Evening star., 1934-03-05
MAY ASK WOMAN
| SHERIFF TORES|CN
Commissioners of County
Where Di|linger Escaped
to Consider Demand.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CROWN POINT, Ind. March S.
Lake County buzzed with investiga-
tions today as State and local officials,
with United States investigators at
work independently. tried to Ak the
responsibility for John Dillinger's es-
cape from the Crown Point Jail Sat-
urday.
President Charles Baran of the
County Board of Commissioners is
sued statement in which he de-
clared the county's woman sheriff,
Mrs. Lillian Holley, should resign. He
said he would ask the county board
to pass resolution asking her resig-
nation when it assembled later today
for a special meeting to consider Dill
fingers escape.
That's what Lake County gets for
having a lady sheriff." Baran said.
"It's mans job. A woman, no
matter how intelligent or sincere she
Is, can't handle 1t. think she should
resign, and I will ask the board to
pass resolution saying So"
Probe Denies Graft.
One Of five investigations now under
way was concluded today, but without
finding an explanation. It had been
conducted by Judge William j. Muir
ray, who would have presided next
Monday when Dillinger was scheduled
to trial for the murder Of an East
Chicago policeman.
There Is no evidence of any graft"
said Judge Murray as he finished
questioning deputies, guards and pris-
oners who were present when Dillinger
made his break.
"Au the evidence indicates lust
pure carelessness. I'm convinced that
no money passed hands. I'm not
ready to place the blame for his
| escape
Sheriff Holley, calling the same
, deputies and prisoners before her,
launched her own investigation of
the escape.
I'm not going to resign" she de-
| clared, pacing the corridor through
which Dillinger left. Il don't want
to be whitewashed. I welcome the
most thorough investigation. There
is no evidence Of any collusion or con-
spiracy."
Jail Force Quizzed.
The States investigation was under
way in the Offices of Prosecutor Robert
j. Estlll. The Jail force, including
Deputy Ernest Blunk, Turnkey Sam
! Cahoop and others, was called in to
make statements again. Assistant
Attorney General Edward C. BARGE
was presiding over this end of the
multiple probe
| Ihe Federal investigators are inter-
ested In Dillinger as a car thief. He
can be prosecuted under the Dyer
act, the Federal law against taking
stolen cars outside the bounds of a
State.
In Ohio, where Dillinger's men
liberated the gang leader from the
Lima Jail last october. killing sherin
Jess Sarber, the Indiana authorities
were taken to task by Ohio's attorney
general, John W. Bricker. He
charged that, either cowardice, cor
ruption of public officials or ignorance
permitted Dillinger to escape"
THE Dillinger escape" he said. lis
additional evidence of the fact it is
not more criminal laws we need, but
public officials possessed of the cour-
age, character, intelligence and ability
to enforce the laws"
Attorney General Philip Lutz OF
Indiana expressed surprise that the
Lake County officials let Dillinger get
away" but Sheriff Holley, reported on
the verge of a nervous breakdown de-
Tended the dozen or more guards
whom Dillinger herded into a cell
with the aid of a wooden pistol carved
from a broomstick with razor
handle and two blades.
I'D have done the same thing
she said, IF some one had put a gun
at my back"
The hunt for the desperate spread
today In all directions. The highways
of Indiana. Illinois. Ohio and Missouri
and his Negro companion, Herbert
Youngblood
| In Chicago Capt. John Siege and a
picked band of sharpshooting police
men, including Sergt. Frank Reynolds,
killer of l3 criminals, combed under
world haunts. Detectives searched
the homes Of some 260 paroled con-
victs, but without success. All police
are under orders to shoot to kill, -
and because Of this Chief of De-
tectives William Schoemaker ex-
pressed doubt that Dillinger would
choose Chicago for his hideout
A lead in the hunt was offered by
visit Of a mysterious woman to the
l n@s,, sAu 1lre
ago She posed as Dillinger's wife
The sheriff's office there had pro-
tested that Dillinger was not mar
ried. but the visit was permitted by
a Judge and lasted for half an hour.