The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-11
HIS LEAP FOR LIBERTY,
Edward Morgan Jumps Through a
Car Window Near Blossburg
and Escapes.
Train Running at the Rate Of
Thirty-f five Miles an
Hour.
Tho Prisoner Was on Hi Way to Deer
Lodge tn Serve One Year for
Grand Larceny.

Sheriff Jefferis lost n prisoner yesterday
morning near Blossburg while taking the
man to Deer Lodge. 1t was a desperate
leap from the train. which was running ut
the rate of about thirty-fve miles an hour.
Edward Morgan 10 the man who made the
jump through a car window with handouts
on. He was convicted a few days ago in
the district conrt of having stolen q set of
harness from Ketchum q DeNoille. He
was sentenced for one year. Yesterday
morning the sheriff started with his pris-
oner tor Deer Lodge on u Northern Pacific
train. Morgan sat OH the right side OF the
aisle and the sheriff on the left, where he
could keep his eve on the prisoner. The
train had just passed Blossburg, a small
station a short distance west of Mullan tun-
mel, when Morgan asked permission to
go to the water tank in the for
ward part of the car for a drink
The conductor was in the same seat with
Jefferis. Both men we're facing the tank
and could see every movement Morgan
made. After laying down the cup he turned
the knob on the door of the closet to enter.
,Fhe sheriff remarked to the conductor just
then that it would be a funny thing il Nor
gan should ATTEMPT to jump through the
coach window. He started up from the
seat to follow Morgan. just as he did SO
he saw the flying form of Morgan shoot
down the railroad embankment. 1t took
some time to stop the rapidly moving train,
which Was on n down grade. It ran nearly
a mile away from the spot where Morgan
made his dashing leap before it came to a
stnndstill. AS it slowly backed up the
grade the passengers could see Morgan
making his way up the side hill on Dog
creek. He had a good start, and by
the time the train had run back
to the place Morgan had reached the tim
Der and was out of sight. Sheriff Jefferis
went up one side of the creek and a volun-
ter deputy searched on the opposite side
but without success. Jefferis then went
back to Blossburg in search of saddle
horses to renew the chase. He could not
get any, but a woodhauler who had a team
near by Offered to go after the prisoner as
soon as he could get to his cabin and saddle
a horse. Jeffe is deputized three other men
to assist and they all started off on the trail,
the sheriff returning to Helena by the after
noon train. Up to a late hour last night he
had heard nothing from his deputies who
were instructed to telegraph him from
Blossburg if they caught Morgan.
This is the first man to escape from the
sheriff who has had an experience of seven
years in the business. and ne does not like
il at all. There is not a more careful Of
Ger in the state than Mr.. Jefferis, and the
occurrence is one of those things that
sometimes happens in spite of every pre-
caution.
Morgan's success in making the leap from
the moving train is accounted for when it
is known that he is a railroader, and knows
how to get off a train under such circum-
stances. At the point where he made the
jump there is quite Il slope of loose earth,
into which he landed without injury.
The sheriff thinks his deputies Will catch
Morgan before he can reach a point on the
railroad. There is a chance that if he gets
to the road he may receive assistance and
get out of the country. Before leaving
Blossburg the sheriff offered a re-
ward. Morgan has n villainous cast
of countsnance and looks like an old Jail
bird, He is a short. slim fellow, with dark
close cut hair. He has a bullying Forehead
and turned up nose and a cruel looking
mouth. When Judge Hunt sentenced him
the fellow laughed as if it were a good
joke. His companion, who was arrested
for stealing the set of harness, was ac-
quilted by the jury.