Ralph Fults
FULTS, RALPH
Newspaper.
FULTS KIDNAPS ROWLETT YOUTH
An exciting chase after Ralph Fults, was pulled off Friday morning. This was his second appearance in this vicinity within a week’s time. It was reported that he had abandoned a car west of McKinney on the Foote road and later had made his appearance on the highway at the home of Vick Howell, ten miles west and kidnaped his son, Cecil Howell. Driving as far as Renner in the Howell car.
Steals Car at Renner.
Fults headed towards Dallas in the V-8 Model coupe, which he had stolen from in front of the home of Dr. Mitchell of Renner. He ordered young Howell to walk to the front door of the physician’s home and knock and ask for some fictitious person in the community. Fults drove off in the Doctor’s car, telling Howell to go back home in his own car.
Fults was first seen early Friday morning about 4 o’clock by Henry Bales, a farmer residing between Foote and Foncine. Bales was on his way to town, when he noticed a car driving along ahead of him. He drove up closer and the auto increased its speed. Bales then speeded up and driver of the other auto stepped on the gas and tore down the road until he ran into a ditch while trying to round a corner at 70 miles an hour.
Car Runs in Ditch.
The driver escaped into a nearby field and disappeared.
Mr. Bales came on into town and reported the suspicious incident. Constable John A. Record and Deputy Bill Herndon at once hurried out to investigate and found the car containing two suitcases, one Oxford grey suit, several shirts, ties, etc. On the underwear were the initials, “R. F.” On the bottom of one of the suitcases was the name “Jack Page,” Denton, Texas.
A quantity of ammunition was also found in the auto.
According to Constable Record, the car was stolen from the Universal Mills, in Fort Worth, four or five days before.
Kidnap Youth.
The next appearance of Fults was at the home of Vick Howell, as above stated, on the old Capt. Dowell home place, in the Rowlett community, on the Frisco highway. He told Mr. Howell that he (Fults) had been kidnaped near Dallas and tied up, but had made his escape and wanted Mr. Howell’s son, Cecil Howell, about 25, to drive him to McKinney to report the kidnapping. When they had reached the highway in the Howell car he told Cecil to drive toward Frisco. The family was unaware their son had been kidnapped until he returned home.
They drove west to the Preston Road and then turned towards Dallas, going as far as Renner on that old highway where as above stated Ralph stole a V-8 Ford coupe from Dr. Mitchell.
En route, Fults talked freely to young Howell, saying that he had “gone too far to surrender’ and that he ‘was going as far as he could.” But added, “I have never killed anyone in my life,” but implied that if pressed too hard he might be forced to do such a thing. He admitted that he was Fults and told of the work of knob-knockers in Frisco several years ago, saying that he and Hamilton did that job.
He also told Howell that one of the reasons he could not give up now was that he was facing a possible death sentence in Mississippi for the recent robbing of a bank.
He also related that while he and Hamilton were on their flight through several Southern states some two weeks ago that he had gone in to purchase tickets for himself and Ray on a passenger train, as they were headed for Texas. It was here that Ray, in some manner, gave him the “slip” and did not board the train.
Gave Howell $2.00
Fults told young Howell that he was a little low on finances at this time, giving the youth $2.00 for his kindness.
Fults told Howell to ‘tell anything you want to after you get back home. I don’t care.’
Fults’ first appearance here was made Tuesday night a week ago as above stated, when he appeared at the home of his sister, Mrs. Harden, just northwest of McKinney and then came on to McKinney, slipping into the family home by the back door to see his mother and father, and sisters, claiming that his object for coming back was only for the purpose of seeing them once more.
RALPH FULTS CAPTURED IN DENTON COUNTY
Examiner.
The arrest of Ralph Fults, 24 year-old, near Lake Dallas yesterday morning created much interest here in his home town. It was no surprise, however. For his arrest had been likely for sometime, especially since he had been cruising around through this section for several weeks, and as stated elsewhere in the Examiner today, had even stopped in to visit his parents in Southwest McKinney. They have been distressed over his conduct more than words can tell, and had tried to persuade him to surrender to the officers before he was shot to death, and perhaps might be forced to kill others.
Ralph has never been known as a killer. He was frequently declared that he had never killed anyone and did not want to kill. The boy has shown a peculiar quirk in his makeup ever since a child which, together with later association with criminals has resulted in his downfall.
Of course Ralph is going to have to “take his medicine.” But we feel sure that his folks who are among our best citizens, feel relieved that he will do so without having ever stained his hands in human blood.
RALPH FULTS CAPTURED YESTERDAY NEAR DENTON
Newspaper.
