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Show Shortens Himself to Escape Arrest on Murder Charge (Chicago Tribune Special, t CHICAGO, Dee. 0. Edward dc Groat, by profession a contortionist and incidentally an alleged murderer : and fugitive from justice, was nule, I by manipulating his muscles, to make himself appear nearly two inches shorter than he actually was. and, by virtue of this trick, he slipped through thc hands of police in various fit it s who picked hint up, compared his measurements wit h those in 1:jo adveriisements and ha him go. The. eas.j with which lie fooled the authorities made him careless and he drift ed to San Kr.'iucisco, where he opened a painting and decorating j-oum under tho name of "William J. Miteheli. A few doers Irom bis es'ah-lislnnent es'ah-lislnnent was a store, in wbie.i Mrs. Franklin Knab was uinploytrl. Sac knew him and knew of the Chicago murder, and notified the police. The Officers measured him and were about to release him with apologies when a Chicago officer arrived and the chase was ended. De Groat whs brought back today and is said to ha e made a confession. confes-sion. I e was in fa t uated wit h the prettv wife of William Tate, in whose home he had been a. roomw. Matters Mat-ters reached tin- stage where Tate ordered De Groa I. out of tho house. ; 1 m Groat watched (,,r an opportunity to kill Tate, but 1 1 did not conic. m he entered the Louse and is alleged to have slain him as he slept, by his j wife's side. |