Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 228, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 September 1915 — A DARING THIEF MAKES ESCAPE [ARTICLE]

A DARING THIEF MAKES ESCAPE

John Volkcr, Enroute to Reformatory Leaps From Motion Train At Lafayette.

Lafayette, Ind., Sept. 24.—John Zolker, 31 years old, enroute from Crown Point to the state reformatory to serve two to fourteen years for grand larceny, escaped from Sheriff Henry Whitaker of Lake county, here today. Zolker, with two other prisoners, was in charge of the sheriff and two deputies. He was handcuffed to another prisoner and when the Monon train slowed down for the station here Zolker slipped the handcuff, ran to the end of the car and was leaping from the train before the sheriff recovered from his astonishment. The local police and Sheriff Slayback, of Tippecanoe county, joined in the search in the country around Lafayette, but no trace of the convict was .found. Zolker has served several terms in prison, according to the Lake county sheriff. He was arrested at Crown Point a few months ago, after he held up O. Rose in his jewelry store, carrying away S6OO worth of diamonds. The robbery was committed in daylight. Zolker escaped in an automobile. The diamonds were found in the cuff of his trousers after his arrest. Sheriff Whittker offered a reward of SIOO for the arrest of Zolker, who is about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. Sheriff Ben McColly, of Rensselaer, was accompanying Sheriff Whitaker as a sort of pleasure trip.