Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1883-03-28
PENlTENTIARY BIRDS FLOWN.
Daring and Successful Escape Of Four
COnvicts-A Reward Offered for Their
Rec9Dturp.

Daring and Successful Escape Of Four
Convicts-A Reward Offered for Their
Recapture.
Boise Statesman
On Thursday evening, as the
whistle blew for the prisoners en-
gagged in getting out stone in the
quarry to quit work, one of them
named Hayes seized the guard, c. ID.
Chinn, and eifectually gagged him by
placing his hand over his mouth, while
two other convicts took possession of
his arms, which consisted of carbine
and revolver, and when the other
guard, Geo. Newman, looked up to
see if Chnn was bringing his men, he
found himself looking into the bar
rels OF those weapons, and received a
peremptory order to drop his own.
He thought the matter over for
moment, but being convinced that the
men meant business, he obeyed. Two
of the prisoners picked up his gun and
six-shooter, and the four who were
armed started off over the hills, cross
ing at the low point to the north of
Table Rock, going down into the
Warm Spring gulch. The other
prisoners, of whom there were six, re-
fused to escape, though there was
nothing to prevent their going if they
SO desired. AS soon as they were
locked up in their cells, Newman came
into the city and gave the alarm.
Rube Robbins, Walt. Coffin, c. ID.
Chinn and Harry Russell at once
started in pursuit. They went up the
Warm Springs road and stopped at
McMahon's ranch, notifying him of
the escape, and proceeded on their
way. At about half-past eleven there
was a rap at McMahon's door, and on
opening it he found himself covered
by the convicts, who requested him to
furnish them with food and saddle
horses. He had no recourse but to do
as he was hidden. He says, however,
that but three men came to his place;
Hayes was missing. He at once sent
Il messenger to notify Robbins and his
party, and then started with party
of his own on the trail of the men,
who had gone in the direction of this
city. The last we heard of them they
were still in pursuit, some miles down
the river.
The prisoners who made their cs-
cape were four of the hardest charac-
tiers in the penitentiary, and as they
are all armed there will doubtless be
a severe fight before they will submit
to re-capture.
They were J. w. Hayes, who was
sent up for four years at the last term
OF Court, from this city, for grand lar
ceny-he being the man who was cap
turcd by Tom Maupin in the act Of
taking his pocketbook from his coat
pocket, which hung in his shop.
Charles Chambers, up for nine
years for stage-robbing. He made his
escape once before, and was only re-
captured and returned after much
trouble and expense He is the man
who was captured by RUDE Robbins In
Oregon, and feigncd insanity so well
as to deceive the keepers of the in
sane asylum at Portland.
Moroni Hicks. murderer, up for
twenty years. He also made his es-
cape before, but was captured again
and returned. He i; one Of the
toughest nuts of the lot, but it will be
difficult for him to escape on account
of his striking personal appearance.
He is six feet three inches tall, with
short, red whiskers on his chin, and
once seen would never be forgotten.
Ralph Johnson, the last of the quar-
: tet, halls from Wood River, is up for
five years for burglary, and one of the
most desperate men confined in the
penitentiarv. 1t was he who got the
drop on George Newman, and whose
manner convinced him that it would
be best for him to lay down his gun
Johnson is an old jail bird, and when
. confined in the Nevada penitentiary
made an effort to escape, and at,
, tempted to hold up the guard with a
revolver he seized, but which CHANGED
to be empty. He only escaped witt
, his life by the ball from the guards
pistol striking buckle on his panta
} looms.
Warden Richards Immediately 90
out some printed notices containing {
description Of the men, and was au
thorzed by Governor Neil to offer 1
reward Of 800 apiece for their cap
ture, in addition to the reward Of Sl5(
, each offered by himself.
Word was also sent to Marsha
Dubois, who is at present out on 1
trim S,lmmOnirr a GRAND illrV