New Britain herald., 1925-07-13
ARMY PLIERS IN
 HUNT FOR KNAPP
Searching for Missing Soldier,
 Known as "IhriIl SIayer'

New York, July 13 CP,--An army airplane has flown 800 miles in or der 10 search the foothills and W oods of northern New York for Philip Knox Knapp, deserter from the army air corps who is regarded as q killer for a super-thrill.
 The air-hunt for Knapp, who ap- parently slew Louis Panella. Hemp stead taXicab driver after he had eX- hausted all other means to get a "kick' out of life centcrs in Platts. burg,
 The plane was dispatched from Mitchell field by Major William N. Hensley, Jr. commandant yesterday. It carried photographs of Knapp and other material calculated 10 as sist q ground force of state troop CTS and army police in quest of him
 The plane will dart from its head quarters 10 points along the Cana dian border as far west as Alcxan, dria Bay, Thousand Islands, where. it is believed, Knapp may seek ref, uEe among rum runners, his avoWed former associates.
 The ground force of man hunters seeks 10 uncover tracks of Knapp and then the plane is to swoop down with q posse of officers to the spot.
 Afraid Of Knapp
 The ayiators have orders not to bring back Knapp in the plano if he is captured, Major Hensley said that an eccentric like Knapp might seek to catapult the plane into space iq order 10 derive one final thrill eN traordiuary.
 If Knapp ls taken alive he will be haudcuffod 10 q non-coumission- cd officer and brought back, heavily guarded by military police 10 Nitchcl field.
 Major Honsley has advised Madi- son barracks at WatertoWn. N. '" and Fort Ontario 10 he ready to as sist in the quest. If more planes are needed. the major is prepared 10 send thom.
 May Be Near Utica
 Meanwhile there is a possibility that the ugitive is in woods near Utica. Two taxi drivers were held up there yesterday hy a man with a dimple in his chin like Knapp and an army pistol The robher fed to- ward the woods when one of the taXjs stalled.
 William W. Knapp of Syracuse. father of the accused man. has come to New York to engage lawyers 10 defend his son in case he is captur- ed. A warrant for knapp's arrest has been issued and the Nassau county grand jury will be asked to indiCt him.
 Knapp, who attended two colleges. vanished from Mitchell field last Monday after leaving an unsigned note telling of his desire for a new thrill. ranella's body was found in rubbish and evidence developed that Knapp had taken the name of his victim.
 Utica, x. Y., July t3 tP'-Fhilir Know Knapp, alleged thrill murder CT, who is charged with the mur' der of Louis Ponolla, Now York taxi driver is being sought in the hills and woods north of Utica hS state troopers and Oneida County officials Descriptions given the po- lice carly today by Joseph Wurz Jr. Utic1, and Harold Kruger Amsterdam, both taxi drivers, Whc were held up and robbed of their cabs and Vamables. tally well with that of the missing scion Of prom inont Syracuse family.
 The fact that the bandit whc staged the holdur has dimplo or his chin and flashed 45 calihre army gun, strengthens the belief that Enapp is the man invoked ir the holdups, Descriptions of knapr fits the man, both drivers claim, The hichWaymau engaged Kruger in Amsterdam Saturday and asked to ho taken to an adjoining town hut cI Ir -l,