Evening star., 1942-07-13

John Eugene Eklund. maintaining
his innocence of the murder charges
against him after his capture yester-
day, had his own case doped out to
the last letter.
He predicted to his arresting Off
GER, Pvt. Nathan z. Ephraim, Chat
the jury verdict would be second
degree murder.
The sealed verdict opened in Dis
trict Court today proved him right.
Official secrecy lifted, Pvt Eph-
rain and Auxiliary Policeman Carl
E. Goetzinger, who found Eklund
in a Georgia avenue delicatessen
yesterday morning and obtained
Pvt. Ephraim to help him in the
arrest, today related the events
leading to the capture and the con-
versations they had with the fugi-
tive afterward.
Trained for Escape.
The two officers quoted Eklund
as saying he had been training"
for the escape for some time, that
he had run 100 yards in "a little
better than 10 seconds" that he
figured he could cover half mile in
something more than two minutes
and that an alarm would not be
sounded for three minutes, giving
him few precious seconds to obtain
taxi or find hiding place.
Mr.. Goetzinger, a 36-year-old press
operator at international Business
Machines, told how he went to
| Lanes delicatessen at Georgia ave-
nue. and Tuckerman street to get
cool drink after church.
when I entered" he said, Elk
lund was facing the door. He at
tracted my attention because he was
watching people coming in and out.
He was acting fdgety."
He noted t:ie youths rumpled
clothes and the hole in his trousers
made, it was learned, when Elk
lund slipped and fell in f1ight--so
he went to a corn( of the room
where he could get side view Of
the man.
Followed Eklund in Car.
From papers lying on table,
which Eklund had been reading
Mr.. Goetzinger compared the mans
features with the published photo
graphs, noting that the hair line Of
the two was about the same.
Il said to myself then, Boy, you're
it," Mr.. Goetzinger said.
The officer said he left the store
ahead of Eklund and waited in his
car until the suspect came out. In
his car, he followed Eklund east on
Tuckerman street and when Eklund
saw he was being watched he turned
and ran down an alley, Mr.. Goet-
Finger said.
Driving around the block, he saw
Eklund emerge from the alley and
through his rear-view mirror saw
him go into an adjoining alley, the
officer related. He then started
looking for regular officer and
found Pvt Ephraim with another
officer on Georgia avenue.
Il think saw the man we're look
ing for" Mr.. Goetzinger said he re-
marked to Mr.. Ephraim as he ap-
preached the car.
How do you knoW?' the uni
formed officer asked.
The auxiliary policeman then re-
counted the happenings of few
minutes before.
I'm almost positive" Mr. Goetz-
niger said he told the officer.
Let's go, then" Mr.. Ephraim re-
joined.
Taken to Precinct Station.
Their search up alleys and down
streets for the next few minutes led
to Ninth and Peabody streets where
they spotted their man, picked him
up after questioning him and took
him TO No 6 precinct station.
"All right, lock me up Goet-
Finger said Eklund remarked te
Sergt P. A. Deannell.
Don't worry, we're going to lock
, you up after we ask a few ques-
tions," the sergeant was said to have
, answered.
DO you mean you're John Elk
lund Goetzinger said he asked.
That's right" the captive an
swered, according to Mr.. Goetzinger
and Eklund then pulled out a foun-
tain pen with his name on 1t.
You can tell them to stop drag
ging the river now" Eklund was
quoted as saying, referring to re-
ports that the river was being
dragged for an unidentified man
who, it was thought, might have
been Eklund.
Talks Freely in Patrol Wagon.
Eklund talked readily - almost
eagerly-in the patrol wagon as he
was taken from the precinct station
to police headquarters, Pvt. Eph-
rain said
II want you to understand that
I escaped because it was a bum