The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-07

Captain Matt Leach, in
charge Of the raid on the home
of the girl, said that in the
evidence seized names and
pictures of convicts were
found.
This evidence is being held by the
police pending arrest of the girl
who duped Ralph Saffel, 80, of 343
Laclede street into harboring the six
criminals at his home.
Although police watched the east
side house from midnight on, the
girl did not appear. They believe
that she has left the city.
Seated in state police headquar-
tiers today after a sleepless night,
during which he was grilled doz-
en- times by detectives and forced
to accompany them on mysterious
trips to various parts of the city to
obtain more information on the
escaped deSperadoes, SaffellS still
stuck to his story that he had no
criminal connection with the gang.
Protests His Innocence
Saffell, with his sagging jaw.
wispy, mouse-colored hair rumpled
and fading blue eyes filling with
tears at times, protested his inno~
cence again and again.
Il never knew that girl was con-
nected with criminals he cried, Il
thought she was just home girl.
Only when she brought that gang
to my home and told me that
would have to put them up, did I
realize that there was anything
wrong"
Saffell told police that he met the
girl at a barbecue about three
months ago and had had a number
of dates with her since.
She never told me she had any
relative in the state prison" he pro-
tested. Il learned all that when one
of the convicts said, I guess she
never told you about knowing any
convicts, did she? Well, you just
keep your trap closed and you'll
come out of this all right"
Treated Me Pretty Well"
Saffel said the car bearing the
six convicts and the girl go-between
had driven up to his home at a. m.
Sept. d. the morning after the
prison break. He said he saw i'm
mediately that the men were escaped
prisoners from their garb. Mary told
him to take care of them.
They treated me pretty we'll"
said Saffell, out every time a car
would go by near the house, they'd
grab their guns and cover me.
Later on during the day, a man
and two women came to the house
and gave them money. 1 don't
know just how much because I did
not see it passed. But I heard the
men talking about it."
Saffell described the man who
brought the money as tall and
coarse featured. The women with
him were hard boiled" according
to Saffell. They only knew one or
two of the escaped felons and were
introduced to the rest in his home.
Bought Caps, Sweaters
Il made my big mistake" Safell
said regretfully, when I went down.
town with Mary to buy clothes for
the convicts. I should have run to
a policeman and told everything.
But I was too scared. I didn't know
what they'd do to me. We bought
six caps and pants and sweaters at
four different stores.
When Saffell protested against
the convicts leaving their prison
clothes at his home, they drove
away, he said, on the night of
Sept. 27. He has not seen them
since.
Saffell declared he was "too
scared" to go to the police and
finally went to a gospel mission at
514 East Miami street, where he was
found seated on the steps by Al
Feeney, state safety director, Friday
night. He is being held technically
for investigation.
Unlikely to Be Here
Although Saffell said he had
heard the conyicts state that they
we're going into swamp some
where" to hide as that was the only
way they could evade the law, police
do not believe that they we're in the
Broad Ripple sector of the city, as
reported by Miss Lucille Hines.
Detectives at state police head
quarters expressed the belief that
the men had gone to other parts
following the brush with city and
state police last Friday in Ben
Davis when James jenkins. later
killed in the southern part Of the
state. was thrown out Of the con-
victs' car.
Captain Matt Leach pointed out
that the men were well supplied
with money and thought it unlikely
that they would remain in the
vicinity of Indianapolis, where an
fr1fof1civo caorci7 was in rrnoreEg