The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-13
TOO MANY CLUES
Man Hunters Unable to Lay
Hands on "TerribIe Tommy"
Chicago Gun Man Made Escape
From Death Cell Good.
SENDS MESSAGE TO POLICE
Card Says He'll Shoot First to
Touch Him.
Prisoner Tells Stories of Wild
Orgies in Jail.
SENDS MESSAGE TO POLICE

Chicago, Dec. 13.-"Terrible Tom
N.Y. O'Co2nor was still at large today
and the hunt for Chicagos latest des-
perado was continuing with unabated
vigor.
Detectives were rushed early today
to Hartford, Wis, where a man an
swering the general description of
O'Connor was under surveillance by
Charles F. Cook, chief of police of the
Wisconsin city. The man had been
pointed out to Hartford police by
Chicago travelling salesman. Two
men we're with him who are said to
answer the descriptions OF Edward
Darrow and Frank La Porte. who fled
from the Cook county Jail with O'Con-
nor on Sunday.
The possibility that O'Connor might
be in Milwaukee was seen in a, postal
card brought to Chief of Detectives
Hughes by Edward A. Hanson of Mil
waukee. The card, presumably from
O'Connor, warned the head of the de-
tectice bureau that "the first man
who comes near me will be shot"
Hanson said the card was given to
him by five armed men in an automo-
bile.
Was to Hang Thursday.
While the search for O'Connor went
on in the states of the middle west, le-
gal authorities were to determine to-
day the status of his death sentence.
| Terrible Tommy" was to have been
hanged T---rsda for the murder of a
police sergent. 1t is conetended that
if he is not captured by Thursday he
cannot legally be hanged after that
date. The states attorney planned to
ask the court to continue the SEN
tence wi--ch, it was claimed. would
make it possible for another date for
his execution to be set if O'Connor is
recaptured.
The escape of O'Connor has also
brought storm of criticism of con-
ditions in the city Jail here and sew
eral investigations are under way
William Fogarty formerly trusty in
| the Jail, has confessed to the police
he gave O'Connor the gun which was
used in effecting the escape. Fogarty
said the gun was Brought to the jail
in package OF lunch for another
prisoner who had been taken to the
; state prison before the package ar
rived. Fogarty. at work in the
kitchen, found the gun and gave it to
O'Connor, he said.
Chasers Meet Accident.
Five police sergeants speeding in a
high powered automobile to Hartford,
( Wis, to seize a man suspected to be
Terrible Tommy" O'Connor were in
jured, two seriously, when their ma
; chine was wrecked in a ditch five
miles out from Milwaukee.
The chase of Lucky Tommy"
O'Connor, condemned gunman, who
Sunday with two companions escaped
! from a cell on the fourth floor of the
Cook county jail continued today, with
his whereabouts as much a mystery
as they were one hour after his sensa-
tional dash. O'Connor was to have
. been hanged Thursday for the murder
, of Chicago policeman. The hunt for
the killer by thousands of police and
detectives has consisted mainly of
running to earth numerous rumors
gunman at all points of the compass.
Sends police Message?
Edward Hanson of Milwaukee ap-
peared at the police station and hand
ed a card to Chief of Detectives
Hughes, which he said had been given
, him by one of five men as he was
about to leave Milwaukee for Chicago
On the card was written: Don't
send anyone after me, 1 am innocent.
Much obliged to Strauss. I'm gone.
but my friends will reward him. Good
, luck to you all. I will be posted by
my friends and will shoot the first man
who puts his hands on me-
I The card bore no signature and was
addressed to the chief of police. Han
son said the five men were In a large
/ touring car and one of them reSembled
, O'Connor The escape of O'Connor
and his two companions, James La
porte and Edward Darrow. convicted
robbers. has resulted in six separate
Investigations of the county Jail.
Every guard and official in the jail
connected in any way with the break"
has been suspended.
The stories told by Forgarty, a for
mer prisoner, and Paul Gormac, now
incarcerated, are due for additional
investigating today. Forgarty told of
moonshine jamborees in the Jail base
ment of the way in which, he says,
O'Connor got the gun he had, and OF
the prisons dope trail" It was Cor
mac who said he had inside fnforma-
ton" of the jail break some time be-
fore it took place
$15O,OOO Fire Loss at indianapolis.
Indianapolis. Dee. 13.-Fire today
virtually destroyed the Brannum-