Just Deserts: Runaway Soldier Captured at the Grist Mill

The autumn of 1917 was somewhat tumultuous for the residents of Markham. The cherished Newlin Grist Mill, at that time owned by the Hill family and referred to as Hill’s Mill, became a refuge for a young soldier who had deserted, turned to theft, and worked as a farmhand while briefly evading capture. The tale, first covered by West Chester’s Daily Local News on October 1, 1917, encapsulates the strange series of events so well that I am including the full article here:

“CAPTURE DESERTER WHO STOLE OUTFIT

Young Soldier Was Twice an Inmate of Refuge at Glen Mills.

After Robbing Frank Simmler, in West Chester He Finds Work on a Farm at Markham, Where He is Arrested.

Through the good work of Chief of Police John E. Entrikin, Constable Wm. Mullin and Constable R. Parke Regester, Arthur Russell, the young soldier who on Thursday night last robbed Frank Simmler, of East Market street, of a diamond ring, gold watch and several other articles of value, was arrested yesterday afternoon at the residence of Samuel Hill, at Markham, Delaware county, where he had applied for work. Not only did the officers succeed in recovering the articles stolen, but a confession from Russell shows he is a deserter from Company D, of Williamsport, located at Camp Hancock, August, Georgia.

The arrest of Russell was the result of the Hill family reading a description of the theft of articles from Simmler in the News the following day. On Saturday last a young man wearing a blue suit of clothing applied at the Hill home for work and being in need of a hand Mr. Hill engaged the young man to go to work, giving him a place to sleep in the barn. During the day the stranger showed a watch, as well as a diamond ring to other farm hands and the and the information that the new hand had the articles reached the ears of Mr. Hil. Later, on reading the News and finding that a robbery had occurred in West Chester Mr. Hill promptly decided that the young man, who had given the name of Russell, was the same person described in the newspaper.

Word was sent to Chief of Police Entrikin, who at once sought Constable Mullin and told him how matters stood and with Constable Regester as an assistant Constable Mullin left yesterday at noon for the Hill home. Arriving there he found his man was in the orchard picking peaches, so a wait was made until he returned to the house, which was in a short time, when the two officers at once placed him under arrest.

At first the young man indignantly denied any knowledge of the theft in this place, but after being handcuffed broke down and told his entire story and turned over the watch and chain, ring, pin, revolver and other articles to the officers, and on being pressed as to what he had done with his soldiers uniform he told them he had discarded it and donned the suit belonging to Mr. Simmler.

“Yes, I am a deserter,” said young Russell with downcast eyes when Mr. Mullin pressed the fellow hard for a full story of his doings. “My name is Arthur Russell and I am 19 years of age and my home is in Williamsport. My mother is dead and I lived with my father, Edward Russell, at 609 Lycoming street. I enlisted in Company D, 13th Regiment, and was sent to Camp Hancock, Augusta, Georgia, and on September 19th I left and came this way and landed in West Chester.”

Camp Hancock. Spencer & Wyckoff, Copyright Claimant, and Bidgely-Wing-Tidwell Co. Camp Hancock, Ga., U.S.A. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2007664197/>.

With this story recited Russell expressed a willingness to take the officers to the places where he had hid his military uniform, and before leaving Mrs. Hill gave the lad a package of lunch out of pure sympathy, but Russell was too downcast to eat, and after a few mouthfuls cast the lunch aside and entered the automobile and went with the officers. When a short distance from the Hill home Russell pointed where he had discarded his army shirt, which was soon found, and then the auto proceeded to near Locksley station, where the party alighted and walked nearly half a milk to an abandoned house, where after some searching they found the entire uniform of the soldier. In the house was sitting a tramp who seemed much alarmed when the party entered. The cord of the hat was missing and desiring to get all the clothing possible Constable Mullin had a talk with the tramp, who at first denied seeing the blue cord, but when threatened with arrest drew the cord from his pocket and with this located the party started for West Chester, arriving here shortly before the supper hour.

Locksley station in nearby Thornbury, PA

Chief of Police Entrikin had a talk with Russell, who admitted further that he had been an inmate at Glen Mills institution at one time and had twice escaped. He also stated that once before he had deserted from his military company and had been captured and forced to do police duty as well as fined.

Glen Mills Schools in 1909 RPPC Postcard

With the story complete Constable Mullin took the soldier to prison and this morning he will appear before the Court to plead guilty to the charges, although it is not expected he will be sentenced, as word has been sent to his commander at Camp Hancock telling of the capture and they will probably send an officer here to take charge of the young man and punish him as military laws demand.

The articles recovered were gold watch and chain, revolver, diamond ring, stick pin, cap, necktie, coins, and suit of clothing, all that had been stolen at the Simmler home. Constable Mullin was quite pleased with the capture, as was Simmler to recover his property. The young man is a good talker, but has been rather wild during his life, but the sentence he will probably receive at the hands of Uncle Sam for his desertion will possibly be a good lesson to him.

ADMITS GUILT

At 9 o’clock, this morning, Russell was taken before Magistrate Paxson and given a hearing, as this was necessary before the Court to plead guilty. Simmler identified his property and the young soldier admitted his guilt. The soldier will probably be taken to-morrow to Fort du Pont where he will remain until the military authorities decide on his case. While chatting in the Magistrate’s office, Russell admitted he had come to this section to visit a girl friend. He wanted to know if it was possible to settle the case, and when informed by Magistrate Paxson that he could do nothing in the matter, the young fellow seemed much dejected.”

Fort du Pont. Royal Studio, Copyright Claimant. Bird's-eye view of Fort DuPont, Del. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2007664273/>.