South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-14
MOB THREATENS
TO STORM JAIL
AND Get STRAUB
Former State Prisoner Con-
fesses to Killing Matron
of Girls Home.
CALL NATIONAL GUARD
Jackson Authorities Use Tear
Gas in Repelling Menac-
ing Crowd.

JACKSON. Mich. June lS.-(By
A PD-The confession Tuesday
night OF John Straub. a former in
mate OF the state prison. cleared up
the mystery surrounding the Staying
last Thursday night OF Miss Alice
Mallett. matron of the Crittenden
home for girls. according 10 an an
nouncement by Sheriff Edwin Lar
rabee. Straub has been IN custody
on suspicion since Saturday.
Feeling ran high following the
sheriff's announcement and a men
acing crowd gathered about the
county jail. but was repealed by on
GERS who used tear gas. There was
some talk OF storming the building
but the officials were confident they
would be able TO control the situa-
ton.
Several units OF national guards
men were ordered out 20 aid sherins
deputies, state police and local police
IN maintaining order. Straub was
saved from the threatening crowd
that surrounded the county jail when
Sheriff Larrabee disguised the pri-
souer as a city fireman. removed him
from the building by a rear entrance
and whisked him out Of the city IN
an automobile.
The crowd began TO gather about
the Jail soon after announcement
Straube had confessed and within a
short time several thousand persons
surrounded the building A number
OF attempts were made TO storm the
doors. an aged woman leading the
angry citizens, but they were repel-
led by the use OF tear gas bombs n
the hands OF sheriffs deputies and
state police.
Appeals 20 Crowd
Sheriff Larrabee appealed 20 the
crowd TO dispense but feeling had
run high since the finding OF Miss
Mallett's body. with the head
crushed and her throat slashed, and
the officers were convinced the sit
uation might get from under their
control before national guardsmen
ordered here from Lansing could
arrive.
After Straube had been spirited
away. Sheriff Larrabee Quieted the
crowd by offering 20 show a com
mittee through the jail. to convince
them the prisoner was beyond their
reach. The committees report that
Straube was not IN the building
caused many 10 go 20 their homes.
but some proposed that a further
search be made for the confessed
slayer.
Long after midnight crowds
thronged the streets specializing as
TO where Straube might be found.
There was no disorder, however. and
the authorities declared they were
confident those intent upon violence
would be unable TO locate the pris-
oner.
Straub, according to his reported
confession. attended a circus on the
night OF the Staying. After leav-
ing the grounds he was quoted as
saying he determined 20 attack q
woman. He found an axe on a wood
pile, according TO the reported con-
fession and hid behind some shrub
berry near the Crittenden home until
Miss Mallett approached about
1920. He struck her over the head.
he IS alleged 20 have said, then
dragged the body across the block
where II was found the following
morning Then he went 10 his home
and changed his clothing and re-
turned 20 the city.
Suspicious actions noted by a
neighbor led 20 his arrest.
The slain woman's body was
found in a vacant lot about half a
block from the street and near her
home. TO which she was returning
late Thursday night al the time the
attack occurred. The woman's head
had been crushed by the axe, a
gag was found in her mouth and her
clothing was torn % shreds. There
were other evidences Of a desperate
struggle with her assailant Her
purse. which was found near her
/ BODY. had been rifed.
Physicians who examined Miss
Mallett's body Friday afternoon
were said 20 have announced that
she had been criminslIy assaulted.
Later. however. u was said that
there were no evidences Of such an
assault
Miss Mallett was about 40 years
old She had lived here several
years. Previous 20 her employment
In he home for girls she was man
ager Of the Y " c. A cafeteria
Prior 70 that she had been active IN
welfare work IN Bay City. Her par
ents reside in Oregon