Fergus County argus., 1889-09-05
HE sCORNED BOLTS AND BARS.
A Mysterious Burglar in a Kansas Jas
Walked Out Whenever He Felt Like II.


the laci that she has had thin her
borders II sensation which il out oi
the usual run oi Wild Western incl-
d-nts. A burglar manned Carton WI =
commit ell tn the Jail last Oct ober %
await trial. lie was turned over To
Sheriff James Sterling. The county
Jail at ClayCrntre is II two-story 1t one
building with all the latest inproN,-
ments in the way of locks and steel
grating. and is considered one of the
strongest prisons III the state.
About noon Of the day of commit =
ment Carton sent for attorney +. j..
Hardness, asking him to come to jall
and consider II line of defense. On
Hardness arriving at the cell Carton
had not II word to say about his case,
but talked on scientil ilic and literary
subjects. lie was II well-read man
and surprised Hardness by his eruli-
tion. After consuming over an hour in
this talk Harkne-s became impat lent
and asked Cart on to speak oi his ease
"iOu play billiards, don't YOU"
asked Carton.
"Ies. Why" wa, the surprised
answer.
We'll, will meet you at that bii-
lard hall across the way at : O'Clock
this evening, and while We are enjoy
ing game OF billiards We can talk
about my ease.
But the Sheriff won't let you ont
tn play billiards. You must remem-
her y Ou are n prisoner
''rha, is al right. You meet me
here at O'Clock this evening" an
swered Carton.
lie spoke as coolly and earnestly n
ii n trip through stone walls and steel
bars was OF every day occurrence to
him. AMI Hardness hardly knew what
to make OF his client. lie thought
the man was making game oi hlm, but
az night came ON he could not resist
the temptation. and before : o'clock
ne was at the billiard hall watching
the door. Just as the clock struck :
in walk Carton. While the game was
IN progress Sheriff Sterling ent cred lac
place. lie did not recognize Carton.
but llarkness. who WAS completely
non -pluSsed over the matter, called
to Sterling and said
Look here, sterling. il il your usual
custom to allow your prisoners 10 Ice
playing billiards at this hour"
"What doyou mean? saiI Sterling.
"Why, | mean that Carton here WAS
committed to Jail this morning to
await the action al the grand Jury.
and he is out playing billiards IN the
evening.
sterling turned pale and almost fell
from the shock and he fear thai here
had been IA Jail break.
ssnnnff .y,.if. oil f.ilnm - .af.l
Carton. II only wanted n little fresh
air, but ii you object ! will 90 back
now.
After this escapadc the prisoner left
his cell and the jail whenever lac
pleased, and returned when he got
ready. the sheriff being nearly iii.
trac,ed The lock of one of the cit
banks became unmana.rible, and
experts could not open it The pris-
oncr heard of it, voluni rerrd his As
sistance and pierced the vault. The
l,eculiarities of the man became 50
common to the Sheriff that lac was
never surprised to find his man wan
derins around the town IN the morn
ing. But last Thursday Cart on's cell
was empty, and the prisoner was not
citing on the steps. On the chair in
he cell was n note TO Sterlin: bidding
him soOdby and thanking him for all
his kindness, sayin. that pressing blI>i-
ness neces-itatcd his sudden departure.
This WAS startling, but when Mr..
John \. Moss, cashier of the Farmers
and Merchants Bank, opened hi. desk
that morning, lie found "a note from
Carton st ating that he had taken 5000
from la safe in rhs xnult IN may li-