Evening star., 1936-08-03

On the grass and Floyd was seated
near him. Floyd jumped up, leveied
a pistol at the officer and ordered the
latter to stick 'em up" The police
officer pretended he was workman
en- route to a nearby factory, but
Floyd refused to accept the explana-
ton and called to Richetti, who had
awakened. to "let him have it."
Floyd Makes Escape.
A brief gun battle enSued, with
Richetti and Floyd running down a
hill. None Of the bullets took effect,
but Richetti, having emptied his gun.
surrendered. Floyd escaped into the
woods.
Still believing his captive was a
tramp, the officer took Richetti to the
police station, where he gave a ficti-
tious name and identified Floyd as
Joe Warren" of Toledo.
Sheriff Long of Steubenville. who
had become familiar with Richetti's
appearance through photographs sup
piled by the G-men, dropped in the
Wellsville police station on another
matter while Richetti was being
questioned. He recognized him i'm
mediately and called him by name.
Richetti thereupon admitted his iden-
tity. The Wellsville officer then iden-
titled Richettis companion as Floyd
Sheriff Long notified the Cincin-
natl office of the F. B. I. and the Fed
eral forces promptly swung into action
Inspector Samuel P. Cowley was in the
vicinity in connection with the Stoll
kidnapping investigation. Special agents
proceeded to the East Liverpool Air
port by plane. where Sheriff Long met
them. East Liverpool police were en-
listed in the manhunt. Woods were
searched and roads blocked.
Learning that a man answering
Floyd's description had asked for
lunch at a farm house near East
Liverpool, the F. B. I. agents and
East Liverpool officers proceeded to
the farm. About 4 pm. Monday
October %, 1894. as this squad was
making a systematic search OF farms
in that vicinity, Floyd was glimpsed
in an automobile which farmer was
starting to drive from behind a corr
crib, on the farm Of Mrs. Ellen Conkle
He had asked to be driven to Youngs-
town.
When Floyd spied the officers. he
ordered the farmer to back the car
up behind the crib. Floyd jumped
from the car as it backed up. dashed
past an outbuilding, across an open
field and over a ridge toward nearby
woods.
Refuses 10 Surrender.
The agents and police pursued him
and commanded him to surrender.
Floyd's response was gesture OF
defiance
He may have been thinking of that
electric chair.
Instead Of stopping he whipped out
a .45-caliber automatic pistol-he was
carrying two-and chose to fight II
out
The agents fired first.
Floyd was running, seeking the pro-
lection of a dense wood. With his head
and shoulders turned toward the Off
GERS, he flourished his gun. The
agents paused and fired. They knew
that to permit him to gain the woods
would give him an advantage which
doubtless would result in the loss Of
the lives of several agents.
He fell, mortaliy wounded, with hi:
pistol. fully loaded. still in his hand
The other pistol, .45-caliber auto
matte, was in his belt. An extra CLIP
was in his pocket.
Floyd was shot at 410 pm and
he died in the Conkle house at 4:?s
pm. He admitted his identity just
before he breathed his last, but he
refused to answer other questions.
With his dying words he cursed his
captors.
The notched "lucky piece" was
found attached to his watch On this
fob and at three places on the watch
were found groups Of 10 notches-
Floyd's murder record.
Photographs Of the watch and fot
are on exhibition in the F. B. l.
Crime museum"-an object lesson
seen daily by young and old who visit
the headquarters of the G-mep.