Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-05
SAFE ROBBER IS
CAUGHT AFTER
GUN FIGHT
Reformed Burglar Wounded in
Battle With Kirkwood Citizens.
Wrecked Postoffice Vault.
Continued From Page /.

night by an explosion 1 thought was
a big firecracker. 1 rolled over to
sleep again.
1T must have been about 80 min
utes later when was awakened by a
loud explosion that must have been
heard for miles around My wife and
/ jumped out of bed and she turned
on the light. turned it of and took
my stand to watch at the window,
which is only hundred feet or more
/ from the store
Robber Seen at Work
Pretty soon / saw a faint light in
the store and almost Immediately /
| Jerked on my trousers and ran to get
Mr.. Fleming next door My wife
telepboned Marshal Phillips. who
joined us, with City Clerk Ray about
the time we left the Fleming front
gate.
"Stealthily we circled around the
little store, finally grouping ourselves
at the elevator door, which we found
open. A moment later we we're in
side, and about this time the yegg-
man saw us. Brandlshing his pistol,
he lodged behind a barrel.
From there he retreated only after
Marshal Phillips dislodged him with
pistol ball which missed It's mark.
Turpin then lodged us and made for
the elevator room, only to find this
blocked by City Clerk Ray
1T was then that Turpin made his
last desperate stand while almost In
the center Of the little store. There
he blazed away with his pistol at
every fash Of the searchlight which
Marshall Phillips flashed to search
out his man in the darkness.
Turpin Return Shot for Shot.
The searching rays of the little
light were swallowed up soon in the
brilliant flashes of fire which helched
from our four guns, !Turpin returning
every shot, in lodging this way and
that. Finally, making a charge for
ward, Phillips grabbed Turpin's gun
and bore Turpin to the floor
Even then, however, Turpin fought
like mailman and finally was sub
dued only by the combined efforts Of
all four men forming the attacking
party. As he sank to the floor, ap-
parently desperately wounded, he
murmured his name, johnson.
1T is a wonder we were not all
killed for the fusillade of shots was
terrific. II took all OF us to handle
y H.
Turpin's Roommate Held.
A peculiar angle to the Turpin case
developed Saturday morning when
detectives took in custody 14-year- old
Thomas Eberhart, a newsboy, whose
home is In Dunwoody, Ga, and who
has been Turpin's roommate for the
past three weeks. Since last Tuesday
Turpin and the boy have been room
ing at the home of Stephen Marine
226 IL Marietta Street. Prior 70 that
time they had occupied a room to-
gether at the Union Rescue Mission at
230 Marietta Street.
The theory Of the police is that
Turpin was trying to gain control Of
the boy so he could use him in his
criminal operations. The boy insists
that he never has accompanied Tur-
pin out at night.
Last night came in about s
o'clock" the boy told the police. "Tur-
pin was drunk, and lying down on the
bed. In about half an hour Turpin
got up and said he was going out and
didn't know when he would be back.
He left his keys and everything he
had in his pockets on the dresser.
Had Burglars Kit.
''Turpin was always nice to me and
said some day he would show me how
to make some easy money. Otter he
has asked me II | didn't want to make
whole lot of money but he didn't
tell me how. He went out a great
deal at night and always kept a lot
of hammers and things in the draw
ers of his dresser He esaid he was a
shoemaker and that they were his
tools"
"Turpin came to the Mission after
he was released from the Federal
prison four months ago" said r. Z.
Boutwell,, connected with the Rescue
Mission, and was given a room.
Three weeks ago we put the boy IN
with him. Last Monday Turpin left
and said he was going to live at
226 1-2 Marietta Street"