Ralph Fults, McKinney man widely sought as a former companion of Raymond Hamilton and alleged to have joined the latter in a recent Prestiss, Miss., bank robbery, was in the Denton city jail Wednesday and a Denton man was being held for questioning. State Ranger Sid Kelso was on his way from Wichita Falls to take custody of Fults and Department of Justice agents were on their way from Dallas, they notified City Marshal Lee Knight, to question the Denton man held.
In the absence of any charges being filed against the Denton man, officers did not reveal details of the case but indicated he would be questioned as to whether or not he had harbored or given aid to Fults. He was arrested Wednesday morning by City Officers Roy Moore and Luther Allen and questioned by Knight and City Attorney Reginald B. Gambill, to whom he is understood to have denied any complicity.
Lone Chase Ends.
The long chase for Fults came to an end Wednesday morning about 9 o’clock when Moore, Allen and City Officer Sam Gentry closed in on him at Millionaires’ Island, Lake Dallas, after a five-mile chase. Contrary to sentiments Fults was recently reported to have expressed to a Collin County youth he had kidnaped, he made no effort to “shoot it out.”
“Don’t Kill Me.”
“Don’t kill me, I won’t make any trouble,” Fults said to the arresting officers as he climbed out of his car, hands raised, at the end of a five-mile chase.
The fugitive had been seen about three miles east of Denton, headed toward Lake Dallas, by the three Denton officers as they cruised about the city and the vicinity east of Denton seeking Fults.
An intensive and unremitting search for Fults had been carried on here for the past 10 days, City Marshal Lee Knight revealed with the capture.
City Officers Roy Moore, Luther Allen and Sam Gentry made the capture.
The three men had been cruising about Denton since about 5 o’clock Wednesday morning, they said. About 8 o’clock they drove toward Lake Dallas, and were returning to Denton when about three miles from Denton, a car sped past.
“That’s Fults!” Moore said he exclaimed. Close study of circulated “wanted” posters the past week had familiarized all city officers with the features of the McKinney man.
The car was accelerated ans sped toward Lake Dallas, the officers machine in pursuit. Bounding and bouncing over the country roads at dangerous speed, the machines came to Lake Dallas, on the road leading on to “Millionaire’s Island.”
Fults drove on to the island and the officers had escape cut off. They were firing at the car ahead with the city’s new high-powered rifles, in an effort to burst a tire of Fults’ car and halt him but at the speed none of the shots could be placed effectively.
Surrenders Quietly.
Fults’ car hit a rut, bounded sideways and came to a halt, angling over a ditch. The door opened and the fugitive crawled out. His hands were raised. In his waist was a .45 automatic. He made no attempt to reach toward the gun.
“Don’t kill me, officers,” they quoted his first word. “I won’t make any trouble. I’m the man you want.”
He readily admitted to being Fults, both then and later in talking to Knight and to Record-Chronicle reporter.
He was brought back to the city jail, and Knight finger-printed him and checked his prints with those recorded of Fults to verity the identification.
Knight then placed a telephone call for Ranger Sid Kelso, who was finally located at Wichita Falls, and started on his way to take custody of the fugitive.
Couldn’t Pull Gun.
“I had a revolver but it was under two shirts,” he said later. “I couldn’t reach it. Anyway, those three officers were a pretty good reason for not pulling my gun.”
Fults admitted he helped Raymond Hamilton rob the Prentiss, Miss. bank of $1,100. Hamilton since captured is awaiting execution at state prison May 10.
He said Hamilton split the Prentiss loot with him. Fults was shot in the back by officers who chased them in Mississippi and claims he still had 60 birdshot in his back.
“That shot knocked me down but Ray picked me up and we got away in a stolen car,” Fults said. He denied having shot a woman and man during their escape in Mississippi.
Plano Prosper Job.
Fults said he had planned to rob the Prosper bank in West Collin county Wednesday, but said it was to have been a “one man job” and that after the robbery he had planned to go to Mineral Wells and rob an armory to obtain machine guns.
No immediate plans have been laid for his return to Mississippi to face bank robbery charges. A death sentence is possible under Mississippi laws for his participation in that robbery.
Returns to Texas.
Fults told of separating with Hamilton after they had change clothes at a Memphis, Tenn., hotel several weeks ago and said he went to Louisville, Ky., later coming thru Arkansas on a return trip to Texas.
He admitted having visited relatives at McKinney several nights ago, saying “I outran ‘em there” in talking of his escape from officers.
He said he sped to Houston, stayed there a day and then came back through North Texas into Oklahoma. He came back into Texas two days ago and Tuesday roamed about Dallas.
After spending the night in Dallas, Fults said he left there early Wednesday and headed towards Prosper, where he intended pulling the bank robbery job.
“I have a car that will go 90 miles an hour and robbing that bank would have been easy,” he said.
He admitted the machine he drove belonged to Dr. O. T. Mitchell of Renner. He stole the car, he said, after he had kidnapped Cecil Howell, a Collin county youth, several days ago.
