Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-02-02
Hyattsville. Md, Jan. rs. 1917.
Bandit Escapes In Night Chase

Betrayed by the imprint of two odd au-
tomobile tires in the snow. the man who
held up Paul Hinsley. chauffeur Of Wash
ington city. on lonely street in Rockville
last Saturday night, was overtaken by a
posse at Middlebrooke. nine miles from
Rockville, shortly after midnight. but es-
capped through the woods after thrilling
chase.
The man was headed for Frederick when
he eluded his pursuers. Bent upon his
capture. Deputy Sheriff Hutchinson took
up the chase again Sunday in an auto
mobile, accompanied by Hinsley.
When the hold-up man left Hinsley tied
to tree and GAGGED in the woods just of
Park avenue. Rockville. shortly after II
O'Clock. he started away in his victims
automobile.
The snow had just begun to fall thick.
and the two odd tires on the rear wheels
left clear trail behind the fugitive. In
addition. the tracks zig-zagged from one
side of the road to the other. indicating
that the man was unfamiliar with the
machine.
Hinsley's cries for help as the holdup
man sped "A way aroused the family Of
Charles o. Bean. living few hundred feet
away. Mr.. Bean and his son. Nealy. hur-
ried to the tree, released Hinsley and took
him to their house.
He was in highly nervous condition.
but he quickly related his story. He told
Mr.. Bean the stranger stopped him In
Washington early that night and asked to
be driven to Frederick. He thought Hins-
leys price too high, however. and the latter
said he would take him as far as Rockville.
When they reached Rockville, Hinsley
told Mr.. Bean, his passenger leaned over
from the rear seat, pointed Gun at him
and ordered him to drive down Park ave-
nue.. Hinsley said he dared not disObey.
At a lonely spot he made the chauffeur
get out and march to the tree. where.
Hinsley says, the stranger took about $40
from his pockets, removed his cuff buttons,
took his driving license and left him tied.
Mr.. Bean hurriedly summoned several
neighbors. including WILDER Monday and
Clarence Anders, and in Mr.. Mondays
automobile they started off in pursuit Of
the hold-up man.
They followed the automobile tracks to
the vicinity Of MiddlebroOke, when sud-
denly they saw light ahead. They ap-
preached cautiously and discovered II was
Hinsley's car The motor was still run
ming, and. suspecting their quarry might |
be hiding in the tonneau, they surrounded |
the machine.
He was not in the car. and upon examn- |
ing the ground with fiashlight. they saw |
fresh footprints in the snow. leading into |
the woods at the side of the road
They followed the tracks for several hun
dred yards. and. one member Of the party |
said, 1t was apparent the tracks had not |
been there more than two or three minutes. |
As the trail went deeper into the woods. |
said Nealy Bean. the strides Of the fugitive |
became longer and longer.
Suddenly the posse heard a noise in |
some underbrush about hundred yards |
away. One member of the party fired. |
but II the shot struck the man 1t did not |
disable him. for there was no sign OF any |
one when they reached the source Of the
noise.
Cold and wet after an hours chase
through the woods. the party gave up the
trail about 2 O'Clock. gratified that they
had at least recovered the machine
The authorities Of Washington and Fred
erick and other nearby towns have been
asked to look out for the man, who, Hins-
ley said. was rather roughly dressed. wore
tan shoes and no overcoat.
Early Sunday morning the fugitive went
to a store at Germantown and purchased
a pair Of dark shoes and pair Of pants.
his tan shoes and torn pants,
and put on the new articles Of wear. He
then went TO the Germantown railroad sta
lion. purchased ticket for the 8 O'Clock
rain bound for Washington city. and has
not been seen since the train landed him In
Washington. II was not known In Ger
nantown that the crime had been COM
nitted In Rockville until after the fugitive
mad taken his departure and was safe in
our neiehboring city.
A Chance For YOunR Men.