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

Two Investigations were being
pressed today into phases of the
sensational Friday night escape oi
John Eugene Eklund, the 25-year.
old slayer, convicted yesterday oi
second degree murder. Only his
sentencing remained to end his role
as WaShington's "Sniper."
One inquiry was by the Fedora
Bureau of Investigation, on or.
ders by Attorney General Bid.
die. This apparently was to un-
cover any inefficiency or laXity
on the part of the United States
marshals office, which had custody
of Eklund when he fled 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
Curran and the Police Department
particularly would like to know the
source of the S19 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.
Captors to Be Honored.
Meanwhile, honors were to be
of
two police officers who brought
about Eklund's capture Sunday
morning.
Eklunds 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.
Amused by Headline.
At police headquarters he was
visibly amused by headline of
Saturday newspaper and he read it
aloud with derision-"Jury Back
Eklund Gone" He also voiced the
opinion that the second degree ver-
diet was great disappointment to
Assistant United States Attorneys
John W. Fihelly and Charles B.
Murray, who had demanded first
degree conviction.
IF the verdict had been not
guilty I guess Fihelly would have
jumped UP shouting" he mused.
Brought to Mr.. Currans office for
questioning about his escape, he
again called to newspapermen, How
do you think Fihelly and Murray
took this verdict?"
well, how did you take it?" one
of the reporters said
"Oh, boy. you should have been
there" he returned, chuckling.
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 a tour of the
places he visited while at large.
Eklund told reporters he had not
made up his mind to escape until
almost the moment the van pulled
to a stop il the downpOur Friday
night.
He Feared "the Chair"
1.-The idea presented itself to me
In a moment" he said adding that
he thought ''they were trying to
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 foot
race" He soon saw he was out
distancing his pursuers because
their calls of halt" became fainter
and fainter.
After two blocks, their wind
gave out" he said, referring to
Deputies Carl w. Carlson and
Robert J. Schmidt, who have been
suspended pending tn FB1 in
vestigation.
Police did not permit further dl-
rect questioning Of Eklund by news
men, but Attorney Whelan fllled IN
with the rest of his clients story
as follows:
Eklund ran about three -fourths
of a mile from the jail and then
hailed a taxicab. He directed the
driver to take him to a point IN
Chevy Chase, Md. En- route, he
asked the driver the fare and was
told it was 81. Taking advantage
of the drivers preoccupation with
operating the auto, Eklund slipped
a SIS bill over his shoulder and told
him to take out the fare and ar
additional so cents as a tip. Inc
driver handed him back the change
never turning around.
Although Eklund claims that the
driver at no time saw his hand
cuffs. Mr.. Curran and police are
searching for him
Broke Links on Rock.
Eklund walked from Chevy Chase
to some point near Glen Echo, Nd.
In the downpour that night. The
next day. after sleeping in a clumE
of woods. Eklund began wori
breaking the links that held to-
gether the two steel bands arounc
his wrists. He found two rocks that
as Mr. Whelan put it, looked llk'
they were made for the job. One
weighing about 40 pounds, wa
buried halfway in the ground. 4
sharp, jagged edge pointed upward
The other rock was a perfect n
between the palms Of his hands
He went to work hammerlng and
although his wrists were SKINNED
and bruised during the task, ht
managed to break the links.
He also bought some food tha
morning at an unrevealed store, HI
got some Jelly, peanut butter, plumS
milk bread and tomato juice.
But most of the day, he hit OUT
Then. in the late afternoon, he con
cealed the parted cuffs by Jammlns
them up his sleeve as far as possible
and took a street car. He rode u
Wisconsin avenue and M street NV