The Portland daily press., 1884-08-19
ESCAPED CoNvlCTs.
Deadly Combat with a Posse i'm Kentucky
both Prisoners Killed, also One of tho
Officers


LEXINGTON, Ky Aug. 17.-It was learned
yesterday that Alsop and Graves, the
conyicts who escaped from the penit sntary at
Frankfort during the lata revolt, had been
seen in Woodford county, coming westward.
Notice was sent all around the country to
watch for them. On Friday word was brought
to the city that they had demanded dinner at
Tom Muir's house, seven miles from town, and
mad forced Va from man named Regain in
the neighborhood of Tate's Greek pike A
sheriH's posse was quickly made up and
started. The sheriff asked Stephen G. Sharpe
county Attorney, and George Cadwaiader to
join tue posse and go down Jacks Creek pike,
and then join him at his house, six miles from
the city. Regain lives about mile from the
sheriff.
Sharpe and Cadwaladsr wentsdown Walnut
Hill pike, as the convicts had attempted to
get across, and proceeded half mile beyond
the toll-gate on that road, taken a horse and a
buggy and hid at place commanding a view
OF the country some distance both ways. They
soon saw two men pass some straw stacks down
toward the toll gate. The pursuers searched
through the schurchs ard and were informed
by w Estill that lady had seen two armed
men pass back OF the McFadden place.
Sharpe took Estill's horse and Cadwalader
drove ths buggy, both turning into Walter
Scott's front gate on the Richmond pike.
Then one went each side of the honse. They
saw two men going through the hemp field
and Sharpe galloped alter them. When he
got within sixty yards of them both levelled
their guns at him. Sharpe slipped eff his
horse and took to tree. The conyicts also
sought trees. A running fight opened. Sharpe
fired at Graves, then tried to get a shot at
Alsop, who followed Graves across the stubble
toward George CasselPs woods. AS AIsop
ran, Sharpe rested his gun ON the fence, fired
and hit Asop in the left shoulder.
The posse now came up. Sharpe galloped
round through the woods, and again sighted
the fugitives going through the stubbls and in
to cornfield. BE rode along by the corner of
Shelby's house and into the cornfeld, and see
ing no tracks coming out repolt ted to the posse
that the convlcts were still in the cornfield
The men were posted all around the field, and
the party went in on the track of the fugitiyes.
Cassell and James Veal Joined the posse here.
Sharpe, Cassell and Veal followed the ira ok in
the corn across ravine and struck the track
again. Their first intimation of the wherea-
bouts OF the convicts was couple of shots and
Cassell fell, saying to Sharpe: oh, Steve!
Oh Steve!" Veal fired on the convicts. Sharpe
fell in the corn, and Veal went back
and reported both killed. Sharpe, who was
playing possum, getting sight of one who
proved to be Graves, fired, dropped, reloaded
and everything again remained quiet.
Sharpe now crawled out Of the corn to the
rayine and waved his hat to the posse, but re-
ceiving no response crawled through the rayne
and Joined the posses. The who party now took
the rows through the corn toward the bodies.
sharpe saw the convict raised on his are with
pistol presented at Deputy Sheriff Rogers.
The weapon snapped and the posse fred
volley and. rushing up found Graves dead and
Alsop dying. Each of the convicts bad needles
gun and i've pistols betweenIthem. Geo. Gas.
sell, the man killed, leaves widow and nine
children. Hew as highly respected citizen.