Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-04-21
ESCAPES FROM JAIL
ATTEMPTS SUICIDE
FRANK THOMAS, FUR BUYER,
CUTS THROAT WHEN
CoRNERED = s5s '5ss

Preferring to die rather than riss
going to the penitentiary, Franz
Thomas, alias Frank Hartman, at
tempted suicide early Tuesday morn
ing by slashing his throat with razor
after making his escape from the coun:
ty Jail, where he was confined. He
made the attempt to take his life
when his hiding place under a stair,
way on the south side of the Lowell
theatre building was discovered by a
man who was assisting Sheriff Felix
in search for him. Sheriff Felix was
called and. he was rushed to- st. Ga.
briel's hospital for care. He was weak
from loss Of blood but was promptly
given surgical attention and will re.
cover.
Thomas made his escape from the
Jail at about 6:20 a. m. Sheriff Felix
entered the Jail room to look after
the fire and closed the door behind
him, but did not lock it, and while he
was attending to the fire, Thomas, who
had the freedom of the Jail corridors,
slipped out:
Mrs. Felix, who was in the living
quarters adjoining the Jail, saw Thorn
as as he left the building and she i'm
mediately informed Mr.. Felix, who
started in pursuit of the prisoner. AS
the sheriff reached the west side Of
the court house, he saw Thomas enter
the alley back of the American House
and he speeded up, hoping to catch
him coming from the alley on the
Broadway side. Thomas had already
do h1 c%n
corner and when Sheriff Felix got to
First street, Thomas was out Of sight
Mr.. Felix, certain that the man was
in hiding somewhere in the immediate
vicinity, called for volunteers and
they started closing in on him. One
of them climbed the bill board just
south of the Lowell theatre and spied
Thomas hiding \ under the stairway
along the south wall of the theatre
building. When he saw that his hid
ing place had been discovered, Thomas
drew razor from his pocket and
slashed his throat.
Dell Batters, who was assisting in
the search, called Sheriff Felix and
he went up to Thomas, took the razor
away from him. summoned car and
rushed him to the hospital. First aid
was administered and DR.. E. L. For
tier, who had been summoned, then
dressed the wound. The slash ex-
tended from near the right ear to the
other side of the throat and was quite
deep. Several small arteries were
severed.
Thomas was brought to this city by
Deputy Sheriff Fueger last Friday, on
warrants charging him with grand
larceny and writing checks on a bank
in which he had no funds, in connec-
was arrested at International Falls
upon being released from Jail there af-
ter serving a sentence for a similar
offense. On Saturday, he was ar
raigned before Judge Nye and was
given until Monday Afternoon to en-
ter his plea. Owing to the lateness of
the hour when the case on trial was
finished, he was not brought up that
afternoon.
The same day he had asked Sheriff
Felix for his razor, which the sheriff
was taking care of, together with
other belongings, saying that he want
ed to shave. The sheriff complied with
his request, thinking no more about
it.
At the hospital Thomas made the
remark that he desired the forgive
ness Of Sheriff Felix, saying that he
had not treated him right. Asked why
he attempted to end his life he said he
preferred to die rather than to 60 to
the penitentiary. It will be some
time before he will be fully recovered
and his trial will not come UP at this
term.