Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-05
NITRO AT
POLICE OFFICER
Detective Wilkerson Escapes
Death When Bottle Fails
to Explode.
THREE MEN HEAVILY ARMED
Length of Fuse and Caps
Found on Man Who Ad-
mits Being an |. w. w.

Police Detective Wilkerson narrow
ly escaped death at IL o'clock last
night when a small bottle OF nitro
glyce' in failed to explode when hurled
at him by Herbert Vowel, alias Earl
Gordon, who the police officer was
attempting to arrest at an esta blish
ment conducted by Clarence Williams
on North Admiral in that portion of
the city that was formerly the red
light district
Answering call to that locality
where the men were reported to be
shooting up tho neighborhood, De
tectives Wllkerson and lliser were
sent to the scene. Arriving at the ne
gro establishment the three men were
seen to leave the front door, two of
them carrying revolvers. When Will
kerSCn commanded the men to throw
up their hands Vowel, who gave his
name as Gordon, warned the detective
to stop or he would throw a bottle of
nitro glycerin at him.
Hurls Bottle.
AS the officers continued approach
ing the trio Vowel hurled the bottle
which landed upon the cement side
walk but did not explode. With this
action Wilkerson fired at Nowell the
bullet taking effect IN the left leg just
above the knee and knocking Vowel
to the ground. WheE Vowel fell the
other two men, J. 4. Foster and John
Brady. raised their hands above their
head, one OF them throwing a small
caliher revolver into the air. This gun
was later found and 45'caliber Colts
found on Vowel.
When the three men were searched
at the police station length of fuse
and AN assortment of dynamite caps
Were found on them, each having a
quantity of them. Following the an
nouncement of one of the men that
he was a member OF the Industrial
WorHers of the World and the boast
full tone in which he voluntarily made
tho announcement the police late last
night announced that they believed
they had captured the men responsible
for the dynamitine cf the Pew resi-.
ddnce a few days ago. or at leas,
would be able to obtain information
that would lead to a solution Of the
explosion.
Midland Valley Robbed.
A few night ago the Midland Val
ley passenger station safe was blown
open and S4c0 removed from the safe
Nothing was known of this explosion
until the following morning and with
the hopes of uncovcring some trace
of the safe blowers the police have
been working quietly, having made nc
announcement of the affair. hoping 10
avoid any publicity that might hinder
them in their work. In connection
with this safe blowing the men will
also be held on investigation.
Whether the Sottle hurled at De-
tective Wilkerson really contained
nitro -glycerin could not be determined
by police Officers, who were attempt
ing 10 locate an explosive expert to
examine the fluid. 1t is known that
nitro -glyccrin carried in a glass bot
tie at times Will not explode readily.
Perhaps ut no time during the life
of the old red light district, when wild
orgies and shooting affairs were
rather the rule than the exception
has that portion OF the city beer
stirred to the extent that featured
the disturbance created last night b!
tho thee men who are being held II
the city Jail. The entire neighborhood
was aroused and intense excitement
prevailed when, the officers arrived.