Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-04
"The Crank" Kept
Under Secret Grill
Continued from PAGE One

Continued from PAGE One
the flag, making n detour around the
swamps and brush so they would not
be observed. Meanwhile three state
troopers located in section thirteen saw
man coming down the tracks. They
saw him go over in the woods. short
time before that scheduled for the ar
rival Of the o'clock train. and saw
him put up the flag between two trees.
using a piece of colored cord to tic the
flag in place. After doing this. The
Crank crossed the tracks again and
sat down on the opposite side Of the
tracks for about minute. He then dis
appeared in the nearby brush, opposite
the flag.
The troopers remained in hiding.
The men were just about arriving from
the special when the three troopers
sprang on The Crank. after he had
picked up the package thrown out by
Mr.. Coughlin.
When Tho Crank was searched. a
ball of colored cord was found in his
pocket. He also had second white
flag. The major had prearranged to
have an automobile stationed at Ham
monitor. and as soon as The Crank
was caught he telephoned for the ma :
chine. The automobile then came
toward Egg Harbor, picking up the
trooners stationed along the line.
1T was at this time that the mayor of
Egg Harbor and the constable became
excited and seeing these men fully
armed and in civilian clothes placed
them under arrest. The mayor demand
ed they be taken to the county jail but
the men persuaded him they were gov
ernment agents and readily could prove
their identity. The mayor and the con =
stable jumped into the automobile, told
the men they were under arrest and
proceeded to where Major Adams was
waiting with The Crank
when the troopers from the special
arrived with the bloodhounds the dogs
were allowed to smell the flag and were
then unleashed. They proceeded across
the tracks, stopped for moment
where The Crank had sat and then
vanished into the brush where he had
hidden. The dogs then came from the
brush. went through the crowd and
caught The Crank by the coat.
" The Crank then was put in the
automobile and taken away. Where he
is at present | cannot tell"
The Crank was well dressed. is
about forty years old and is a French
man. At first, when examined. he de-
MED everything, even that he had hung
up the flag. He is now being grilled
by the postoffice inspectors, state
troopers and other officials"
Expects Full Confession
Mr.. Leonard has had no report thus
far on what revelations, il any, have
been made by The Crank" He Is
confident they will be important.
Before We are through he said
this fellow is going to lead us to the
baby. We feel positive that he is the
kidnapper. but whether or not he had
an accomplice l am unable to say at
this time.
I'm his letters to the Coughlins he
showed himself to be acquainted with
the most minute details of the house,
the baby and its disappearance.
City Marshal Philip Reinhardt. o
Egg Harbor, was present when tn,
arrest was made. He refused to dis
cuss the capture, saying that he haC
given his Land and solemn promis,
that he would divulgc nothing until HI
had received permission.
Chief of Police Eiler. of Norristown
predicts nothing will be known about
THE Crant" or the Coughlin baby until
the prisoner is brought to trial Mr.
Eier said his own experience of nine
years on the state police force leads hin
to believe they will keep all the details
secret until the actual trial.