Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-08-09
Staggered From Cot to
Road and Hailed Car, Co.
ing to Home of Relatives,
He Says

Reports that I had outside as
sistance in escaping from the United
States hospital on Peachtree road
last Monday are without founda-
tion," was the statement made in
the Fulton county tower Saturday
participant in the robbery Of the
Bank of College Park, who was cap
tured near Carrollton early Satur-
day morning.
'I just happened to wake UP at
the psychological moment, found my
guard asleep and in my weakened
condition staggered outside to tenn
porary freedom" Brooks continued
in calm, confident manner. my
pain was SO intense-I had been OPP
Grated on for appendicitis only about
a week before my escape-that 1
stumbled several times in getting to
the road, where I hailed a passing
car and was brought to town.
IT went to a place. won't tell
you the address-where I knew I
could ofind my wife. I told her what
had happened. We. got into car
I had secured during my confine-
ment and struck out for carrollton
where I knew I could find relatives
who would take care of me-"
isn't it true that your wife was
waiting outside the hospital for
you?" Brooks was asked.
Absolutely not" he replied. 1.-THE
car in which I left the hospital
was one I hailed by chance. I got
out in the middle Of the road when
I saw it coming and waved it down.
driving the car asked me what :
was doing wandering about in my
pajamas. I told him my plight and
he said he would cooperate with
me in getting among friends"
Worse For War
AS Brooks stepped from the train
at the Terminal station Saturday
night he appeared much the worse
for wear. He was stopped from the
wound in his side and his face was
drawn with pain. Normally a man
weighing about 100 pounds. he stated
that he weighed $50 pounds Saturday
afternoon.
1T has been rumored around At
lanta that you were never operated
on for appendicitis at ALL" Brooks
was told. at the Fulton tower.
whoever started that runor told
an untruth," he answered, and ne
exhibited a livid, red scar. the
wound had not healed completely ana ana
was torn in several places from MS
exertions in leaving the hospital. .
Brooks stated that when he left
Atlanta in company with his wife he
went to Carroll county where he has
number of relatives.
"When I went to the house OF
Mrs. M N. Todd, who is my aunt, l
she stopped me and said she did not
know what I had done but that she
would take care Of me. She is a
simple country woman. She does not
receive the newspapers and conse-
uuently did not know L was In this
trouble.
til I was awakened about 1 O'Clock
Saturday morning and found sig ss
FLASHLIGHTS trained on me. Sheriff
w. A. Garrett took me in CUSTODY ano
kent me in the Carrollton Jail until
officers from Atlanta got me ano
brought me back to the Fulton
tower"
why He Escaped
"What made you decide to escape
from the hospital when you saw your
guard sleeping?" Brooks was asked
"I wanted to keep from being SEN
fenced with Hayes and Wyatt" he
answered. IT thought if 1 could get
away until they had been sentenced
that when they saw it was all ur
they would tell the truth about the
robbery and show that I was forced
| into the affair. I contemplated Civ
ing up several times after reading
that the other two men had been SEN
fenced but. I waited too late. They
have caught me now and good In
| tentions mean nothing"
Brooks stated that he had served
as a second lieutenant in the trans
portation corps during the war. He
denied getting married in England
but said he met his wife in Jackson
vile, Fla, after returning from
she iC FnPliSI
parentage, having come to Ameri &c
with her father in 1918.
Deputy Sheriff J. D. Bazemore, who
is said to have been largely respon-
sible for Brooks capture, states il
was caused directly by a letter
Donaldson, of s24 Angler avenue
IT received Information Friday
that a letter had been delivered to a
Mrs. Donaldson from Carroll coun
ty,'' Deputy Sheriff Bazemore stat,
| ed ct went out to her house and
overheard a conversation between
Mrs. Donaldson and w. A. Brooks
which revealed ]. r. Brooks where
abouts to me.
II got in touch with W. A. Garrett
sheriff of Carroll county, told him
that Brooks was at the home of M
N. Todd and he was captured Sat
Deputy Sheriff Bazemore tool
Brooks to the same cell Saturday
night that he had occupied prior tt
| his attack of appendicitis.
| "Looks like home" Brooks remark
| ed to the deputy. "I'm really glat
they caught me. The nervous strai1
was too great. Being in. Jail is bad
but being out of Jail, when you ar
being hunted, is worse"
He accompanied Deputy Sheriff
| Bazemore down the main corridor o.
the tower, a bent. pain-racked fig
| ure He had to stop several time
| in walking a few yards, and held OF
/ To 10 for s1lnnnrt