The Union County journal. [volume] (Marysville, Ohio) 1875-1951, 1947-05-26
YOUNG DESPERATE
CAUGHT HERE
tContinued from page IL

Fenton'S dry cleaning office in
S. Main when the shot was fired.
Hedrick continued around the
corner where he got into large
gray and blue Cadillac sedan and
sped out East Sixth st.
Charles Hornbeck, 3l5 S. Maple
ST., one of rs or 80 persons in the
vicinity when the shooting hap
pened, got the license number and
description of the car as Hedrick
drove off. 1t was quickly learned
that Hedrick had stolen the car
from a Columbus parking lot
earlier in the day.
Patrol Blocks Area
A State Highway Patrol Gordon
was quickly set up on all high
ways leading from Marysville and
description of the car broadcast
by State Highway Patrol radio.
Hedrick fled out the Watkins
rd., finally pulling up in back of
the Watkins school building to
load his stolen guns and Mze up
the situation. AS he attempted to
drive away again, his rear wheels
left the driveway behind the
school and became stuck in the
soft ground.
After few moments, Supt
| Albert G. Wade of Millcreek
Local schools, spied the lad and
went to help him. He quickly be-
came suspicious of Hedrick, after
perceiving the boys actions and
noticing the guns in the car.
Superintendent Traps Him
Instead of getting the car out
Mr.. Wade unanswered the youth
more deeply in the mud, then
re-entered the school on the pre-
text of getting shovel to dig
him out. Instead, he called the
office of Sheriff H. S. Roosa
where the description readily re-
Vealed who the youth was, and
the information was broadcast.
Meantime, Patrolman Roof had
patrolled Route 36 from Delaware
to Marysville without seeing
Hedrick and decided to go back
out the Watkins rd. He was pass
ing the school just as Supt. Wade
finished calling the Sheriff's off
ice, and the Superintendent ran
out the front door to flag down
the Patrolman.
Hedrick evidently saw the Pa
troll car stop and started running
across the fields in back of the
school. Patrolman Roof said he
got around the building in time
to see the boy at distance OF
about 600 yards, going over hill
He called to the youth to "Stor
or I'll shoot"
Youth Returns Fire
Hedrick failed to heed the
command and Patrolman Roof
fired at him. Hedrick shot back
Just how many shots were fired
Patrolman Roof didn't remember
but estimated 10 or IL.
''I only heard him fire four OF
five times" the Patrolman said.
Hedrick, however, said he fired
seven times ''in the air.. He also
claims to have fired sin the air.
at Mr.. Cooper. Both men declared
it looked like Hedrick's guns were
pointed directly at them when the
shots were fired.
Cooper could see the barrel ir
the % revolver, while Patrolmar
Roof said the puff of smoke ac-
companying the shots fired a
him came out directly at him.
Shots Hit At Feet
Each time Patrolman r 90
fired, Hedrick would hit the
ground, then get up and rur
some more. He later admitted thai
the Patrolman's shots all hit the
ground at his feet and added:
You didn't allow enough
height for the distance, and
was running faster than you evi'
IDENTIFY thought | was"
Hedrick has unusual knowledge
of firearms, the Highway Patrol
later learned, although he ap.
pears none-too-bright in other
respects.
AS he ran Hedrick circled back
toward Watkins, and finally en-
tered a shed on the Charles
Owens property in the village
Here he dropped the AS auto
matte which he had fired at the
Patrolman, then went on into Mr.
Owens home.
Meanwhile, Patrolman Roo
went back to his car for his rifle
AS he started back toward the
fields from his car, the Patrolmar
saw Hedrick stick his heac
around the front door frame o.
the Owens home. He was holding
Mr.. Owens in front of him as ;
shield, and had a % revolver il
his hand.
Had "Ddorp on Patrolman
fHe had the drop on me and
was completely unprotected" the
Patrolman said. However,
snapped the rifle into firing posi-
ton and ordered him to drop hi
gun and come out with his hand!
up.
He either got a streak of vel
low, or else he decided my riff,
was worth more than his revolv
er. because he dropped the gur