Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-07-22
STORY Of A BAD MAN
told BY A BISMARCkER

In reading accounts OF the recent
shooting at Minneapolis between OFF,
Ger Ollinger and Jerry Harrison,
known as Jerry Mccarthy, the motor
ious convict, in which both men were
killed, it will be interesting to know
that George HedriX, well-known
farmer living about ten miles south OF
Bismarck, captured Harrison, then
known as Tom Hatch, in Des Moines,
Ia, in 1908, and was instrumental in
sending him to the penitentiary for
17-year-term, the first big sentence
ever given him.
Mr.. HedriX was policeman in
Des Moines for five years and later a
plain clothes man for seven years, be-
ing at the time of leaving Des Moines,
chief of detectives and man with a
reputation as one of the best, if not
the best, officer in that part of the
country. Mr. Hedrix was the hero
of hundred different escapades dur
ing his long career but he considered
Hatch. or Harrison, the most danger.
Gus man he ever had anything to do
with.
Harrison's career dates from the
time that he was a mere boy. When
still minor he was prime mover in
an attempt to crack the Polk county
treasurer's vault He arranged the
evidence SO cleverly that he was able
to escape conviction, while his accom-
plices were given long terms. Scarcely
a week after the trial he cracked a
SAT-. turned states evidence and serv-
ed a year and half at Saltwater un.
der the name of Mccarthy. AS soon
as he was released he went to Glen
dive, Mont and cracking safe, Sc
cured small fortune in diamonds He
was caught in the mountains and serv-
ed five years at Deer Lodge for the
crime. This was the only sentence
he ever completed.
Then Hatch sought Des Moines as
his field of operations. This was 1905
With police and detectives on the
lookout for him, and descriptions sent
broadcast the now accomplished and
clever criminal took chance and
Doluit Gu dUOuI odf
looms and resorts.
He fell in company with Donald
Balm. a divinity student at Drake uni
versity, Hatch conceived the idea
of holding up Mabel Woods famous
resort. With young Balm the pair
swooped down on the place and made !
a clean sweep of money and jewels. |
Detective Hedrix was put on tie
track of Hatch and Pain at once and
with a friend. detective Frank Fro ;
thers, they started after him. They !
found a man they thought was Eain, !
and identifying him by milk stone
scarf pin. arrested him. Balm was
put through a strenuous sweat, but !
void not reveal Harrison's wherea-
bouts and the officers, armed with a !
copy of Bain's handwriting. made the :
round of all the cheap hotels and lodg-
ing houses in Des Moines, finally 10. ;
eating their room in the Summit no. /,
tel, notorious joint at that time. /
They went to the door of the room
and put Hatch off his guard by bump
ing against the door in drunken
fashion. commanding him to open it,
He. thinking it was Balm, did as re-
quested and was met with drawn re-
volvers He made a dive for his gun
on the bed. but was too late ;
After being tried. Hatch was SEN
fenced to Fort Madison for seventeen |
years as was Balm. The young !
preacher was paroled soon
Prison bars were as nothing to
Jerry Harrison. He served a year or
more and then made his escape after
hiding in the prison walls all day. .
He scaled the wall and lay all night in
hiding within a stones throw of the ;
country about |;
Jerry Harrison was b orn on farm
near Jefferson, Ia. and his parents
still live there. He served two SEN;
fences in Saltwater under the name
of Jerry Mccarthy and was also
known as Tom Hatch around Des
Moines. in fact, he was until the time
Of his death considered one of the
most desperate criminals in the entire
country.
Some time previous to Hatch's death
in Minneapolis last week he had es-
capped from the Minnesota peniten-
tiary while serving sentence on a
charge of trying to shoot an officer
when told to throw up his hands, and
had reputation of trying to shoot an
officer on sight when he thought he
was suspected.
At the time that Mr.. Hedrix cap
turcd Hatch he was highly praised for
his quick work in getting the drop on
him. Hatch did try to make move
fer his gun but Hedrix told him to
keep his hands at his side and gave
his companion instructions to shoot
on a moments notice. Hatch per-