Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-21
FORGER, PIVOT OF JAIL
BREAKING IN CAMDEN,
MAY BE IN HIDING HERE
Tenderloin Offers Fine Shelter
for Thompson, Inspiration of
Delivery Which Cost
Keepers Life
sTooLPIGEoNs SEEK HIM

The squinty man with silver-hecked
brown hair and two fingers missing on his
left hand. the man who aided Wilson Ash
bridge in the murderous onslaught on the
Camden turnkeys, may be in safe hiding
right here in Philadelphia, safely swallowed
UP in the maelstrom Of the Tenderoln.
For though several clues from this city
TO the effect that Forger George L. Thomp-
son was seen here were run out by Detec-
tive Captain SChregler and County De-
tective Larry" Doran, whose work has put
a spirit of real zest in the man.hunt, there
is the half-hope of some and the hearty be.
lief of others that George T., Thompson
alias Frank Murphy. alias Mccormick
used his shrewdness in staying in the Ten
derfoin where perhaps he could mix with
the usual quota of yeggmen and crooks un.
molested.
Much has been said about Thompson.
He is said to have been man with brains
and cunnlng he was pictured as the master
mind of the Jail delivery His farewell let
ter stamped him as a man with a subtle
sense of humor and with imagination But
1t was nisspelled and dramatically as
bad as the expressions of n child In the
eighth grade might be.
His natural shrewdness. the police say
is no more and no less than any man with
ordinary intelligence would have after a
they say the forger openly boasted he
never got an honest dollar in the last 25
years"
with this supposltion In mind. coupled
with the fact that Thompson had but $40
that Ashbridge gave him at their separa.
ton. Camden authorities Will not be sur.
prised IL the forger be found In hiding In
one of the many 'ratholes" that infest the
section of the city in the 10th and lith
Wards
Stoopigeons or informers do not usually
work unless money is In sight, which is
one reason why many of them secured dens
and dives last night TO earn the $500 reward
offered for information leading to the cap
ture of Thompson.
Mrs ~ T.. Massey, sister of the fugitive,
returned to her home at go North 5th
street, Camden, late yesterday, after having
been absent since Tuesday morning. She
insisted that she knew nothing of her
brothers movements since his escape.
"I do not know where my brother is now
she declared nor do | care to learn. /
have not seen him since he escaped from
Jail. | was away when that occurred and
did not learn of 1t until the police came to
search my home late Monday night. My
husband and / had spent the day In Will
mngton. At present we are on our summer
vacation, which accounts for the little trips
we have been taking during the last few
days"
NTS Massey tOlu III uetdll neT movements
before and since the escape She also dis
cussed her brothers life. She added
81 feel very sorry for Mrs AshbridGe, but
as far as George Is concerned | hope that
he is dead when they fin him. We have
known little about George for years. Why,
] knew nothing about his marriage until l
read the note he left behind in the cell"
| Sheriff Joshua Haines allowed Ashbridge
to smoke cigarettes in his cell this morning,
ruling that the turlSney should light them
for him through the bars of the cell. They
are taking no chances with matches.
Ashbridge occupies the middle cell in
"murderers' row" His wife is near him
on the same floor. They are not allowed to
talk with each other however. And Ash.
bridge PAGES his floor, apparently having
gathered a stronger realization of his
crime and what It means He soothes his
nerves with cigarettes.
The prisoner ate scarcely at all until this
morning, when a good breakfast was
brought him. The guard at his cell door
said he slept soundly last night.