Ashbridge Caught in Chester Hotel Along with Wife

Camden Post-Telegram – July 19, 1916

Fugitive Murderer Waives Extradition and Detective Schregler Brings Couple to Camden in Motor Car.

Pair Registered in Early Morning

Captured at noon with his wife in the Keystone Hotel at Chester PA, Wilson Ashbridge, who escaped from the County Prison last night with George E. Thompson, a forger, after killing Jailor [Isaac] Hibbs and shooting Jailor Ellis, is again in the County Jail.

Ashbridge admits that he shot both men. He said the gun was given to him by Thompson.

The coupe were captured in their room at the Keystone Hotel by Captain of Detectives Schregler and Policeman David Hunt, who hurried to Chester in Chief Gravenor‘s automobile in receipt of a message that a man answering to the description if the published picture of Ashbridge registered there early this morning with a woman as his wife.

Ashbridge offered no resistance when the officers entered his room. He waived extradition and being handcuffed was placed in the machine with his wife and hurried to this city.

Schregler sat in the rear of the machine between Ashbridge and his wife.

They reached City Hall at 2:10 o’clock this afternoon. Ashbridge was smoking a cigarette and looked sullen.

When the murderer saw a battery of photographers getting ready to take their pictures, Ashbridge shielded his wife’s face with his hat and hid his own face as best he could in his handcuffed condition.

They were taken upstairs to the Chief’s office and later sent to the Prosecutor’s office.

Ashbridge takes blame for the double shooting, but insists that his wife did not give him the gun, saying that Thompson supplied the weapon.

The police knew last night that Mrs. Ashbridge was with her husband or intended to go with him. This information came in a letter turned over to the police by a Mrs. Dick, of East Camden, who was carting for the children. The envelope cautioned her not to open the letter until 7:00 o’clock last night.

Mrs. Ashbridge said in the note that she was going to do a rash act and might not see the children again.

In the cell occupied by Thompson the following note was found by Detective Painter.

Ashbridge has made up his mind to leave this place. I have decided to go with him.

It may seem like suicide and if anything happens send my body to the University of Pennsylvania

THOMPSON

Seventeen loaded cartridges were also found in the cell.

The detectives and their prisoners were accompanied to Camden by E. S. Fry, proprietor of the Chester hotel, where the couple were caught.

There is no question but that Mrs. Ashbridge knew all bout the plan to escape.Where she met her husband has not been discovered.

A reward of $1,000 — $500 for each — was today offered by the Prosecutor.