The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-08-01
The Story Of the Adventures
and Capture Of the Fugi-
tive as Related by Him
toa Bazoo Reporter.
Sheriff McMurray Also Narrates
His Side of the Story, Which
is Not 90 Complimentary
to Coleman as His
Own Version.

this morning, having in chs rye the fugi-
live from Justice, Mike Coleman, alias
Charles Clark, who was sentenced TO a
term of two years in the penitentiary for
robbine cars in the Missouri Pacific yards
at Hannibal, and who made his escape
with six other prisoners for the pen, from
the calaboose in this city last May.
4 BAzoO reporter had brief
INTERVIEW WITH COLEMAN
in the calaboose Immediately after his ar
rival, and found him disposed to be COM
municative. The prisoner had effected
something of change in his personal APP
tearance by growing a crop OF side whis-
kers, but the reporter had no difficulty in
recognizing him at first glance. He SAYS
that after leaving the city he and Fisher
started in what they supposed TO be a
sOutherly direction, but not being acquaint-
ed with the country they travelled in an al
most opposite direction from what they in
tended, until they came to Cedar creek.
Here they
BROKE THEIR SHACKLES
and continued their travels, finally coming
on, on the Missouri Pacific railroad track
at Muddy creek bridge, about four miles
west of the CITY. Here two of the Marion
county guards were stationed, but the
darkness was so intense that the fugitives
could not be recognized, although the
guards started towards them once. 1t is
more than probable that the guards were
not very anxious for a meeting with their
late prisoners.l Leaving the railroad they
Travelled south, keeping in the brush as
much as possible.
While laying in the woods few days
after their escape they were approached by
two men who said that they were
hunting for six prisoners who had e.
capped from the Sedalia calaboose. After
listening to a narrative of their own slick
escape from limbo, and chatting pleasantly
for while with the greys who imagined
that they were were born detectives, the
fngitives got mp and leisurely walked of.
When in the vicinity of Clinton,
COLEMAN AND FISHER SEPARATED.
Coleman says that he does not know which
direction Fisher took, but that he thinks
il will be Sunday or TWO before Dudley
sees him. Coleman continued his wander
ings alone and saws that he Travelled
through six counties of the state. footing
it all the way, and that he has not yet re-
covered from the fatigue and exposure suf-
fered on his long tramp. He finally
brought up at Arcadia.a small village near
Girard, Kansas, where he went Ia work on
a farm, but being imprudent enough tn visit
iiirard, last Friday. he was
RECOGNIZED By THE SHERIFF
from the description on the postal card
sent ont by Sheriff Dudley, and arrested.
He employed an attorney and intended
TO avail himself of the habess corpus act,
but being unfortunate enough TO have d re-
volver in his possession when arrested, an
information was filed against him for
CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS.
Knowing that he could be held ON this
charge, and finally identified as the man
wanted by the Marion county authorities,
and not wishing TO put Sheriff Dudley to
any unnecessary trouble, ne
ADMITTED HE WA, THE MAN
they wanted.
He says that more than one opportunity
OF escape presented itself to him,
bu. that being hunted a.
a fugitive is not very pleasant, and he be-
lieves he prefers serving out his sentence.
At the time the arrangements We're being
made TO escape from the Sedalia calaboose
Coleman claims that he was asleep, and
no thought of attempting to regain his
liberty had entered his mind, as his SEN
iepce was only two years, which, under
the twO-thirds rule, would let him out i'm
eighteen months.
Leaving Coleman eating his breakfast
with apparent relish, the reporter proceed
ed 10
INTERVIEW SHERIFF M'MURRAY.
whose account of the capture differs in
many material points from that of Cole
man. Mr.. McMurray says that burglary
was committed seven miles west of Girard
last Wednesday night; the follow
ing Friday Coleman was in
tsirard sud bought four bits. He also lad
a revolver loaded with cartridges, and
wanted to get a second one loaded, but
could find no cartridges to tit it. 4 farm
er, who was in town, related the account OF
the burglary Wednesday night to the
clerk in the store where Coleman had pur-
chased the bits The clerk Immediately
informed the sheriff If the transaction and
he began 10
LAY FOR COLEMAN.
After purchasing the bits, Coleman had
his chin whiskers shaved of, aud subse-
guently attempted to change bis bits for
some of larger size. He disappeared he
fore the officers had received the informa-
ton from the clerk, as stated above, and it
was dark before the officers succeeded in
finding him.
HE WAS THEN ARRESTED,
but he had gotten away with the
pistols and bits. A package of
powder and box of matches
were found in his possession, and it was
afterwards learned that he had also pur-
chased thirty feet of fuse. All of these
circumstances indicated, beyond question,
that the enterprising Coleman had designs
upon somebody's safe.
Upon being arrested Coleman stated that
he had an uncle residing at Arcadia, who