South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-01
CITIZENS CAPTURE
ASSAILANT
AFTER LONG CHASE
Golfers and Workmen Nab
Claudis Freed After
Alleged Assault.

After a chase over the municipal
golf links and through adjoining
fields, golfers. armed with golf
sticks. and workmen, carrying
shovels Tuesday afternoon captured
cIaudis Freed. "a years old and
married. and held him pending the
arrival OF the police. Pursuit Of
Freed followed an alleged criminal
attack upon an 11-year-old girl,
whose name Is being withheld.
Preliminary hearing "Wednesday
morning was continued until Friday.
His bond was placed at $1,000.
Freed was taken 20 the county
tall IN lieu OF bonds until the case
comes before City Judge George W.
Omacht Friday morning. His wife
visited him at his cell in the city
Sill and did not appear 70 be wor-
ried over the charges under which
her husband IS held. She asked 70
be permitted 20 bring sandwiches 10
the prisoner.
Freed. who wac canvassing on the
south side selling neckties, went 20
the girls home Tuesday shortly after
noon. After soliciting a sale he
asked the girls mother Il the newly
built houses nearby were for sale.
and added that he was interested In
the purchase OF a home. according
TO the story told by the girls mother
to Pros. Jellison. Freed. 1t Is said.
then asked If the woman's daughter
who was nearby would assist him
getting into the house. The mother
volunteered her daughters assist
ance.
Three women who are neigh'bors
70 the little girl and her mother, wit
messed the couple entering the house
through a rear door, which was
found unlocked. It IS said, and these
women, according 10 the story fufn-
ished the police. became heroines Of
the chase and the apprehension Of
Freed.
Escapes from Closet.
After seeing, they said, the man
and the girl pass an upstairs window
with the mans arm about the waist
OF the girl, they became suspicious
and went 70 the rear door, mounted
the stairs and found the girl. but
could not locate the man. Accord
ing 10 their story. they found a
closet door shut too tight for them
20 sne-, and two OF their number
stood guard while the third rushed
outside TO secure help from work
men e1cavating IN the neighbor-
hood.
Evidently suspecting the alarm
would soon bring men 70 the house
and effect his capture, Freed opened
the door Of the closet where he had
secreted himself and, fighting his
way past the two women, broke
for an open field.
Workmen noticed the man IL
flight and pursued him. Soon the
chase was Joined by golfers who
we're playing a round on the golf
links a short distance away. Freed
fed over the links. but others, COM
ing uE at a tangent cut of his es-
cane and captured him. A call for
the police followed and he was TAX
en- TO the station.
According to a statement by the
girls mother and the little girls
story as she told II 10 Pros Jehison,
Freed had grossly n1istreated the
girl while in the house.
Freed. OF clean-cut appearance
and a good dresser, married a local
rirl here last November. He resides
al $40 Laporte av. He would make
no statement as 20 his guilt at the
city Jail Wednesday. declaring that
ne would leave anything 10 be said
with his attorney George Sands. He
appeared only interested in what
amount OF bail would be fixed to
permit him TO go at liberty.
Freed had been employed as a
salesman by the Elaborated Roofing
Co. until recently. Business was
poor. he said. and he began selling
neckties manufactured by a Detroit
concern. a business in which he
formerly had been engaged. He said
there was a chance Of getting lit
tie more money BY selling ties