Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-20
NEGRO WHO ESCAPED FROM
FORT MADISON AND STOLE
AUTO AGAIN IN CUSTODY.
TOOK CAR IN ORDER TO
MAKE GETAWAY EASY
Carl eeekwith Captured in Davenport
While Trying to Make Way to Chi
easo-says He Wanted to Reach
Bedside Of Sick Mother in Mime
apolis-Makes Complete Confession.

negro convict of Fort Madison, whose
| sensational escape in an automobile
which he had stolen a month ago, was
| recorded in the papers of this section,
was captured in Davenport by Detec-
tives Brady and Phelan about o'clock
Wednesday night.
The capture of the negro was at
tended with the recovery Of the auto
, mobile which he had stolen from a
farm near Agency. The car had been
standing near the roadside as Beck
with passed and he started the engine
and drove away, while the owner OF
the car, who was standing in front Of
hts home, started in frantic pursuit of
him. The negro, however, escaped and
drove to 'Muscatine and then went di-
rectly to Minneapolis where he visited
with his mother who was Ill. He then
came to Davenport and remained be-
tween this city and Rock Island for
more than week.
A card had been received here with
a description Of the negro soon after
his escape. All officers and detectives
in the Davenport department were
shown the card and instructed to be
on ,LIle look out IOT IuIIl.
Left Car in Rock Island.
Detective Frank Brady had seen the
negro riding around in an automobile
! but was never able to get the license
number He traced him to a rooming
house on lower Iowa street yesterday
afternoon and learned that he was
near the Rock Island depot at Thir-
9th c<w 20
never kept it here and came to Dav-
export infrequently.
After getting his line set for the
man Detective Brady asked and re-
ceived the assistance of Detective
Phelan and the two "sleuths' went to
the place on Iowa street and arrested
him last night about o'clock.
When brought to the station Beck
with gave the name Of William Nc
Clure. but upon being questioned
closely as to where he had secured the
automobile he made a complete con-
fession. Penitentiary officials were
notified and an officer came here at
noon today to return the escaped con-
vict. The owner Of the automobile
will. arrive here tonight A reward Of
$50 had been offered by the prison for
the return Of Beclcwith. and the own
or OF the automobile had offered $25
for the car.
Up For Ten Years.
Beckwith had been sent to Fort
Madison for ten years on charge Of
breaking and entering He had served
three years of his time and was made
trusty. It was while he was seated
with other prisoners on the front
porch Of the warden's quarters dur
ing the early evening late in July that
he was seized with the impulse to
leave.
"My mother was sick in Minneap-
oils" he said, "and I wanted to see
her. ] asked to get away for a few
days but they wouldn't let me go. SO
I decided would go anyway and
that's why took the chance"
Upon leaving the grounds he started
walking up the road and had gone but
a short distance when he came upon
the automobile. Jumping into the car
he started it of and drove to Musca-
tine. He then went to Minneapolis to
see his mother and returned to Daven-
port and Rock Island week ago.
Going to Chicago.
eff you had been little later" he
said, you would have got left. was
nsuflIS on leaving LOT CHlCdSO WIFI
the car tomorrow morning"
Beclswith had been staying at the
negro rooming house Of Mrs c. Bogg-
ness on Iowa street. The woman's
husband was recently sentenced. to-
gether with a white man, for robbing
the Kulp home on Mississippi avenue.
Beckwith is but % years of age and
altho he gave his own name at the
roornins house he told the woman he
did not care to have his identity di-
vulged because Of the fact that he "be-
longed to lodges and it would get me