POLICE HEADQUARTERS AT LYNN, HEAVILY GUARDED; DESALVO UNDER POLICE ESCORT; CROWD OUTSIDE POLICE HEADQUARTERS; DESALVO SPEAKING TO REPORTERS.




Initials TS/N-TELE/MGT/GLH



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Background: ALBERT DESALVO, THE SELF-CONFESSED 'BOSTON STRANGLER' WAS RECAPTURED YESTERDAY (SATURDAY), 36 HOURS AFTER ESCAPING FROM A MENTAL INSTITUTION IN MASSACHUSETTS. AFTER HIS CAPTURE HE SAID THAT HE HAD ESCAPED IN THE HOPE THAT OFFICIALS WOULD TAKE NOTICE OF HIS APPEALS FOR PSYCHIATRIC HELP.

ALBERT DESALVO WAS CAUGHT A FEW MILES NORTH OF BOSTON WHEN HE WALKED INTO A CLOTHING SHOP AND ASKED IF HE COULD USE THE TELEPHONE. THE MANAGER RECOGNISED HIM, AND CALLED THE POLICE. DESALVO, WHO IS 35, DID NOT RESIST ARREST. AT THE TIME HE WAS WEARING A SAILOR'S UNIFORM.

A CROWD OF ABOUT 2,000 PEOPLE, SOME SHOUTING, "KILL HIM, KILL HIM", JAMMED THE STREET OUTSIDE THE LYNN POLICE HEADQUARTERS. DESALVO, WHO WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE PLUS 10 YEARS IN GOAL FOR A SERIES OF ROBBERIES AND ASSAULTS ON WOMEN WAS LATER TAKEN TO COURT. HE WAS ESCORTED BY A SQUAD OF DETECTIVES. IN COURT, HE WAS ORDERED TO BE TAKEN TO A MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION.

DESALVO WAS NOT TRIED FOR THE NOTORIOUS BOSTON MURDERS, BUT HIS DEFENCE LAWYER SAID THAT HE WAS THE STRANGLERS AND WAS INSANE. HE SAID THAT THE WARNINGS PUT OUT BY THE POLICE AFTER DESALVO'S ESCAPE AND THE MANHUNT WHICH FOLLOWED PROVED THAT HE WAS THE STRANGLER. LATER DESALVO SAID THAT NOW PEOPLE WOULD KNOW HE WAS A MENTAL CASE.