The Washington times., 1930-03-18
CAPONE FREED,
WHERFAB0UTS
MYSTERY
Continued from Page I.)

Continued from Page H.
prison to another Jail and then
released in manner that com.
pletely deceived more than one
hundred newspaper men and
photographers, to say nothing Of
the several thousand people who
waited hour after hour to obtain
glimpse of the former Chicago
beer baron as he EN- erg d
through the big iron gate Of the
prison.
The unusual precautions of the
authorities lent credence to
rumors that members Of rival
gangs were awaiting anxiously
for the release Of Capone and his
bodyguard, slippery" frankie
Cline, both Of whom were freed
simultaneously and both Of whom
were arrested at the same time
and on the same charge.
Whereabouts Unknown
Where Capone and Cline were
today was q matter Of conjecture.
It was believed they had taken
train for Chicago, closely
guarded by their friends.
From statements made by Her
bert Smith, warden Of the prison,
and DR.. Herbert M. Goddard,
member Of the board Of trustees
Of the Eastern State Penitentiary,
it was clear that they believed
1t was necessary to take the ut
most precautions in effecting the
release of Capone to save him
from his enemies.
It was not until 8 o'clock last
night that 1t was officially an.
nounced that Capone and Cline
had been spirited out of the
prison-hours before. at 6 o'clock
in the morning. to be exact. All
day long reporters and camera
men had waitel at the prison
gate for Capone to emerge and
throughout the long vigil the
authorities permitted them to be-
heve he would do so much in the
same manner as any other priS-
oner. A crowd Of several thou
sand persons assembled and they,
too, waited hour after hour.
Prison Under Construction
But, meanwhile, Warden Smith
executed his coup. In anticipa-
ton that Gov. John 8. Fisher
would formally sign Capone's re.
lease papers during the day, the
warden had Secretly moved
Capone and Cline from the East
err Penitentiary in Philadelphia
to a prison under construction at
Gratersford, Pa, 80 miles away.
Shortly before noon, the governor
signed the papers in Harrisburg.
Warden Smith drove to Harris
burg, 100 miles away, and per-
Sonally obtained Capone's parole
papers after they had been
signed. and instead of coming
back to Philadelphia he headed
for GraterSford, superintended
Capone'S release and saw to it
that he was safely delivered into
the custody of waiting friends,
and at 4 p. m. Capone and Cline
stepped into an automobile at
Gratersford and were whisked
away.
DR.. Goddard amplified Warden
Smiths announcement with this
statement:
Believed News Stories
ThiS action (the release Of
Capone) was taken on account of
the newspaper stories of enemies
Of the said Capone, seeking him
at the time of his release. The
officials Of this institution feel
they would not have properly
performed ther duties should
they have released him from
the Philadelphia institution and
subjected him to possible uarm.
Capone'S friends, meanwhile,
had done all they could to COM
plicate matters and throw a
smoke screen over their chieftain's
plans. A huge tri-motored air
plane. seating IA persons, landed
at the central airport at Camden,
early last evening. Later it be-
came a general suspicion that
this was a deliberate plant" At
the same time reports were cir
culated that Capone would leave
by train and by motor.