Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-14
At Large Here or Making Way
to Some Other Part of
the Country.
ALONG WITH JOHN EARLY
WAS IN D. C. CUSTODY
Left Hospital on Eastern Branch
Last Night and Search Has
Been in Vain.

Emil Cradle, leper. detained by the
District government at the leper hospl-
tai on the Eastern branch since Decem-
Der 10 last, is either at large in Wash
ington or making his way to some
other part of the United States.
Cradle took French leave of his single
companion, John Early, and a guard at
the hospital some time last night. His
escape was not discovered until 6
o'clock this morning. An immediate
search was instituted by the police de-
partment and representatives of the
health office, but up until late hour
this afternoon the hunt had been I'M
availing.
Description of Fugitive.
The escaped leper. probably the most
dangerous of all the Districts wards to
be at large, is described as being APP
proximately six feet tall and weighing
200 pounds. While his features do not
show prominently the marks of leprosy.
his skin possesses a lemon tint and
there is an absence of eyebrows. charac-
teristic features of one afflicted as he IS.
His hands are said to be markedly
swollen. and his voice has nasal tone.
He wore a suit of black and white
material, giving a gray effect: SOFT shirt
and attached collar. black shoes and
straw hat. He also is depicted as being
clumsy in his movements and possess
ing numbering gait.
Cradle apparently had no trouble es-
Gaping. About all the authorities know
is that he left some time after O'Clock
last night. The only explanation oHer-
ed is that the guard who was on duty
at the time was at some point on the
reservation where he could not see
the entrance to the hospital at the mo-
ment Cradle slipped out.
May Have Received Money.
AS Cradle formerly worked as a
brakeman on a railroad, it is suggested
that he may have attempted to leave
the city last night on freight train
This theory is strengthened by the fact
that he received a letter few days
ago from a sister residing in Idaho. 1t
is thought the letter may have con-
tanned money.
The police department was officially
notified by DR.. William c. woodward,
ble's escape. DIR. Woodward pointed
out that if the leper should be found
outside the District of Columbia his
removal into the District except by the
United States public health service
would be in violation Of the federal
law.
Cradle, like John Early, who is the
Districts only other leper ward, con-
tracted the disease while serving with
the United States Army in the Philip
pines. He came to washington from
St. Louis, Mo- Since discovering that
he had leprosy Cradle has travelled ex-
tensiyely between San Francisco, Salt
Lake City and various points in Can
ada, st. Louis and this city.
Shortly after reaching washington
l,.k ;pfa chad
man at 5th and Massachusetfs avenue
and gave himself up. Herw immedi-
ately taken to the leper hospital. where
he and Early have been detained un-
der constant guard.
Surrendered in Washington.
Before making known his identity
last winter. Cradle travelled under the
alias of Charles K. Randall. He claims
to have reached Washington December
9 and spent the. night in Union sta
ton. He spent most of the following
day sightseeing, and it was late in the
afternoon before he reported to the
police officer.
He stated that he had been detained
in st. Louis as leper for about year
and left there without the consent OF
the authorities. According to his state
ments the fact that he had leprosy
was first recognized in San Francisco
about 1910. He was Quarantined in
San Francisco for about eighteen
months and then left without the per-
mission of those haveing him in
custody and journeyed to Salt Lake
City.
In Salt Lake he was also quarantined,
but made his escape from that city ap-
parently as easily as did from the
local hospital last nigh. Afterward he
made an extensive trip through Canada.
Cradle and Early have necessitated
the keeping of three guards at the
leper hospital on the Eastern branch.
and the cost of their maintenance is
about $4,000 a year. If Cradle is located
outside the District there is little prob
"a bility of his being returned to Wash
ington.