The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-07
FLYER TO MARS IS
 ARRESTED AT SEA
Chester L. Eshelman, Res= cued After Crash, Imita=
 tor of Corrigan
BY GARDNER FROST Limited Press Staff Correspondent

Boston, June 7.-CUP)- l.. Eshelman, 22-year-old airplane mechanic, was arrested at sea today aud charged with the theft of the tiny single-engined plane which he plopped in the North Atlantic yes- terday while on 8 flight to Mars.
 A hero-worshipper of Douglas (Wrong Way) Corrigan, the swarthy student pilot from Carlisle, Pa., was seized by harbor police who met the rescue ship at the entrance to Bos- ton harbor. He was transferred to police boat Michael H. Crowley, brought to the statoin 8 pier and landed at 6:55 a. m. (EDT).
 After brief questioning, he was placed in a patrol wagon and taken to police headquarters for finger printing and photographing. He will be held for Camden, N. J., police, due here at 9:30 a. m., (EDT) by plane.
 Eshelman indicated that he would not fight extradition.
 q think I'll give in and go back and face the music" he said. Will I go to jail if do?"
 In Jail Now, Said Officer
 "You're in jail now" replied Po- lice Inspector Paul Crowley, who had made the trip down the harbor in straw hat and civilian clothes to make the arrest.
 All that police found in Eshel- mans pockets were 55 cents and eight bullets which he said fitted a revolver that sank with plane.
 Eshelman, though tired and sport ing a stubble beard, smilingly denied to police and newsmen that he had intended to fly across the Atlantic when he took off from Central airport at Camden, N. J., early Mon- day night.
 My only destination was Mars" he reiterated.
 He was dressed in the grease stained coveralls, brown leather jacket and dirty white silk scarf he wore when he was fished out of the ocean off Georges Banks ITS miles east southeast of Boston yes- terday by the crew of the trawler Villanova.
 Theft of Plane The arrest warrant, sworn out by counsel for Edward Walk of Ard more, Pa., charged Eshelman with theft of Walks $2,500 all-metal, two scatter Luscomb monoplane with ra- dio and blind flying instruments. Later Eshelman was expected to face charges brought by the Civil Aeronautics Authority.
 Eshelgan told newsmen in the cabin of the police boat that he rented the plane late Monday at Camden airport for solo flight.
 q started to take lessons about two months ago." he said, "but only had about 4 hours solo and l wanted to get more time in the air After taking off, circled around for a while and then headed for the Pitcairn airport (18 miles north of Philadelphia).
 q previously had taken 55 gal- Ions of gasoline to Pitcairn air port in my car and I refueled there. With that gasoline, had total of about 63 gallons.
 Extended Local Flying
 "All intended to do was some extended local flying; that's why I put in the extra gas"
 "What about Mars?" interposed a reporter.
 "Just what said," Eshelman said, flashing 8 big grin. My only des- tinatiOn was Mars"
 At this point, the reporter called Eshelman's attention to the fact that he had dropped Q note to the trawler storm scrawled on the back of . map on which was traced . route from Boston to Saint John. W. D.
 VI don't know anything about that" Eshelman said. T didn't mark t on there. ft was just asl old piece Of paper lying in the cabin, as far as knew"
 Resumink the story Of his project- Cd "Martian i1yasion." BsheIman said:
 Flew Around Penn
 "f fIcw around Pennsylvania for . while, but before could get down,