Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-12-18
CLARENCE S. WALLACE DEAD
Murderer Of Leo NJ Creeger Shot At
Santa Barbara, California.
Body To Be Brought East Identification
By Officials Here Necessary.

Clarence S. Wallace. who shot and kill
ed Leo M. Creeger of this place on Octo-
Der 18th, last, was apprehended at Santa
Barbara, California, last Saturday, and
while resisting arrest was shot by detec-
tives, dying soon thereafter in Cottage
Hospital, that city.
1t will be recalled how Wallace, who
with his companion Maatz, had bee' ar
rested by deputy sheriff Lidie. made his
escape and was being followed by Mr..
Creeger and others. turned, and DELHI
erately shot Creeger dead while in the
orchard on the Shildt farm, and how he
made his escape.
Hope of catching the murderer never
vanished from the minds of officers of
Frederick county. detectives of Balti-
more city and citizens of Thurmont.
Weeks passed before he was heard
from, but finally he wrote the letter that
put officers wise and ended in his being
shot and killed.
While it undoubtedly was he desire of
all that he should be caught and brought
back alive to the scenes of robbery and
murder for trial, it perhaps is well that
he should never be brought to Frederick
county or at least to rhurmont with
breath in his body.
The following news relating to the cap
ture and death of the murderer of Leo
M. Creeger of this place is taken from
the Baltimore American Of Monday of
this week: 1t says:
According to telegram received last
night at Marshal Carter's Office, Clar-
ence S. Wallace, who was wanted here
for the murder of Leo M. Creeger. at
Thurmont, on October 18th, and for safe
blowing at Frederick the night previous,
/ died yesterday evening at Santa Barbara,
where he resisted arrest and was shot
by Detective w. F. Marquette on Sat-
urday. Wallace had gone to the post
Office to get decoy letter that was sent
to the Calf rnia town and as he stepped
from the building the detective held him
up at the point of revolver The fugi-
tive grabbed at the pistol and the detec-
/ tive fired. According to special dis
patch from Los Angeles to The Ameri-
! can, the detective fired three times, one
of the bullets striking bystander. Wal
lace was Immediately removed to Cottage
Hospital, where he was placed under
heavy guard. At els p m the end
came, and society was rid of one of the
most desperate men with whom the po-
lice of this country has had to deal with.
He had openly boosted that he would not
be taken alive.
Following is the telegram received by
Marshall Carter:
Marshal Robert d. Carter,
Baltimore Md.
clarence Wallace, alias H. P. Daley,
wanted 10y you for murder, died in Cot
tage Hospital Els p. m. today. Notify
relatives and accordingly advise US dis
position desired of body. Full particu-
lars following in letter.
l.. Desgrandchamp,
Chief of Police"
"Lieut. John Carey, who is in charge
of police headquarters at night, telephon,
ed former Sheriff Charles H. Klipp anc
States Attorney A. A. Anders. at Fred
erick, who were having requisition pa
pers drawn up for the extradition OF
Wallace. When Lieut.. Carey told Gen.
Lawrason Riggs of the yeggman's death
he said: 1t was fortunate that the de-
tective acted so quickly with such des.
perate man. / am glad he was caught.
1.-The greatest satisfaction was felt } y
the police of Baltimore and Frederick
over the capture.
at is said that Detective Marquette,
who captured Wallace, acted the part OF
sleuth in the moving pictures at Santa
Barbara and that he was associated with
that movie thriller, VIM. S. Hart. 1t il
also said that he is crack shot. He
forsook the camera man for the real
work of sleuthing
From the Frederick News, Monday
December 18th:
1.-THE body of Clarence S. Wallace
who was killed in Santa Barbara, Cali.
fornia, Saturday afternoon, when he re-
sisted arrest, will be brought to Freder.
lex for Identification.
The county commissioners this morn
ing reached the decision to have the body
of the murderer brought back here fol
Identification This is made necessary
by the fact that 81, 900 reward was offer.
ed by the commissioners for the delivery
of the man, dead or alive, and identified.
ton is necessary before paying the re-
ward.
1.-The Baltimore Police Department,
which thoroughly co-operated with the
local authorities in running down the
murderer, has been instructed to notify
the California authorities to ship Wal.
lace's body to Sheriff VIM. D. Werten.
baker, of Frederick county.
Gust who will get the $1,000, or part
of it, was question that is causing con.
siderable speculation.
"Beatings which he had at various
times administered to Mrs. Florence
Graft, with whom he boarded. led to
Wallace's ultimate death. Knowing the
man had committed murder, and being
/