The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-05
CRIMINAL.
THU caSvIcT's CAPTURE.


KEoKUK, May 4.-The Keekuk Constf-
tstts0m specials dated Fort Madison, 2 p m
give the following concerning the capture
of Polk Wells: About o'clock this morn
ing this city was electrified by The appear
ance of the notorious Charles Polk Wells,
train robber, murderer and outlaw, and
his fellow convict, Charles Cook, as pris-
oners again. They were the remaining
two of the three convicts who escaped
from the Iowa state prison in this city last
Monday morning, one of whom, Fitzger-
aid by name, had been captured. They
were brought into the city. in q wagon
guarded by their captorss Sheriff Mum,
and one or two others, and taken immedi
ately to the prison where they were put
into separate cells. Your reporter got the
information regarding their flight and cap
| ture from other parties who were eye wit
nesses. and from Wells and Cook on their
way in. The story of his capture as re
lated by the captors, Mr.. John Stenger and
SON John, is as follows: Mr.. Stenger, Sr,
is farmer about 20 years of age, residing
about miles. from this city. IN Washing
ton township. between this city and Dem
mark, This morning, shortly after 5
o'clock, Mr.. Stenger and his son went out
to attend to the horses and do other work
of the kind. The son commenced milking
the cows while the old gent went to the
barn and began looking for eggsain pile
of straw. He noticed that the pile of
straw was in a rather disordered condition,
and looked as though it had been recently
stirred up, and having some suspicion of
tramps being around he took up a pitch
fork and began to poke around in the
straw, and the result was that Poke Wells,
who was concealed under. sprang up and
was Immediately seized by the arm by
Stenger, who thought from his looks that
he was sick tramp, and not suspecting
him to be the notorious Wells, dropped
his pitchfork and was starting to lead him
out of the barn, when young Stenger, who
was still engaged i'm milking near by, and
who had Witnessed the whole performance
noticed Cookies head peeping up from the
straw, and exclaimed Father. those men
are the escaped convicts; look out for
them" Cook had by this time picked up
the fork and was making for the old gent,
who let GO his hold of wells and ran a few
yards away and got another pitchforl<.
i Teung Stenger ran 10 the house at this
/ period and returned quickly with a shot
1 gun, and saw the two eonvicts
cunning down by the fence.
some distance away. his father chasing
them with the pitchfork beariag in mind
ne says $3.50 dollars reward offered for
their capture. The son sprang through 6
/ gap in the hedge and followed them, gain
ing ON them rapidly, as Wells could scarce
! ly run ON account of his painful wounds
and weakness caused by exposure and hun
ger On arriving within so yards of them
i young Stenger halted and bringing his gun
to his shoulder he called out to them to
throw up their hands or ne would fire
Wells complied with the demand of the
Stengers. who marched the two convicts
ahead of them to the residence of a. l.
Il Rice. where they then halted, and the cul
prits were secured On being asked IL
they were armed, they replied '.no, or wa
would mot be here now The fugitive
presented miserable appearance, being
dirty and having ON the same clothes which
they had on wien they had on when the.
effected their escape with the exception o
shoes of Wells which ha,
; been lost in Winterbothom's barn. whicl
shows that they had need of n
, assistance from any out side parties, they