The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-18
bursting in DR.. Keib's presence. And in
a moment the hunt was on.
Going 30 Miles an Hour

! d moment the hunt was on.
Going 30 Miles an Hour.
The great black car flashed like a
thunder bolt through Stormville, ten
miles east of Matteawan, along the
road to the Connecticut line. Early
riserS in the little hamlet saw three
men-and Thaw-crouching low to es-
cape the sweep of their rush through
the air They were going 20 miles an
hour They were ten minutes out of
MatteaWan.
Stormville marveled at their speed
and watched them melt away in the
dust of the state road.
The limousine had been left behind.
At the speed which the black car trav-
eled through StormviIle he should have
reached the state line within half an
hour.
Barnum's breathless declaration at
the asylum brought DR.. Kieb to his feet
like a pistol shot. Matteawan became
the center of widening ripple of tele-
phone and telegraph alarms as Dr.
Kieb planned pursuit. He might as
well have tried to chase a twelve-inch
shell. The ten minutes start, the high
power of the car in which Thaw made
his flight, the .Iearness of the Con-
necticut state line toward which Thaw
was heading and the inferior power of
the pursuing cars were against him
and made the chase hopeless.
Five minutes. ride away he ment a
Iiveryman named Flanagan.
Seen Near Fishl1iI.
Il saw him." Flanna gan shouted. He
was near Fishkill village and going
sixty miles an hour. 1 saw him COM
ing and just had time to crowd my
horses over to one side of the road.
He would have hit me sure Just let
him keep on, he will break his neck
Flanagan recognized Thaw, he said,
sitting in the rear seat of the big black
car. The limousine was trailing the
big car, Flanagan said. DR.. Kieb,
realizing the futility of the chase, called
it off and went back to Matteawan.
None of the towns near the state line
was able to give any information about
the two cars. The last definite news
was from Stormville.
According to the account given by DR..
Kieb, when Barnum opened the gate
to allow the milkman to enter he let it
remain open and so far as DR.. Kieb
could judge had quietly stood by and
allowed the prisoner to walk ut.
It was impossible to obtain an inter
view with Barnum. as he had been
placed in custody by the hospital au-
thorities.
ward of $500 for Thaw's apprehension
in addition to the $50 usually given by
the state in such cases.
Rigid investigation gave DR.. Kieb the
belief that Thaw planned a flight by
yacht in Long Island and that if he
reached the yacht it was by relays of
stationed along the road
to throw pursuers off the trail.
This investigation disclosed the fact.
DR.. Kieb added, that four of the men
who aided Thaw came to Matteawan in
the black touring car last Friday and
registered at the Holland hotel as
Roger Thompson, Richard D. Beetle,
Michael O'Keefe and Eugene Duffy, all
Of New York city.
Five Accomplices.
The fifth man aiding in Thaw's es-
cape, according to the investigation,
came to Matteawan Saturday. He
Joined the group at the Holland hotel
under the name of Thomas Flood, of
New York city. HIS is said to have
driven the big car when Thaw escaped.
The four men who arrived Friday
were described as rather sporty" in
dividuals by William Gordon, proprie-
tor of the hotel. They spent their
they made a name as free spenders. |
Gordon talked quite a bit with the
four men and especially Thompson, |
who appeared to be the leader. He |
had a talk with Thompson Saturday |
which caused him to open his eyes
wide when he heard of Thaw'S escape. |
Thompson had been drinking pref |
" much of the night before and had |
started in again this morning" Mr.. |
Gordon said. He talked about a great |
many things and seemed to have a |
arge fund of information. 1 Won
1ered what his line of business was
and asked him.
HE waited for long time before
he answered. Then he said: My busi- |
hess is helping good fellows who have
gotten into trouble
The five men came down from their
-oOmS at 6:45 o'clock Sunday morn
ng and paid their bills. There was Il
wait before the cars were i
'eady and at this the men became
inpatient.
Finally the two machines proceeded |
eisurely in the direction of the asy
um. Nobody believes the five men
registered by their right names.
Howard H. Barnum. the attendant
lnder arrest. is about 81 years old and
s a man of excellent reputation. His
lose friends are strong in their be-
ief that he did not aid in Thaw's
escape.