The Monmouth Inquirer

Tomlin Recaptured On Train at Red Bank

The cold concrete walls of the county jail again surround Clarence Tomlin, 27, colored, who thrice liberated himself from its confines, the last time, Saturday night, Oct. 23, when he escaped with two companions by overpowering Trusty Fred Knight.

Of his two companions, one, Jack Revell, 28, of Newark, held for breaking and entering in Belmar, is still at liberty; the other, Carl Welch, 33, of Keyport, charged with violation of the Mann act, was free only until last Tuesday, when he erred in trusting himself to the kindness of a South Amboy tug master and was turned over to the law.

Tomlin, considered a desperate man, charged with breaking and entering and highway robbery in Asbury Park, alighted from a New York train at Red Bank at 9:20 Friday night. As soon as his foot touched the stony platform he lifted his eyes to find himself staring into the cold steel revolvers of Chief of County Detectives John M. Smith.

County Detective William Musto and Police Sergeant Joseph Gray of Red Bank.

"Hands up," tersely commanded the detectives.

Under the baleful glares of his captors and the weapons in their hands, Tomlin "stretched." He was speedily searched and taken to Freehold.

The county officials learned several days ago that Tomlin had reached New York. They later received a tip that he would visit Red Bank on the 7:30 train Friday night. He did not appear at that time but the detectives maintained a watch on the trains that followed; their vigilance was rewarded when their man stepped from the 9:20 train. The detectives refused to reveal the source of their information.

It was stated that Tomlin will be kept continually in his cell and allowed to exercise in a barred corridor, only when under heavy guard.

His capture brings his fourth escape from the law to a conclusion. He first escaped from the Freehold jail on June 15, being arrested two days later in Washington, D. C., as he passed thru that city in an auto he stole in Freehold. On August 12 he once more gained freedom. A search by detectives resulted in his arrest about three weeks ago. He had been in jail at Freehold hardly a week before he again took French leave. Newark police also have him booked as a slippery individual.

He escaped from the witness room in the headquarters of that North Jersey city last Feb. 9, while awaiting trial on an assault and battery and robbery charge.

He was recaptured in two hours however.