think
twice or before 7 had time 10 recognize
persons IN the crowd the man adorned
with handouts was seated. and being FOL-
lowed quickly by two detectives ] was
ordered to drive west and 10 run over
strectcars II necessary i'm getting out Of
the city in hurry.
We Uent west on Washington street.
After ] had left the city limits and the
open country was seen before us ! was
tod 10 drive west: that I was to choose
the roads and 10 drive as fast as possible
and 10 make no stops unless they were
ABSOLUTELY necessary. 7 had gasolene and
oil and water In my machine TO carry us
threo hundred miles. and / knew We could
make the trip. barring punctures
really could not tell what cities We
passed on the way ] drove so fast did
rot have time to notice where We were
going, only knew We were headed west.
A. no time during the trip did I hear con
Versation between Mcnamara and the de-
trctivcs Tho machine was making too
much noise and tho wind was whistlinc
Isst our ears too fast for US 10 hear
Neither did ! have time to devote much
thought rs 20 what the purpose Of the
ri I'D ride Wa. Tor ! was busy I'm controu
IT, tho machine. avoiding bumps and
rounding curves in the road
some time after we had left here one
Of rio men opened suitcase thought
II belongcd 90 the prisoner. II was filed
With ,ouns battery and there was
enough ammunition in II for an army
There wa % Winchester rife In the grip.
several large automatic pistols and it
iooktd 10 NE like ~ least two hundred
rounds o. ammunition. When ! saw all
nc eunpoWder paraphernais / decided
that man could die only once and that
J might a well keep that machine i'm the
icsd whilc had The chance
Those guns looked to me ike trouble
J thought il trouble had no, been expected
re detectives were certainly foolish 10
larry 80 much excess Iaggaec.
u cannot help hut say 4 few good words
~ the machine that took MS tho trip. We
had unusually good luck Tie trip was
made without 4 stop, and vc were OK
ceedinely lucky 10 90 50 far at the rate
- forty miles an hour without a puncturc.
J had. 10 stop once coming back 10 ~ n
me- hui that was the only trouble had
~ the trip took my time coming home.
J Wa asked 10 do this by tho detectives
they told me they did not want me fo
'slk. sud. above AN things. they did not
ant POE, To- say where Mcnamara vae
'aFfn from the machine. Burns may be
wiling to make this place known. but
liza. s. mp 70 hiu and not me.