Newspaper.
FULTS KIDNAPS ROWLETT YOUTH
An exciting chase after Ralph Fults, was pulled off Friday morning. This was his second appearance in this vicinity within a week’s time. It was reported that he had abandoned a car west of McKinney on the Foote road and later had made his appearance on the highway at the home of Vick Howell, ten miles west and kidnaped his son, Cecil Howell. Driving as far as Renner in the Howell car.
Steals Car at Renner.
Fults headed towards Dallas in the V-8 Model coupe, which he had stolen from in front of the home of Dr. Mitchell of Renner. He ordered young Howell to walk to the front door of the physician’s home and knock and ask for some fictitious person in the community. Fults drove off in the Doctor’s car, telling Howell to go back home in his own car.
Fults was first seen early Friday morning about 4 o’clock by Henry Bales, a farmer residing between Foote and Foncine. Bales was on his way to town, when he noticed a car driving along ahead of him. He drove up closer and the auto increased its speed. Bales then speeded up and driver of the other auto stepped on the gas and tore down the road until he ran into a ditch while trying to round a corner at 70 miles an hour.
Car Runs in Ditch.
The driver escaped into a nearby field and disappeared.
Mr. Bales came on into town and reported the suspicious incident. Constable John A. Record and Deputy Bill Herndon at once hurried out to investigate and found the car containing two suitcases, one Oxford grey suit, several shirts, ties, etc. On the underwear were the initials, “R. F.” On the bottom of one of the suitcases was the name “Jack Page,” Denton, Texas.
A quantity of ammunition was also found in the auto.
According to Constable Record, the car was stolen from the Universal Mills, in Fort Worth, four or five days before.
Kidnap Youth.
The next appearance of Fults was at the home of Vick Howell, as above stated, on the old Capt. Dowell home place, in the Rowlett community, on the Frisco highway. He told Mr. Howell that he (Fults) had been kidnaped near Dallas and tied up, but had made his escape and wanted Mr. Howell’s son, Cecil Howell, about 25, to drive him to McKinney to report the kidnapping. When they had reached the highway in the Howell car he told Cecil to drive toward Frisco. The family was unaware their son had been kidnapped until he returned home.
They drove west to the Preston Road and then turned towards Dallas, going as far as Renner on that old highway where as above stated Ralph stole a V-8 Ford coupe from Dr. Mitchell.
En route, Fults talked freely to young Howell, saying that he had “gone too far to surrender’ and that he ‘was going as far as he could.” But added, “I have never killed anyone in my life,” but implied that if pressed too hard he might be forced to do such a thing. He admitted that he was Fults and told of the work of knob-knockers in Frisco several years ago, saying that he and Hamilton did that job.
He also told Howell that one of the reasons he could not give up now was that he was facing a possible death sentence in Mississippi for the recent robbing of a bank.
He also related that while he and Hamilton were on their flight through several Southern states some two weeks ago that he had gone in to purchase tickets for himself and Ray on a passenger train, as they were headed for Texas. It was here that Ray, in some manner, gave him the “slip” and did not board the train.
Gave Howell $2.00
Fults told young Howell that he was a little low on finances at this time, giving the youth $2.00 for his kindness.
Fults told Howell to ‘tell anything you want to after you get back home. I don’t care.’
Fults’ first appearance here was made Tuesday night a week ago as above stated, when he appeared at the home of his sister, Mrs. Harden, just northwest of McKinney and then came on to McKinney, slipping into the family home by the back door to see his mother and father, and sisters, claiming that his object for coming back was only for the purpose of seeing them once more.
RALPH FULTS CAPTURED IN DENTON COUNTY
Examiner.
The arrest of Ralph Fults, 24 year-old, near Lake Dallas yesterday morning created much interest here in his home town. It was no surprise, however. For his arrest had been likely for sometime, especially since he had been cruising around through this section for several weeks, and as stated elsewhere in the Examiner today, had even stopped in to visit his parents in Southwest McKinney. They have been distressed over his conduct more than words can tell, and had tried to persuade him to surrender to the officers before he was shot to death, and perhaps might be forced to kill others.
Ralph has never been known as a killer. He was frequently declared that he had never killed anyone and did not want to kill. The boy has shown a peculiar quirk in his makeup ever since a child which, together with later association with criminals has resulted in his downfall.
Of course Ralph is going to have to “take his medicine.” But we feel sure that his folks who are among our best citizens, feel relieved that he will do so without having ever stained his hands in human blood.
RALPH FULTS CAPTURED YESTERDAY NEAR DENTON
Newspaper.
