Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-07
ABDUCTORS SMOTHER
STRUGGLING LAWYER,
DASH AWAY IN AUTO
Seize Francis Tracy Tobin
as He Steps From Home.
Attorney Calls for Help.
Policeman Halts Car.

Three men threw a blanket over th'
head of Francis Tracy Tobtn, an attor'
nev. In front OF his home at 42l8 Regenl
street this morning az he walked out OF
the house, lifted him into an automobhe
and started to speed away The automo-
bile was halted block away by Police
| man Kohler. The men were arrested ana
at a preliminary hearing at central sta
| lion one OF them, a New Jersey lawyer,
admitted he was trying to carry Tobin TO
New Jersey by force TO face civil suit
other means Of getting him there having
failed.
The lawyer among the three prisoners
is clifford Powell, n years old. Of Lum-
berton, N. J. The other prisoners are John
b. Dolan, q years old, and Charles G.
Jones' % years old, both Of Mt. Holly.
All three were held under $1,000 bail at
the hearing this morning, but after
hearing before Magistrate Beaton this
afternoon, Powell was allowed to
sign his own bond for $500 to appear at
further hearing in two weeks and
Dolan and Jones each we're held under
500 for trial.
The legal tansle resulting from the at
tempted kidnapping will be argued out
on Friday, when Tobin will apply for a
technical writ Of habeas corpus for him
self Assistant District Attorney Joseph
Taulane, who was at the hearing this
afternoon said he believed the man who
entered bail for Tobln in New Jersey
could have him brought back any time
he chose to forfeit
The effort to take Tobln to New Jersey
by force followed the failure of an at
tempt to have him extradited. Tobin was
attorney at Mt. Holly for Edward MUIR |
ohy. youth convicted of murder and
now awaiting the death penalty. The |
awyer always maintained that the youth
vas innocent.
Considerable bitterness was stirred UP
n the small New Jersey town over the
,ase. In an attempt to prove the inno-
ence of Murphy, Tobin had another man
rrested. When Murphy was convicted
his man started suit against Tobin for
alse arrest. Tobin secured $1,000 bail.
Ie failed to appear at the first hearing
ate and at the second.
An attempt then was made to arrest
i'm in this city. Through his attorney
ohm H. Fow, he took the case into tho
ocal courts. 1t was decided that he could
OF be eXtradited on a civil suit, and
obln was discharged.
When Powell was arraigned with his
40 companions for the preliminary
caring today he said the law under
bich Tobin secured his discharge had
cen contradlcted in almost every State
the Union He declared that he had I
otained authority from the man who
'ovided ball for TobIn TO secure the
tier and bring him to New Jersey, b..
rec II necessary. The attempt this
ornlnR resulted. r
Tobin declared that he had lust stem
ID from his house when the men a
lied him. One threw the blanket over 4
S head and all three lifted him into :,
o machine, They started off at high !.
eed. Although a small man, Tobin put
, hard fight A block away from his :
me he managed to get his head free
the blanket. He shouted, Help
Irder, police"
Policeman Kohler, of the 61st and
lompson streets station, heard Tobln's
lis and shouted at the chauffeur 10
1t. He ran after the car and finally il
opped. Then all four were taken I'd
ntral Station.