New Britain herald., 1925-01-19
Alleged Murderer of Policeman Skelly Cap- tured After Trying To Shoot Down Detec- tive On His Trail.
Admits Identity, Bitterly Cursing "Squealer" Had Nearly 5000 in Cash-May Go Back to Federal Prison.

Indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 19.--- Gerald Chapman, to whom crimes ranging from robbery to murder are attributed, and who was arrested yesterday at Muncie, Ind, will be held for the warden of the Atlanta, Ga, federal prison, Alexander c. Cavins, United States district attorney, said today. Chap man escaped from the Atlanta institution in March, 1923, a few months after he had been sentenced to serve p years in connection with the $2,400,0W mail truck robbery in New York in 1921.
 The authorities declared that Chapman had been attentive to young woman who was a member of a rather prominent Indiana family but who is now living in the San Francisco underworld.
 Caught in Muncic, Ind. Chapman was lodged in jail here today awaiting arraignmcnt before | the United States commissioner who will take steps 10 return him to the federal pcnitentiary at AtaIna, from which he escaped December 30, 1923.
 The nationwide search for the dapper despcrado, whose exploits have run the scale from petty thiev- cry to a s2,400,00o mail robbery, was brought to an end yesterday at Muncie. Indiana, where he was captured by q squad of detectives after a gun battle.
 The arrest was the continuation of an intensive search conducted by postal inspectors since the bandits escape from Atlanta. Reports were received that Chapman was residing in various foreign countries, but af- ter a lengthy investigation authori- ties became convinced that he had not left the country. The search narrowed down to Indiana about four months ago when it was learn- ed Chapman was making frequent trips to Muncie. The police at Nun cto laid several traps for the escaped prisoner but he was successful in cluding them until yesterday when a tip was received that he was in a house in the residential district.
 Arrested After Struggle.
 The authorities surrounded the place and in a short time Chapman came out. Officers Marvin Collils and Frank Goodpaster fell in step behind him while Officers Fred Puckett and Harry Brown drove up to the fugitive in an automobile. Puckett accosted Chapman, who i'm mediately opened fire on him with a pistol. Collins leaped on the han- dit's back, however. knocking him 10 the ground and causing the bullet to 20 wild. Chapman was then cNer- powered and taken to headquarters.
 Had Nearly S5.0OO in Cash.
 When arrested, Chapman had in his possession two bottles of nitro gIyccrin and nearly S5,o0O in curren- cy. A search of his rooms revealed a number Of bonds, believed to have bc"n stolen fin the cast, and a quan- tity of icwclry.
 Postal Inspector A s. Kelley ot Winchester, Indiana, was notified of tho capture and accompanied by the arrcstiug officers, Immediately took the prisoner to Indianapolis where hc was lodged in iail for safe keep ing,
 Little effort was made yesterday by officers 10 question Chapman. who beyond some caustic comment regarding the man who turned inc up for blood money" remainsi silent
 Engineered S2,IOO,0O0 Mail Theft
 Chapman received the 25 years sentence when convicted of parti- Cipajing in the robbery Of a mail ruck in New York, which netted him and his companions S2,4o0,000 in cash and securities The robbery, one of the most sensational and daring in criminal annals, occurred on October 24, 1921. Chapman and his companions. at the point oi pis- t0ls, took the truck away from the driver, turned it into a side street and rifed the mail bags. Chapman was apprehended after a world wide search in July. 1929.
 He was sentenced 10 Atlanta but escaped March 3. 1923. He was re- captured and placed in the prison hospital wounded On March 27. 1923. he escaped from the hospital and had been at liberty until his capture at NIuncie yesterday.
 Since Chapman's escape his alleE- (Continued on Page Thirteen1