Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-19
TRAIL OTTAWA YOUTH
TO HIDING PLACE
UNDER HOUSE.
SNAPS GUN TRIGGER
ELMER HANNA. CAMP GRANT
RUNAWAY. lis CAPTURED AT
TER THRILLING ATTEMPT TO
KILL HIS PURSUERS.

Corralled under the house in th5
Sanicula Spring grounds, but refu.
ing to give himself Up without a light
Elmer Otis Hanna, Ottawa youth
charged with deSertiOn from Camp
Grant, did not surrender to the police
late Saturday afternoon untll ne had
tried four times to shoot down Pa.
tIolmen Jesse Holmes and Thomas
Reilley as they approached him in
his lair.
Armed with a 80 caliber reyolye.
Hanna, when he learned the police
were after him, took refuge under
the Sanicula Springs dwelling. By
crawling thru hole in the tounda
ton The police headed by Chief
Zurich. traced him 10 his hid.nA
place They cajoled and begged him
| to give up, but the deserter was oh
durate and not until the officers be
came convinced that he would not
Surrender without fight did the po
| lice take the initiative and In the
| face of warnings hat the fugtivi
was armed, they eraWled in aftc.
him
Pulls Gun on Police.
As Holmes and Relley approachei
the corner where Hanna lay conceal
| ed they heard a revolver snap four
times, but fortunately the gun re-
fused to 20 off Finding that he wa.
powerless against the attacking parry
he finally decided to give himself up
When dragged out into the open, a
search disclosed that hanna possess
ed an lverJohnson revolver, but for
tunately in securing loads for il H.
had obtained rim fire shells, while
the gun required center tire cartridge
TO be effective. This little slip is all
that saved the lives of Reilley an
Holmes, as Hanna is known to be 4
pretty fair shot with a pistol
Today Hanna is in the county jail
awaitng transferral to Camp Grant
where he will be turned over to he
military authorities. He admits be
ing deserter, but gives No reason
for his actions.
nducted June %.
The Young man. whose moth +
Mrs Anna Leonard. resides at Gil
Katherine street, was inducted int
,he army as select from District
on June %. On August 3 he obtain
ed thirty.six hour leave of absence
from Camp Grant. He oyerstayed his
pass thirteen days, and therefore vii
be classified in the army records a
a deserter What fate will be deal
out to him remains for the judge ad
yocate to decide. Desertion in time,
of war calls for death or long tern
Imprisonment II Hanna is, able t,
give good excuse clemenCg may b,
recommended for him, but his act,
OF Saturday do not promise to stan,
him in very good stead, when tn,
army officers hear of the manner il
which he tried 10 shoot down the pur
suing policemen.
Traced Thru Mother.
Clues of Hanna's whereabouts wer,
obtained thru Mrs. Leonard the youn
mans mother who said he was dow
at Sancua Springs Grounds at tn
home of relatives. She offered {
call him up and get him to som
home, but CHIEF Zurich told her t
never mind, as he would so down T.
the springs and see him himself. n
time was wasted in getting to tn
house, where Hanna was supposed {
be visiting. He saw the police con
ing and made a dash for liberty, rul
ming out the back door, but leavin
tracks in the mud so he could b
plainly followed to his place of col
cealment
Admits Drinking.
Admissions from Hanna that h
had been treated" TO liquor on Sc
eral occasions are now being inve
tigated by city officials. He dene
ever obtaining drink in any of tn
city saloons, but said the liquor w
carried to him BY friends On Il