The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-03-04
POLICE CHIEF
A CONVICT
DanVllle Startled at Discovery
Is Under Life Sentence in
Georgia.
HAD ESCAPED FROM PRISON THERE

Edgar Stribling, who for five years
has been chief of police of Danvile,
Va, under the name Of K. 4. Morris,
was arrested there Thursday as an
escaped murderer from Hamilton, Ca,
prison. In 1897 he was sentenced to
life imprisonment for murder. He
escaped pending motion for new
trial.
After his escape from prison he was
joined by his wife and three children.
de now his ten children.
Striblng was allowed nearly two
hours Friday night to bid his family
farewell ct his home, under guard OF
two officers and was then taken in
charge for the trip back to Georgia.
The arrest and exposure Of the chief
Of police was made by Secret Service
Agent J. W. w. Smith and Deputy
City Sergeant W. w. Boisseau.
Confronted by the officers with a
requlsition. Chef Morris admitted that
he is Strining, who killed VIM. Cor
bett in Harris county. He said he
escaped jail through The aid Of friends
and of jai.er WHOM he bribed.
Striblng said he and his brother-in-
law, Hugh Terrell. were forced to shoot
the man, who had attacked his sister,
and he expressed the utmost confidence
that he would be able To return to Dan
Vile in short time a free man. Mrs.
Striblng knew of the murder, and
Joined her husband after his escape.
Terrell. who was sentenced with Strib-
ling to life imprisonment, has since
been pardoned.
For the past six years Stribling has
been living at Danville, no one for a
moment suspecting his identity.
He was first employed as night watch
man for the Southern Express Com
pany, later elected as a patrolman on
TIE Danvile police force, and after
serving six months was advanced to
chief.
His advancement was due in a great
measure to his cool nerve and fearless
ness, though he was criticised severely
for his almost uncomfortable temper.
Strlbing. in his official capacity, had
many Influential friends.
This election as chief Of police was
due to the support Of the Prohibitionists
and he has led repeated raids on the
blind tigers of Danyile.
Besides the killing of Corbett, Strib-
ling has two justitable homicides 10
his credit. He killed a negro in Reds
vi lie VINO tried TO break into his home,
and also killed Rufus Reynolds. a white
man whom he was trying TO arrest.
Feeling safe from arrest since he left
Georgia, Morris began to take chances.
He worked in North Carolina where,
before he went 10 Danvllle, he was a
policeman. Three months ago he took
the biggest chance that he had yet
taken. 1t was the fatal mistake that
will send him back to Georgia. A man
from Columbus, Ga, who happened to
be in Danvlle, recognized the chief of
Police as the escaped criminal from
Georgia.
"You dom know me, " said Morris,
but | guess you have heard of Edgar
Stribling. Well, that me. -
The Columbus man went home, and
told of his discovery. Friends of the
murdered man raised funds necessary
to bring the mar back for the serving
of his term.
Striblng expressed no desire TO take
legal steps to prevent his return, con-
senting readily to his capture. He went
home, where he babe his family good
by, and then left on the night train
with the officer from Georgia who came
for him.