Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-12-12
ESCAPED FELON
HAS Wild time
Visits Fifteen States, With
Amazing Adventures,
While Free.

turn to San Quentin prison of e. A.
Pohl, thirty, San Bernardino county
forger, an amazing story of the adj
venturous and checkered career Of an
escaped convict on an eight months
odyssey through 10 states was re-
vealed recently. Events in the pris-
oner's flight included three weeks
passed as a deputy sheriff in an Arl-
IONA town, a marriage and honey
moon, bootlegging venture in Chi
cago and final betrayal by the es
capped mans own brother.
Fiction is rivaled by the interlude
in the prison career of the vagabond
convict. Pohl originally told his expe-
riences to Louis Borello, assistant dis
trict attorney of Marion county, where
he was convicted of escape
Meets Former Guard.
Pohl ran away from a prison road
camp in Butte county in November,
1920 He made his way south through
Sacramento. Near Stockton a friendly
motorist picked him up The CONVEX
sation led around to prisons and pris-
oners.
"Those babies can't put anything
over on me-" the driver said. "They
are a pretty slick bunch, but I know
all their tricks. I was a guard at
San Quentin for 10 years. BY the
way, my names Danfeld What's
yours?"
"My name Oh, Motscham. l used
to be down at San Quentin myself.
But l didn't like the place, so left.
Thought I'd try some other job
The two men had a good laugh over
what small place the world is and
parted company at Modesto.
Pohl hiteh-hiked his way by easy
stages to Kingman, Ariz. Liking the
town, he looked around for work, OBJ
tanning a job as a deputy sheriff.
Spent Time Painting Jail.
at was funny enough being a dep
uty sheriff." Pohl said. "But the real
kick I got in that mans town was
the first job they gave me. l spent
10 days painting the inside of the
Jail
"All the time l was there the
'dodger' (prison circular with picture
announcing escape) about me was
pinned on the wall of the sheriffs Of
fee. made couple Of cracks about
what funny looking guy T. was, but
they kept on treating me fine.
"The next town I hit was Albu-
querque, where was arrested on sus-
picion of something or other. Finally
they hauled me up to the judge. l
said was from Chicago. He said
he would give me GO days or an hour
to get out of town. Naturally l took
the hour. but they Kept me in the
can 10 days anyway and then let
me go. My picture and finger prints
were on the wall there, too. But they
never took my prints
Pohl went to Chicago, he said, and
obtained an interest in two bootleg
ging establishments. He met a girl
he used to know and they were mar
RED They saved money, bought a
car, and decided to visit Pohl's broth
er in Los Angeles. A girl friend of
Mrs. Pohl made the trip across the
continent with them.
"When we got to Los Angeles l
found that the girl friend was an old
sweetheart of my brother He was
married and as l didn't want to take
any chance of breaking up his home
we left.
"He must have been sore at me
for taking the girl away, because he
gave description of me and the car
to police and 1 was picked up in
Kansas City, on my way back, and
brought back to San Quentin"
Pohl pleaded not guilty to road
camp escape, giving as a reason for
his departure that his life had been
threatened by other convicts. He
was found guilty by jury and one
to five term was added to his orig
inal five-year sentence.
II asked the district attorney of
San Quentin-you know, Asa Keyes
what I ought to do about the es-
cape charge" Pohl said. HE said
/ ought to plead guilty and ask for
probation. That's a hot one. Ask for
probation when you're already in
prison"