Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-30
TWO BOXES AND A TRUNK
They Create Suspicion That all is
Not Right.
Mysterious Di.appearance of an In.
sane Convict From EigiE-Was
PantOn In the Box s-The Ell.
gsn Marshal Thinks
He Was
A MYSTERY

gram last night from Chief of Police
Myhrs, of Elgip, stating that George Pat
tor, an insane convict at the insane hos
pitsl had escaped on Saturday night and
had been shipped in a box on Sunday
night. The message further stated that
there were two boxes and a zinc trunk
shipped and all had been checked over
the c., NJ. 6 St. P. road to Rock Island.
They were accompanied by two men and
woman, a description of each being
given.
The boxes arrived here at 11:25 a. m
on Monday, ard shortly afterward a
stranger appeared at the window of the
c., R. l. s. P. ticket office and purchased
three tickets for Muscstine. He then
applied to Baggagemaster Graves TO have
the boxes and trunks rechecked to Mus
catine, saying that he would hire an ex-
pressman to bring them up from the Mil
waukee depot. He described the boxes
to the bsggsgemaster, saying there would
probably be excess charges. as they
were quite heavy. Mr.. Graves afterward
went down to the Milwaukee depot, where
the boxes were, ard after finding that
they weighed in the neighborhood of 600
pounds. told the stranger that he could
not check them anyway, as they were too
heavy. and advised him to ship them bv
freight, and accordingly tie two boxes
were taken TO tie c., r & P freight
office. where they were shipped
AS PERSONAL EFFECTS
, and billed to Walter NJ. Briggs, Muscatine,
the zinc trunk being taken back to the
c., r. l. & P. depot and checked to
Muscatine.
In converse ion with s. G McAdams,
the assistant baggage master at the c.,
r. l. Il P, one Of the men, who appeared
10 be the one who did al. the business.
said that they were party of hunters
and trappers and that they were on their
way to Muscstin where they expected to
join party who were going to Arkansas
to spend the winter hunting and trap
ping. The boxes are described by the
men who handled them st the freight
depot as about i've feet long and having
rope handles in the ends. Both boxes were
weighed at once. their combined weight
about $50 pounds, which would appear
TO be rather heavy for cooking utensils.
which they were sad 10 contain. The
boxes were loaded Immediately and went
out that afternoon. and it is now remem-
bered by those who attended to their
shipment that the man VINO was looking
after the boxes appeared
VERY MUCH EXCITED
and was very anxious that they should go
as soon as possible. The two men and
the woman left at 3;2S the same afternoon
for Muscatine. The message from the
chief of police Of Elgin describes one man
as about six feet tall. of dark complexion
and dark mustache, aged about 80 and
weight about $50 poands; the other as
about 80 years of age, about five feet
eight Inches in height and weight about
100 pounds. The woman is described as
of less than medium height and weight
about lis pounds. George Panton, the
escaped convict is described as about 35
years of age. with short stubbY mustsche
and gray hair. He is of slight build and
pale and would weigh about 140 pounds.
Dennis McCarty, baggagemaster at the
Milwaukee depot, this morning received
message from A D. Dement,, warden of
the penitentiary at Joliet, asking for in
formation in regard to what bad become
of the boxes and trunks described above.
The mystery which surrounds the case
will probably be cleared away in
few days, as the asylum authorities are
putting forth every effort to recspture
Psnton, who has evidently put up the job
himself. or is being spirited away either
dead or alive by parties who fear him, or
desire him ont Of the way.