Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-13
SECOND KILLER C0NFESSES AIDING CHURCH
WOUNDED AUTO BANDIT AND PALS
TAKEN BACK TO PEORIA FOR TRIAL

around house, across some yards
and vacant lots, and into u corn field
southeast of town. Nineteen shots
were fired by the posse 1t TomsK
and the fugitive returned one shot
Praise Garasemen.
Tom Flood, Lester Bankus and
George Miller did some excellent
work, Miller, an cmploye OF the ga,
ago and ex.seryicc man, watched the
pose start out. ilo grabbed a rifle
out Of the hands of bystander and
joined in the search The chase led
through a corn field and TO the rail
road tracks half milo away. Miller
emptied his gun but continued on the
chase. Just before reaching the rail
road crossing Tomski was shot in the
side, the bullet causing a slight flesh
wound just at the waiot line. This
took the fight out Of him.
Miller, although his gun was empty.
overlook Tomskl as he was attempt
ing to enter field on the other side
Of the tracks, and the latter turned
and surrendered to him.
Sheriff Commanders Ford.
Sheriff Ayers, after searching his
three prisoners. turned them over 10
a bystander and jumping on the side
OF a Ford, ordered the driver to carry
him down the road in the direction
of the posse, hoping to get ahead of
Tomski and head him off.
When TomsKi was turned over to
Ayers By Miller and Cisco. the sheriff
placed him In the auto and ordered
him to tell where he got the Cadillac. |
Tomski refused to talk. so some per- |
suasion in the form of a blackjack |
was applied.
Tomski then confessed that he had
sician was summoned to examine hlo |
wound, but stated it was nothing but |
a small flesh wound. Tomski and
Thompson were brought to town by |
Sheriff Ayers and Johnaon and |
Haynes by Cisco.
Product Of Newsy Home.
Johnson, the youngest member of
the gang, claims to be product of
the Newsboys' Home In New York.
He says he he's been working on the
hard roads near Putnam and that he
never saw Tomski until he met him
in Chillicothe on Saturday night. He
claims that Johnson and Thompson
have been sleeping near the camp ar
Putnam and waiting for a job on the
hard roads.
Johnson and Haynes claim they
were not with Tomski when he took
the car.
Served Eighteen Months in Pen.
Tomski was sent to the state peni.
Lentiary from Bureau county for bur
glary on one to twenty year SEN
tence He served eighteen months
md was TIM released on parole. He
broke his parole and was returned
to the penitentiary for eighteen more
but was released recently.
Johnson claims that he served two
years in the United States army at
Camp Lewis, in Washington, and re-
ceived an honorable discharge on July
3 of this year, He stated last night
that his mother lived in Waterloo,
IOWA, anu litdt HIS lllHCT anu luOtUCt
we're separated and he had not seen
his father since he was years of
age.
Find Cartridges In Tonneau.
A pasteboard box of cartridges that
were the same caiiber as the revolver
carried by Tomski was found by the
officers in the car. Tomski informed
Sheriff Ayers that in 1917 and 1918
he resided in Stroator and was EN-.
ployed as fireman at the Sherman
Ice Co., in that city.
Rob Zorn Garage.
Burglars last Thursday night, jim
mied open the window of the Zorn
Garage in Troy Grove, and entering
stole auto accessories valued at 5000 |
The thieves made way with several
tires and tubes, wheels,
a number of repair parts for Fords, a
large automobile tool box and other
accessories.
The garage is owned by Ottawa
Zorn, Mr.. Zorn visited Ottawa today |
and reported the matter to the !
sheriff's office.