Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-10-04
PLOT TO KILL
Jingle Barred
BY JAIL BIRD
$4,000 Was Offered
For Newspaper
Mans Death

CHICAGO, Oct. AtPl-A surprise
confession from an unexpected
source blazed new light today on the
Jake Lingle murder mystery.
The confession. made to the o n
oner'S jury last night. was by Frank
II. Bell. former convict and now a
county jail prisoner.
He named two former prison
mates-Joe Traum. Indiana gang
leader. and Richard Sullivan. rob-
Der and gunman-as being at the
murder scene: and he identified a
picture of Ted GeiSking. another In
diana bad man, as looking like" the
third man who was present when
Lingle was slain.
Bell explained that he was con-
Tossing TO ease his conscience and Sc
he could sleep again"
Lingle. a newspaperman whom
later Developments also labelled as
a middle man" In negotiations be-
tween gangsters and police, was slain
June 9 as he vas hurrying through
the pedestrians tunnel beneath
Michigan boulevard at Randolph
street.
One bullet, through the back Of
the head, dropped him dead The
killer, III the sight OF many persons.
tossed the gun on the concrete floor
Of the tunnel, and escaped.
Ten Thousand for Death
Bells confession detailed his own
movements OF June 9-movementS
which Coroner Herman N. Bundesen
regards as highly significant. II also
fixes the price presumably agreed
upon as payment for the murder OF
Lingle-S10,000: and il names the
man who was supposed to pay II but
who didn't-and was himself slain.
Bell said he and Sullivan had been
partners in some robberies prior 10
June 8. and that they met Traum
who limited at the possibility of their
making important money. Bell
said he was led 10 believe that some
one was TO be kidnapped. Traum
wanted Bell to drive the car TO the
spot where the kidnapping" was tO
take place. and 1t was agreed.
Bell. Traum and Sullivan drove 10
MICHIGAN boulevard and Randolph
street. The car halted not far from
the east entrance OF the pedestrian
Traum taking a pistol that had been
hidden in the car. "A blond man"
tunnel. Traum and Sullivan got out,
came I'D and talked with them. This
man-police believe he was the man
who fired the shot that killed Lingle
was the one who Bell said looked
like Geisking."
Bell was told to have the car
waiting at a designated spot not
far away. He did: and half an hour
later. he said. Traum and Sullivan
reioined him and ordered him to
drive south"
No Shooting
Sullivan was very pale" Ball
said. and I asked him what was
wrong. He said he'd been shot"
Police were unable TO fit this
statement into the known facts OF
the Lingle murder. There had been
no previous mention that than
one shot was fired. They suggested
that Sullivan in fleeing from the
tunnel and In leaping over a fence.
may have discharged his own pistol
accidentally. causing the wound, and
that the sound Of the shot had been
lost In the noiY OF traffic.
Payment Of $4,000 for the Llngle
lob" as Bell understood Il. was 10
have been on the basis Of $4,000 each
~ 7rrorr, E,,fftvap and the other
man. and 81 900 to Bell.
When Bell and Sulligan went 20
the restaurant OF Nick Patras on
North Clark street to collect from
him their share. Patras pulled a
pistol. Bell said. Sullivan. however.
was quicker. and Patras was killed.
Zuta II Named
Police said Patras was an asso-
ciate Of Jack Zuta. who later was as
saSsinated. and that he was acting
! for Zuta in the payroll"