The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-05-25
OFFICERS USE
GAS BOMBS FOR
1ST TIME HERE
Fugitive From Justice Taken
Into Custody After Shells
49,
Are Exploded

Using tear gas bombs for the first
time in the history of the Bismarck
!. police department, local authorities
early this morning forced an armed
fugitive from justice to come down
from the second floor of a residence
on Second street, between Main and
broadway, where he had taken refuge
when the officers closed in on him.
The man taken into custody is
Virgil Gregory, %, Of st. Paul,
wanted at Window, Mimi, for steal
ing an automobile and for escaping
from the custody of the sheriff at
Window after he had been arrested
previously at Bismarck and returned
to the Minnesota town.
Arrested Here May 2
Gregory was arrested here May 2,
after the car which he admits hav-
ing stolen at Window was found here.
Taken to the county Jail at Window,
he was the only prisoner there and
was given the status of trusty, be-
ing allowed the freedom of the Jail
yard without guard. On Monday,
May IS, about p. NJ. Gregory
walked away" from the Jail, taking
with him .3S calibre Colts repeater
TctOlVcT Dc1OuSulk W liz SHSI IL !,
which he found in the Jail.
A posse was quickly formed,
Gregory said here today, and large
grove near Window was thoroughly
searched until dark in an effort to
find him. During the afternoon,
however, he lay hiding behind large
rock in field and escaped detection,
although, he says, members Of the
no u n i'm
at various times.
During the night Gregory made his
getaway, and headed again towards
Bismarck. Stopping en- route at
Lamberton, Tracy, and other Mime
sofa points, he said he heard the
townspeople talking about the "dar
ing escape" of a prisoner from the
Window Jail and was even given a
description Of the fugitive as it had
been broadcast over the state via
radio. His conversationalists failed
to recognize him as the man whom
they were discussing, however.
Returned Sunday
Chief of Police Chris Martineson
was notified of Gregory's escape and
asked to be on the lookout for him,
as it was believed he would return
here. Gregory reached Bismarck
Sunday night, he said this morning,
but went Immediately to Mandan,
where he spent Monday and most Of
Tuesday. Late yesterday he returned
to Bismarck and the police soon
learned that he was in the Second
street residence.
Chief Martineson, Deputy Sheriff
Ed kafer and Patrolman VIM. Ebel-
ing, VIM. Cleveland and Dave Smith
entered the house last night, where
upon Gregory ran upstairs and re-
fused to come down when commanded
to do SO by the officers. Knowing
that he was armed and having been
warned that he would likely "shoot
his way out" if cornered, the officers
hesitated to mount the stairs in the
lace Of possible gun fire from above
Gives Up
At an carly hour this morning
Martineson secured supply Of teal
gas bombs, the first to be used by
police here, and soon after these haC
been exploded in the upper part OF
the house, Gregory gave himself up.
Gregory has served two terms in
the North Dakota penitentiary or
grand larceny charges, and previously
had served time in the training
school at Mandan for a similar
oftense. He formerly lived at Bar
low, n. d. The sheriff at Window
has been notified and will come here
Immediately to again take his mar
into custody. Gregory's case i:
" scheduled to come up in district cour
at Window on June 6. Although h.
admits stealing the car, he declined
to say whether or not he would pleat
guilty to the charge.