The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-02-22
FEAR OF DEATH IN
ELECTRIC Chair IS
HELD TOBE REASON
AIabaman Tells Chicago Police
He and Accomplish At.
tackled Publisher
SECOND MAN IS ARRESTED
Pair Failed in Effort to Take
Victim From Hotel En-
closed in Trunk
SECOND MAN IS ARRESTED

Chicago, Feb. 22.-(F)-Twelve hours
after he confessed an abortive plot to
kidnap Emanuel Philip Adler Of DAY.
export, Ia, Fred Mayo Of Birming-
ham, Ala, alias Charles Phillips,
hanged himself In a Marquette police
station cell.
Policemen found him suspended by
his scarf from the cell bars when they
called to take him before Jack Lacy,
alias Wyman, his alleged confederate.
Mayo was dead. He had taken up
on himself the capital punishment he
had feared the State Of Illinois would
inflict for the crime of kidnapping.
The man he had named Wednesday
night as his accomplice In the plot to
truss the Davenport newspaper pub
Usher and spirit him out of the Nor
rison hotel In huge trunk, had been
captured only few moments before
Mayo was found lifeless
Made Stubborn Denial
For hours Wednesday Mayo had
made stubborn denial Of any inten-
ton to kidnap Adler. 61-year-old
bank president and head Of the Lee
Syndicate of middle western news
papers. Mayo had been nabbed as he
stole back to the hotel corridor where
he had dubbed Adler and tried to take
him captive.
He had soon acknowledged robbery
attempt, but not until late in the night
had he admitted planning to kidnap
Adler and hold him for 900 ransom.
Then he said he had feared death In
the electric chair because Of the pub
lie furore against kidnapers.
He gave information that brought
the arrest of Mrs. Minnie Lacy, who
wa; released as innocent Wednesday
after she told where her husband
could be found.
Lacy was pounced upon while asleep
in South Side hotel room, registered
under his own name. J. Lacy.
He was rushed before the states
attorney, who then sent for Mayo to
confront him.
At 1885 a. m. the lookup keeper at
the Marquette station discovered the
inert body.
Gave Different Names
Mayo had given his name variously
as Charles or Fred Mayo and Charles
Clyde Phillips Of Birmingham, Ala.
Lacy meanwhile was identified posi-
lively as one of the two men who
bought the big trunk found In room
538 of the Morrison hotel, adjoining
that Of Adler. It was punctured to
provide air, and Mayo admitted he
and Lacy planneA to knock Adler
senseless, tape him up thoroughly and
then cart him away for ransom.
David Swesnik, the South State
Street pawnbroker. identified Lacy as
one Of the buyers Of the trunk. He
said they paid 81 and an old suit for
the five foot sample case on Tuesday.
the day before the Iowa publisher
was slugged, but broke away.
Mayo had tied scarf around his
neck, stood up on the wooden cell
bench and knotted the other end
around the bars at the top Of the
cell. Then he jumped off.
Before locking him up, the desk
sergeant had removed his belt. neck
tie and the contents Of his pockets. It
was cold, and he was allowed to keep
his overcoat. In one pocket was the
scarf that gave him way out"
Pair Met In Dies Moines
In his confession Phillips said he
met Wyman in Des Moines, where
both were out Of work, and that
they decided there to snatch Adler,
who Is the owner Of the Daven-
port Savings Bank and Trust COM
pany, and head Of the Lee Syndicate
Of newspapers.
The prisoner said, I'VE went to the
Adler home last Thursday and learn.
ed there that he was In st. Paul. but
would be In Chicago this week to at
tend q meeting Of the Inland Press
association. We came on and watched
for his arrival. Then'I rented room
In the hotel In which We planned to
put him In the box.
I'VE waited and when we saw Adler
leave his room ran out and slugged
him but my aim was bad and he yelled
and ran. Wyman fled. ! ran but
made the mistake Of going back to the
room. That bum rap ! gave him was
what killed the scheme"
Mrs. Lacy. pretty brunette. main.
tanned through several hours Of ques-
tioning that she knew nothing Of any
kidnapping plot. She last saw her hus-
band, the man named by Mayo as
Wyman. at 10 p. m. Wednesday night,
she said, when he let her out Of their
car near their home.
Mrs. Lacy said her husband was
afraid to 60 home with her for fear
police might be waiting there. He
knew Of Mayo's arrest through news
paper stories.
Sergt. Thomas Kelly later an
nounced that Lacy, told Of his COM
N-panion's death, made full confession
/of his share In the plot against Adler.