Omaha daily bee., 1922-02-26
Escape of
Pierce Nav
Cost Badge
Detective Calls fogg Murder
Witness Liar for Saying
His Getaway Was
Winked Al.
Charges May Be Brought

~ XIV 'AlA NA'
with my permission At Kansas City.
he Is liar and knows II" was the
tsrse statement made hy Detective
Fred Franks Saturday night when
told OF a statement accredited 10
Pierce in Kansas City.
Pierce was fearrested Saturday by
Kansas City police who said Pierce
told them that Franks knew he was
going 10 escape.
Dempsey Appears Impressed.
Chief OF Police Dempsey appeared
70 be very much impressed by the
statement made by Pierce. but said
he did not want 10 condemn Franks
for the alleged act until he has COM
pleted the investigation.
That puts Franks in bad" Chief
Dempsey exclaimed when informed
that Pierce had declared Franks re-
leased him, and told him TO go
home"
"But I'm not through with the in
vestigation," continued Chief Demp-
sey. hastily. Don't quote me as
eondemning Franks until have
completed my correspondence with
the chief at Kansas City,
Interviewers Sidestepped.
Though officials sidestepped inter-
viewers Saturday. and none wished
10 announce publicly what course
would be followed, It was limited that
charges might be brought against
Detective Franks. Such action would
probably cost the officer his badge.
"If Officer Franks told Pierce he
could go he should be censored"
said County Attorney Shotwell. when
informed of Pierce's statement.
Pierce was arrested yesterday by
two Kansas City detectives in the
heart OF Kansas City's business dis
trict. He was leaning against the
doorway of cheap hotel and made
no resistance.
His first request was for dope.
He received it.
How did you get away:" Chief
OF Detectives Walston OF Kansas
City asked.
A Different Story.
Franks told ME | could 60" said
Pierce. "He said the Kansa, City
detectives didn't want me-"
The story told by Franks, how,
ever, is quite different.
The detective declares Pierce
slipped away while Franks was ta-
ing shaved in barber shop.
To prove his point that he did not
willingly permit Pierce to escape,
Franks explained in his reports that
Pierce had any number OF opportu-
mites to escape from him during the
trip from Omaha to Kansas City.
Sticks to Story.
81 had no papers giving me Gus
tody of Pierce" said Franks, and
he could have walked right out of
my hands any time he wanted to-
Franks sticks to his story that he
turned Pierce over to Kansas City
police, but that on Pierce's request
Chief OF Detectives Walston gave
Pierce permission to spend the night
as he pleased.
Walston, on the other hand, said
Franks asked for Pierce's release for
the night and guaranteed to return
him in the morning.
Gus Hyers Reminisces.
County Attorney Shotwell says he
is satisfied Franks is guiltless.
State Sheriff Gus Hyers, who was
responsible for Pierce while in Ne
braska, also is inclined to look ask
ance at the Kansas City police.
"I'm reminded Of the Kansas City
police in the Anthony case" he said
Perry Anthony was indicted by
the special grand jury here on
charges OF peddling worthless stock.
He was arrested shortly before
Christmas at Junction City, Kan. /
wired the officers there to please take
him as far as Kansas City and leave
him with police there and would
send for him.
Caught in Winnipeg.
"They did and did But my state
agent, when he reached Kansas City
and asked for Perry was told that
he had told the officers there such
straightforward story he had con-
vinced them of his innocence and
persuaded them to let him 60 to
Lincoln alone.
"Why they had ever taken him
from the police station to the Union
station, where they saw him buy
ticket for Lincoln, and then
left him, sure he would go to Lin
coin.
well, l nabbed Perry myself in
Winnipeg, Canada, some three weeks
after that, just as result of the
courtesy of those Kansas City po-
lice"