Evening star., 1942-07-14
Two.|nquiiries
Being Pushed in
Ek|und Escape
Persons Who Helped
'Sniper' During
Breok Are Sought


pressed today into phases of the
sensational Friday night escape OF
John Eugene Eklund, the 25-year-
old slayer, convicted yesterday OF
second degree murder. Only his
sentencing remained to end his role
as washington's "sniper.'
One inquiry was by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, on Or
ders by Attorney General Bid
die. This apparently was to un-
cover any inef1iciency or laxity
on the part of the United States
marshars Office, which had custody
of Eklund when he fed from two
deputies in front of the DISTRICT
Jail.
The other investigation was to
locate any persons who had given
Eklund aid in his escape that would
make them liable to prosecution
United States Attorney Edward M.
C,,rran and the Police Department
particularly would like to know the
source of the $l9 that Eklund OBJ
tanned during his 81 hours OF free
dom, and also the identity OF taxi
cab driver who carried the hand
cuffed Eklund to Chevy Chase Fri
day night. Eklund has refused to
reveal where he got the money.
No Appeal Planned.
Eklund's counsel, Harry T.
whelan, announced that no appeal
would be made from yesterdays ver-
dict. So far as legal procedure is
concerned, he said he felt the youth
has had a fair trial. In addition,
Eklund himself requested that no
appeal be made, Mr.. Whelan said.
While the two inquiries went
forward, Eklund began to evidence
delight in the accompanying noto-
riety. He laughed and joked with
his guards and wisecracked with
reporters.
Defense Attorney Whalen re-
vealed details of the statement
Eklund made to Mr.. Curran, clear
ing up several points that had
remained obscure. Earlier. Eklund
had taken police on tour OF the
places he visited while at large.
Eklund told reporters he had not
made I'D his mind to escape until
almost the moment the van pulled
to a stop in the downpour Friday
night.
He Feared "the Chair"
"The idea presented itself to me
In a moment" he said, adding that
he thought they were trying 10
put me in the chair
The moment the deputy marshal
opened the door of the van, the
handcuffed killer lunged out, and
from then on. he said, it was a FOOT
race" He soon saw he was OUT
distancing his pursuers because
their calls of halt" became 1aln1eI
and fainter. ;,,s
AFTER two blocks, their WIND
s.ve out" he said, referring to
nenuties Carl w. Carlson and
robert J. Schmidt, who have been
suspended pending thu FBI IN
vestigation. ).
Police did not permit further d.
rect questioning of Eklund by news
men. but Attorney Whelan filled 1n
with the rest of his clients story
as follows: u..,
Eklund ran about three-fourths
of a mile from the Jail and ther
hailed a taxicab. He directed tne
driver to take him to point II
Chevy Chase, Md. En- route, M
asked the driver the fare ana wa
told It was 81. Taking advantag'
Of the drivers preoccupation witt
operating the auto, Eklund shppee
a IS bill over his shoulder and tolt
him to take out the fare and al
additional so cents as tip. TIT
driver handed him back the cnange
never turning around.
Although Eklund claims that TN
driver at no time saw his hand
cuffs. Mr.. Curran and police ar
searching for him.
Broke Links on Rock.
Eklund walked from Chevy Chas
TO some point near Glen Echo, Mo
In the downpour that night. IN
next day. after sleeping In cluml
of woods. Eklund began wor
breaking the links that held to
rether the two steel bands aroun
his wrists. He found two rocks tha'
as Mr.. Whelan put it, looked hk
they were made for the job" Ont
weighing about 40 pounds, wa
buried halfway in the ground.
sharp, Jagged edge pointed upward
The other rock was perfect II
between the palms of his hano
He went to work hammering ant
although his wrists were sKlnne
and bruised during the task, n
managed to break the links.
He also bought some food tha
morning at an unrevealed store. II
got some jelly, peanut butter, plum
milk, bread and tomato juice.
But most of the day, he hit ou
Then. in the late afternoon. he cor
cealed the parted cuffs by jammin
them UP his sleeve as far as posslol
and took a street car. He RODE
Wisconsin avenue and M street NV
At an auto supply house there, +
bought small hacksaw for 43 cent
He took a taxi TO a point {
Georgia and Concord avenue
where he hid in the wooded. weet
grown grounds surrounding the Ill
used frame house which once w
the estate of the late Matthe
Emery. once Mayor OF Washington
There he cut the steel bands
his handouts and slept for a tim
He was captured Sunday morning
Justice James w. Morris Will
absent from District Court on
short vacation the remainder OF tn
week and probably will not pr
nounce the sentence until late ne
week. The maximum possible sci
tence is life Imprisonment, with Il
25-year -old slayer eligible for pare
after Is years, as provided by Il
indeterminate sentence law.
The District Communist party
sued a statement demanding an i
vestigation of the United Stat
q