Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-04-07
CHAPMAN FLEES AS |
GUARD GIVES AID TO
NURSE WHO FA|NTS

ATHENS, Ca, April 6.-(By the
Associated Press.)-With his feet
propped against a brass rail beside
the boiler in the basement of the
hospital from which he was thought
to have escaped on Wednesday
night, Gerald Chapman, leader in
the ,plillion-dollar mail robbery in
New York, thirty-one months ago,
was nearly captured today by Harry
Bishop, a guard from the Atlanta
penitentiary.
Bishop, in giving attention to Miss
Estelle Scots, nurse, who accom-
panied him when the discovery was
made and who thereupon tainted.
told Chapman to go back to his
ROOM A few minutes later, however,
when Miss Scott had been revived.
Bishop was unable to find the miss
ing criminal.
A. J. Wismer, special agent of the
bureau of investigation of the fed
eral department of justice, arrived
in Athens this morning from AT
Ianta, and was closeted with United
States Commissioner Walter Cor,
nett, Mr.. Bishop and DR.. j. w. Proc
tor, of the hospital staff.
Following the conference, federal
officials gave out a statement in
which the conviction was expressed
that no one either inside the hos
pital, or outside, had anything to-
do with Chapman's escape.
Officials believe, according to the
statement, that Chapman is in a..
semi-conscious, or dazed, condition
somewhere near the hospital, thatt
being a bandit with long career.
his subconscious mind keeps hHm
out of the way of the officers, ana
that when found in the boiler room
early Friday, he probably was Try
ing to get back to his room ana
medical treatment. 4.
officers and attaches of the hos,
nital organized hunt for chapman
,but without results. Because OF ms
weakened condition, it was beheveo
he could not have escapes from the
citv and the hope was expressed
that he would be apprehended WITH
in a few hours. ~
| The hospital is on Milledge ave-
nue. in the fashionable part of the.
city and diagonally acSoss from
Lucy Cobb institute. Attracted ny
the $500 reward offered for the cap.
ture of the bandit, posses are today
securing all the surrounding 'coun-
try.
How Bandit Was Found
Bishop, in describing the finding
Of Chapman, declared he was asleep
in the room of Joe Morello, another
federal prisoner in the local hospital.
whom he was guarding, when ne
was awakened by nurse at
o'clock this morning. She told hlIIa'
he said. that she heard a noise IN
the basement and he got up and IN
company with the nurse went TO
see what it was.
When he first switched on the
Night, he said, he did not recognize
Chapman and called to know Who
it was When there was no answer
he called to the nurse" Give me my
gun and he'll answer" Thereupon
Chapman replied, he said: Don't
you know me, Mr.. Bishop"
Bishop said he walked over and
grabbed Chapman, but when the
nurse went into Mysteries. he turned
his attention to her. Chapman OIL
fered to assist him, but he told HIM
to go to his room Another nurse
came into the boiler room, according
to Bishop, and while they We're
working over the young woman VINO
had fainted,- Chapman backed on To-
ward the door and disappeared.
Bishop declared he telephoned TO
DR.. Proctor, attached to the nos
pital that We've seen Chapman;
he's over here and later DR.. Proc
tor and the police arrived.
Attaches at the hospital declare
Bishop bears a splendid reputation
and his story is believed to be true
| Chapman escaped from his room
! Wednesday night in a suit Of clothes
| belonging to his guard when the
! guard had stepped out for moment.
| He was recuperating from gun
wounds received when he was cap
tured near here last week after
sensational escape from the Atlanta
| federal prison. u
The young woman who rode for
an hour more in taxicab mere
I|Tuesday in company with stranger
who is thought to have aided IN
| Chapman's escape from his room is
under surveillance of officers, her