Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-06-27
AImOsf Cremaied.
A PRISONER ATTEMPTS TO BURN HIS WAY
OUTs0F JAIL, But MAKES A FAILURE
ALittIe. Game Of 'P6ssum.

a Little Game Of Postum.
Sherman Dennis, a young MAJ whose
father lives at Kirwin, a short time
since was arrested on charge of bur
glary and larceny connected with the
burning of a store ct Mount Hope, in
Smith county. He was brought before
Justice BIatteson. of Crystal Township,
but waived an examination and was
placed under $500 bonds. He was also
turned over to the custody of his father
uzHl he could procure bonds. his father
in the meantime executing an iDdivid-
ual bond with the understanding that he
was to 90 to Klrwin and execute anoth-
er to be given in lieu Of it with add
tional sureaes. Young Dennis soon left
Kirwin and went to Concordia, where
he passed under the assumed name Of
10 Barrett
1t might be we'll to state here that the
small amount of the bond and the
Ienient manner in which the young man
was treated, was on account OF his
claiming to be but a mere tool in the
hands Of others, older and more harden
ed in crime. And it was thought that
by this means the other guilty parties
might be brought to justice.
A few days ago another party in Kir-
win filed a complaint against young
Dennis, charging him with larceny, and
upon this the County Attorney PrOcur-
ed a warrant for his arrest, but the next
thing was to find him as it seemed that
no one but his father knew Of his where
abouts. The old gentleman, under the
hope of ferreting out the aecompiees
who had led his son into trouble, con
scented to accompany the County AttOr-
ney in the search, which he did, find
ing him at Concordia. 7 he young man
was Immediately arrested upon the sec
ond charge and brought to this place,
but the trial was adjourned until the
29th and he was committed to Jail.
Last Saturday, about midnight, our
citizens were aroused fLom their slum-
bers by vigorous and almost unearthly
screams for help, proceeding from the
vicinity of the cooler. Upon arriving
at the scene they found the west side OF
the jail in flames. Unfortunately the
deputy sheriff who had the KEY, was at
Marvin, and it was some little time be-
fore the heavy staples could be drawn
out, the fire extinguished, and the young
man released, at which time he was
neatly suffocated with heat and smoke.
1t seems that he was placed in the
northwest corner cell, and he thought he
could burn a hole through the west
wall. (Which is made Of cottonwood
studding 2x6 inches, spiked together
datNise) and by this means make his
escape. But the wind blowing from the
west drove the smoke back into his cell,
and there being no outside aperture
into which he could put his face for
fresh air, he was nearly strangled be-
fore help could reach HIM. Since then
he has been at the Eagle Hotel quite
low, and it was thought for a time that
he would not recover. Until Yednes-
day he appeared to be entirely deaf and
dumb, communicating only by writing
But DR.. Knight, of Kirwin, came up
that day, and he and Doctor Houck, of
this city gave the young man small
dose of opium, which effected won
derful cure, for as soon as he became
slightly under the influence of 1t, he
talked as glibly as a street aucdOneer.
All Of which goes to show that young
Dennis was playing a slight game of
'pessum. His father has been attending
to him and he seems almost overcome
by tins trouble. He has the sympathy
of the entire community. The County
Attorney is convinced that Dennis has
no accomplices, but claimed that he had
for the purpose Of gaining sympathy,
and perhaps Guiding the law.