The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-01
CRAzED VICTIM
OF WAR Dives
TO HIS DOOM
Evades Hundreds of Police
in AII-Night Search in
Chicago, Before Suicide.
DRINKS SELF INSANE
Gassed in World Conflicts
Fights Off BeSiegers i
With Shotgun.
Bv Cnited Press

=
Bu United Press
CHICAGO. June IA dramatlc
suicide before a, speeding North@
western passenger train today ended
the drink-inspired rampage OF
Ferdinand PreusS, who killed two
policemen and a merchant and
severely wounded three other per-
sons late Friday, while defending
himself against capture in his west
side tenement.
After eluding one of the most iIl@
tensive man hunts ever organized IN
the Metropolitan area-f1fty squads
of detectives and policemen and irl~
cessant bong -bonging of the radio
alarm systen--the 38-year-old war
veteran today hurled himself be-
fore westbound F'reeport train,
which cut off his head and both
arms.
Where Preuss spent the night
after his Workmanship had pres
vailed against the combined efforts
Of eight detective squads which ab-
tempted to capture him in his home
yesterday probably never will be
known.
Great Man Hunt Started
While the law reinforced it's
numbers before his home, Preuss
continued firing through the front
and side windows with a pump
shotgun until he had wiped out one
entire squad Then he fed down
al alley and was swallowed up by
the teeming tenement district which
had been the scene Of his drunken
rampage.
Then was organized a man hunt
of unprecedented proportions. 1t
was joined by every policeman who
could be spared from regular patrol
duty and was led by Deputy Police
Commissioner John Siege himself.
Most of those who took part III
the search we're friends Of Sergeant
John Lee COnley, the 42-year- old
detective bureau squad leader, who
vas first to fall before Preuss' pump
gun.
The crew of the Northwestern
train which left the West Madison
street station in Chicago at 8:28
a. IN. today picked up the body Of
Preuss after their train had mana
gied it at the Kilbourn avenue star
tor and completed the identif1caA
ton before police arrived.
Unarmed at Time of Death Y
Wisconsin fishing license in q
coat pocket issued to Ferdinand
Preuss left no doubt as to the su1~
cide's identity.
Preuss was not armed. The pump
gun with which he had spread a
ring of death round his west side
basement apartment had been left
behind and there was no sign Of
the revolver which he 5 said to
have carried when he fed.
Police, who went out to claim the
bod---, said they believed Preuss had
wandered aimlessly all night and
that when the passing hours brought
him sobriety and a realization Of
the fearful consequences of his
spree he decided to take his own
life.
Having no gun, he chose the raiba
road.
Crazed by Liquor
Preuss was gassed during tbs
World war and his condition had
preyed on his mind, relatives said
He had been drinking for more than
a week and yesterday his alcohol-
infamed mind sent him into q
frenzy.
Preuss seized q shotgun and
theatened his wife. She escaped and
called police A squad came to the
house and ordered Preuss to surren=
der His reply was a volley from the
repeating shotgun
Police Officer John Lee Conley
dropped dead, a score Of pellets
through his body. Policeman Her-
bert Haagberg staggered to nearby
wall, half mis- face torn away. He
started TO run to the squad car, but
dropped dead before he had gone
more than dozen steps.
A crowd of neighbors started gatt1-
ering across the street. Suddenly
Preuss appeared at the front door,
brandisiling his gun.
Coal Dealer Slain
Spying other police. ne ducked
back. appeared at a window and
opened fire again. Joseph Chorozak.
coal dealer. was in the line of fire.
He died en- route to hospital.
BY this time riot call had sent
three more squads Of police to tf@
scene. The shotgun blazed at inters
vals from the windows Of the flaats
telling Patrolran Joseph Murphy
George Wodecka and Gus Karoz
Karos was seeking to get his blind
brother out of the danger zone when
he was struck
Murphy is suffering with aineteeH
pelIsts III his body. He ma. not liYA