The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-16
TOM ROBINSON
TELLS HOW He
ELUDED omen
Spent S45,000 in 10
Months Spree; Lived in
N. Y, California.
Continued From Page One)

vember and December of 1884 and
never was questioned. 1t was just
like spending good salary money.
Young Robinson didn't grow over
confident, though. BY the middle of
January, he thought change of
scenery might be healthful, so he
entrained for Philadelphia and took
a plane to the West Coast.
Il don't know why, but I just
thought it would be safer to get on
a plane at Philadelphia rather than
Newark" he explained. He said he
landed in San Francisco.
RobinSons intention was to take
a boat to Honolulu and perhaps pro-
coed to the Orient. That's when he
gave himself the only dernerit for
dumbneSs. He had overlooked the
matter of passport and that was
too dangerous to tackle. Now he
abandoned the idea of voyage.
Pays Nevada a Visit
Instead Tom stayed around San
Francisco. AS boy he had read
about the Barbary Coast and Tele-
graph Hill. He enjoyed getting close
TO those places.
After few weeks he moved to
Los Angeles and stayed there most
of the spring. He took some precau-
ton, always staying in the larger
hotels where there was less chance
of being noticed.
Il made it a point never to form
any real acquaintance, said Robin
son. Il believe those people in
California thought was wealthy
young fellow who just liked to
travel"
In the summer Tom decided to
try Nevada. He visited Reno.
Tries on Sheriff's Hat
IT believe Reno was the easiest
place in the country for fellow like
me to get by" he said. THE city is
always full of visitors and strangers.
No one notices any one else"
In July Tom returned to Los
Angeles and the same hotel. FIRE.
quently he attended movie pre-
miere to glimpse some star in per-
son. He deemed it unwise to visit
movie studio.
August found him on the road
again, riding a train bound for
ST. Louis. That was the nearest
he came to Nashville, his home. He
never was in Memphis, as reported
on many occasions.
Say, here's a funny one," Robin
son said. He grabbed my arm and
his eyes cleaned with excitement,
like little boy. 81 can't tell you
where this happened, but last sum-
mer a sheriff showed me his hat
with a bullet hole that Dillinger
shot in it. He even tried it on me
and never realized who I was"
Back to Cleveland
From st. Louis Robinson went to
Cleveland, riding the train again.
Late in September, almost a year
after the kidnapping, he drifted to
Topeka, Kas. He read newspapers
daily and knew about the trial of
his wife and father in Louisville.
Il bought a radio and put it in
my room at Topeka" he said. 1T
listened for the news each night.
When I heard they had been
acquitted, really got tight"
Young Robinson insists his kin
were absolutely innocent. He admits
now he might have given up at
Topeka had they been convicted.
Robinson liked New York and he
returned there in October, staying
at another fashionable hotel. He
acted like an ordinary, affluent,
young gentleman and never was
suspected.
Used No Disguise
II walked the streets of New York
and Brooklyn every day." he said. st
had no disguise. Nothing ever hap
pened. worried less and less about
being caught"
Robinson was asked if he ever saw
any one he knew.
once" he answered, Gin New
York. On Broadway one night I al
most bumped into him, but he never
recognized me. He was R Y
of Nashville"
He said the man probably would
have helped him had he made
known his Identity.
Il often thought of home, but it
would have been crazy to write. I
had no idea of coming near Nash
vile again"
In New York Robinson met the
girl who was with him when he was
captured in Glendale, Cal. He in
sisted she was innocent and never
knew his real identity.
Rents Home in Glendale