Evening star., 1942-07-13

Mrs. Eklund was one of the first
to enter the courtroom, where she
sat nervously lingering her pocket
book.
Seated beside Mrs. Eklund in the
courtroom was her sister, Miss Fearl
Ward of Indianapolis, Eklund's
home town. Miss Ward put her arm
around Mrs Eklund to comfort her
as the heartbroken mother heard
the verdict. Later, the two women
went to Mr. Whelan's Office to find
out when Mrs. Eklund could see her
son
After the verdict had been read
and the jury had been polled, Mrs.
Eklund sat with her face buried in
her handkerchief. Eklund, however,
only stared at each member of the
jury as they were polled, occasional
ly jerking his head little as if he
were counting the individual vote
piled up against him. Before ad-
tourning court. Justice Morris
thanked the veniremen for their
conduct under circumstances that
have necessarily been a hardship"
Waves at Mother.
AS Eklund. handcuffed again, left
the courtroom, he turned to smile
and wave at his mother, who nodded
encouragingly and waved back.
Later. she was escorted from the
courtroom by a rear door to avoid
the crowd.
Eklund apparently at no time lost
his poise. Brought to the cell
block behind the courtroom more
than an hour before the court con-
vened, Eklund chatted about gas
rationing with deputy marshal and
remained equally collected. his at
torney reported, when Mr.. Whelan
visited him.
Mr.. Whelan reported that his
client had asked about his mother
and had been told she was we'll
and in the courtroom.
Still pending against the con-
victed murderer is an indictment
for the murder of two colored
men who were shot in the back OF
the head on october 6, 1910, as we'll
as whatever count Is made against
him because of his escape.
1t was Understood the District
attorneys ufflce would wait until
Eklund is sentenced before decid-
ing what action to take on the
other charges. The prisoner prob
ably will be sentenced Friday.
Pvt. Ephraim, the arresting officer,
released from the official secrecy
that had shrouded the details of the
capture, told today how he began
the search for a suspicious char
acter in the Brightwood area when
Auxiliary Policeman Goetzinger
drove up beside him on Georgia
avenue at 11:03 am. yesterday.
Suspicious Raised.
Mr.. Goetzinger, who had seen
Eklund in a delicatessen at Georgia
and Tuckerman streets, said the
shabbily dressed man was acting
suspiciously in the store, had left,
walked down Tuckerman street to
the alley, and then started to run
down the alley.
The two looked through the alley,
examining doorways and other pos
sible hiding places, without success
They continued the search through
adjoining alleys down as far as Pea
body street.
They then drove in Mr. Goetzing
er's car down to the junction OF
Ninth and Peabody streets where
the auxiliary policeman spied the
fugitive half block away and cried
There's the man"
Driving up to the curb, Mr. Eph.
RAIN said, he accosted Eklund ant
asked his name.
HE gave f1cticious name which
I can't remember" Mr. Ephraim re-
lated. Then I asked him where
he worked and he said at the Nav5
Yard.
Then I asked to see his identifl'
cation badge-the badge those tel
lows have to have. He didn't hav'
one. I asked him where he livet
and he wouldn't say"
Indignant at Questioning.
Mr.. Ephraim said Eklund be-
came very indignant at the ques
tioning. demanding what right
the officer had to proceed ant
What is this all about anyway?
The policeman, who has been OF
the force only seven months, the1
grabbed Eklunds arm and looked
at his wrists. They were cut ant
lacerated where handouts nigh
have been removed, the officer said
and that circumstance, together wit
Eklund's reluctance to give a plac
of residence, prompted the action o
taking him to the precinct station
Eklund still had not admitted hi
identity and the officers had no
questioned him with reference t
the Eklund case.
At the precinct station Eklund wa
Every obstinate" under questionin
and for a while wouldn't answer
thing" Mr.. Ephraim said.
His admission came with tn
gesture of pulling out his fountai
pen with the name John Eklund
uppermost, and with the remark:
I'm the one you want"
The captive was placed in ce
immediately, headquarters notified
and then he was taken to Ma
Kelly's Office in the new Municips
Building.
Broke Handouts With Rocks.
Mr.. Ephraim said that Eklun
talked readily on the way dow
town from the precinct station, tel
ing how he broke the links betwee
his hardened steel handouts I
vedging a rock between the tT
wristbands next to the links ar
hashing down on another stone.
The wrist locks were remove
with a hacksaw, the officer said
relating Eklunds story, but the al
cused man refused to say where /
got the blade.
Mr.. Ephraim said Eklund place
his hideaWay at about two mil
east of Glen Echo. Md.
On his person at the time OF h
capture was dollar watch al
Sl9.O4, Mr.. Ephraim said. In additit
he was carrying a shaving set al
soap. Eklund maintained, the offlc
said that he had S. on him whit