The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-09-30
SHERIFF SAFE,
FACES QUIZ BY
STATE OFFICER
Comes to Gary With One of
Escaped Criminals, but
They Part Friends.

By GHttcd Press
GARY, Ind, Sept. 30.-Sherift
Charles Neel of Harrison county.
kidnapped and held captive for three
days by escaped convicts from Indi-
ana state prison, today told the story
of his weird experiences.
Almost simultaneous with Neel's
appearance here, James Clark, one
of the most desperate of the ten
prisoners who wounded three guards
in efecting a daring break Tuesday,
was captured in Hammond, a few
miles from here.
Clark, one of the group of four
who held Neel captive, was caught
three blocks from the police head
quarters.
Guessed He Was Right"
Neel said he was released early
Friday. He wandered all day trying
to get to a city. He came by inter
urban to Gary from Hobart. Clark
told police a different story. After
hearing it, Neel said he guessed
CLARK was TlgnC.
Both Neel and Clark suffered
from exposure and lack of food.
Neel had not been harmed. He said
the convicts complimented him on
being a good fellow"
Neel told local authorities that
Friday morning ne tried to get a
ride to Gary, but motorists refused
to stop. He slept several hours in
an open field, he said, then walked
to Hobart.
PAYS for Meals for Both
Clark said early Friday morning
three convicts left the party to-
gether in an automobile. Clark,
slightly ill, decided to walk with
Neel. Together they roamed through
fields trying to get to a city, Clark
said.
At Hobart, Neel paid for a meal
for both, Clark related. Neel also
paid their interurban fare to Gary.
Here they said good-by and parted.
Clark started for Hammond wear
ing Neel's overcoat. Neel went to
police headquarters.
Police were unable to explain
Neel's failure to bring Clark to
headquarters. After he shaved and
ate, he retired.
Captain Matt Leach of the state
police said he would question Neel
TODAY on this point.
Drove Toward Chicago
Neel had just delivered a pris-
oner to the penitentiary at Mich
igan City when the ten convicts
came charging out the main gate,
firing revolvers that had been
struggled in to them.
Some one grabbed me by the
ARM" he said. "One Of the dozen
men milling around me took my
revolver.
"Have you got a carp" n of
them asked. I told him I did ana
he ordered me to take him to It."
Two convicts got into the front
seat and two others in the rear,
accompanied by Neel. They drove
west from Michigan City toward
Chicago, then turned south on a
side road.
The sheriff's car was wrecked a
few miles from Michigan City. The
convicts went to the farmhouse of
Carl Spanier, took his automobile
and forced him to accompany
them. When they stopped for gas
oline, Spanier escaped.
Start AimIess Wandering
At the farmhouse of Carl Gustaf-
son ten miles southwest of Michi-
gan City, the second a broke
down. In a driving rain the con-
victs and Neel started out on foot
across fields and through Under
brush.
At daylight they crept into a
clump of bushes and lay there until
nightfall.
Wednesday night the ~convicts
started out again. They we're try
ing to make their way to Gary but
were lost. They looked for another
automobile to steal, but searched
in vain. Thursday they again hid
in woods.
Thursday night the aimless wan
dering started again. Shortly after
midnight they came upon a farm
er's automobile parked in his yard,
and stole it.
Neel and Clark exchanged greet
ings when they met Friday night
in the Hammond police station.
Neel gave Clark IS and the latter
was taken back to Michigan City
to resume his life sentence for
baOditrv