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. +fP)-A surprise
confession from an unexpected
source blazed new light today on the
Jake Lingle murder mystery.
The confession. made TO the cor
oners jury last night. was by Frank
n. 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 SO
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 was hurrying through
the pedestrians tunnel beneath
Michigan boulevard at Randolph
street.
One bullet, through the back Of
the head, dropped him dead. The
killer. in 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.O0 and 1t names the
man who was supposed to pay it but
who didnt-and TAI himself slain.
Bell said he and Sullivan had been
partners in some robberies prior TO
June 9. and that they met Traum
who limited at the possibility of theiT
making important" money. Bell
said he was led 10 believe that some
one was 10 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 TO
Michigan boulevard and Randolph
street. The q 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 up and talked with them. This
man-police believe ne was the man
who fired the shot that killed Lingle
was the one who Bell said looked
like GelSking.'
Bell was told TO have the a
waiting at a designated spot not
far away. He did: and half an hour
later. he said, Traum and Sullivan
rejoined him and ordered him TO
drive SOUTH.
No Shooting
Sullivan was very pale" Ball
said. land ] 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 more 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 noiE of traffic.
PAYMENT Of $4,000 for the Llngle
"iob.'' as Bell understood It. was to
have been on the basis Of $1,000 each
tc Traum. Sullivan and the other
a and $1,000 TO Bell.
When Bell and Sullgan went to
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 Is Named
Police said Patras was ar asso-
ciate Of Jack Zuta. who later was as
sassinated. and that ne was acting
for Zuta in the "pay-off."
There has been a persistent police
theory that Lingle's death was
sought by Zuta who felt that Lingli
was making exorbitant demands for
protection money" under threats OF
sending the police against zuta
gambling interests.
Traum recently was returned to
Leavenworth for violation OF his
parole.
Coroner Bundesen revealed that
he thought enough Of Bells story
70 make a trip to Leavenworth
where he interviewed Traum and
checked other statements OF Bells
affairs there. He said 1raum adj
mitted being In Chicago the day
Lipgle was killed but denied any
part in his Staying.
n.f1D..- L. al olcn has denied