Ralph Fults, McKinney man widely sought as a former companion of Raymond Hamilton and alleged to have joined the latter in a recent Prestiss, Miss., bank robbery, was in the Denton city jail Wednesday and a Denton man was being held for questioning. State Ranger Sid Kelso was on his way from Wichita Falls to take custody of Fults and Department of Justice agents were on their way from Dallas, they notified City Marshal Lee Knight, to question the Denton man held.
In the absence of any charges being filed against the Denton man, officers did not reveal details of the case but indicated he would be questioned as to whether or not he had harbored or given aid to Fults. He was arrested Wednesday morning by City Officers Roy Moore and Luther Allen and questioned by Knight and City Attorney Reginald B. Gambill, to whom he is understood to have denied any complicity.
Lone Chase Ends.
The long chase for Fults came to an end Wednesday morning about 9 o’clock when Moore, Allen and City Officer Sam Gentry closed in on him at Millionaires’ Island, Lake Dallas, after a five-mile chase. Contrary to sentiments Fults was recently reported to have expressed to a Collin County youth he had kidnaped, he made no effort to “shoot it out.”
“Don’t Kill Me.”
“Don’t kill me, I won’t make any trouble,” Fults said to the arresting officers as he climbed out of his car, hands raised, at the end of a five-mile chase.
The fugitive had been seen about three miles east of Denton, headed toward Lake Dallas, by the three Denton officers as they cruised about the city and the vicinity east of Denton seeking Fults.
An intensive and unremitting search for Fults had been carried on here for the past 10 days, City Marshal Lee Knight revealed with the capture.
City Officers Roy Moore, Luther Allen and Sam Gentry made the capture.
The three men had been cruising about Denton since about 5 o’clock Wednesday morning, they said. About 8 o’clock they drove toward Lake Dallas, and were returning to Denton when about three miles from Denton, a car sped past.
“That’s Fults!” Moore said he exclaimed. Close study of circulated “wanted” posters the past week had familiarized all city officers with the features of the McKinney man.
The car was accelerated ans sped toward Lake Dallas, the officers machine in pursuit. Bounding and bouncing over the country roads at dangerous speed, the machines came to Lake Dallas, on the road leading on to “Millionaire’s Island.”
Fults drove on to the island and the officers had escape cut off. They were firing at the car ahead with the city’s new high-powered rifles, in an effort to burst a tire of Fults’ car and halt him but at the speed none of the shots could be placed effectively.
Surrenders Quietly.
Fults’ car hit a rut, bounded sideways and came to a halt, angling over a ditch. The door opened and the fugitive crawled out. His hands were raised. In his waist was a .45 automatic. He made no attempt to reach toward the gun.
“Don’t kill me, officers,” they quoted his first word. “I won’t make any trouble. I’m the man you want.”
He readily admitted to being Fults, both then and later in talking to Knight and to Record-Chronicle reporter.
He was brought back to the city jail, and Knight finger-printed him and checked his prints with those recorded of Fults to verity the identification.
Knight then placed a telephone call for Ranger Sid Kelso, who was finally located at Wichita Falls, and started on his way to take custody of the fugitive.
Couldn’t Pull Gun.
“I had a revolver but it was under two shirts,” he said later. “I couldn’t reach it. Anyway, those three officers were a pretty good reason for not pulling my gun.”
Fults admitted he helped Raymond Hamilton rob the Prentiss, Miss. bank of $1,100. Hamilton since captured is awaiting execution at state prison May 10.
He said Hamilton split the Prentiss loot with him. Fults was shot in the back by officers who chased them in Mississippi and claims he still had 60 birdshot in his back.
“That shot knocked me down but Ray picked me up and we got away in a stolen car,” Fults said. He denied having shot a woman and man during their escape in Mississippi.
Plano Prosper Job.
Fults said he had planned to rob the Prosper bank in West Collin county Wednesday, but said it was to have been a “one man job” and that after the robbery he had planned to go to Mineral Wells and rob an armory to obtain machine guns.
No immediate plans have been laid for his return to Mississippi to face bank robbery charges. A death sentence is possible under Mississippi laws for his participation in that robbery.
Returns to Texas.
Fults told of separating with Hamilton after they had change clothes at a Memphis, Tenn., hotel several weeks ago and said he went to Louisville, Ky., later coming thru Arkansas on a return trip to Texas.
He admitted having visited relatives at McKinney several nights ago, saying “I outran ‘em there” in talking of his escape from officers.
He said he sped to Houston, stayed there a day and then came back through North Texas into Oklahoma. He came back into Texas two days ago and Tuesday roamed about Dallas.
After spending the night in Dallas, Fults said he left there early Wednesday and headed towards Prosper, where he intended pulling the bank robbery job.
“I have a car that will go 90 miles an hour and robbing that bank would have been easy,” he said.
He admitted the machine he drove belonged to Dr. O. T. Mitchell of Renner. He stole the car, he said, after he had kidnapped Cecil Howell, a Collin county youth, several days ago.
