Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-19
A DESPERATE ESCAPE.
OUTLAW BREAKS AWAY FROM A
CROWDED COURTROOM.
Two Robbers Killed, Tkzee Deputies
Knled-Sher.6 Fatally Injured
Kline Spectators Injured.
Special to the Gazette.


BUFFALO, WYo., July 1s.-One of the
most desperate and bloody ARRAYS which
has ever occurred in this country, which is
noted for its desperate men, happened at
the sitting Of the court here last week, and
resulted in the escape from custody of Joe
Liddle, better known as '.Biack joe" one
Of the most daring desperadoes known in
the West. He Is q cousin to the famous
''Dlck" Liddle, who was a member of the
James gang in Missouri several years ago.
He is much Drawer and more desperate
! man than his cousin. His haunts are the
almost inaccessible mountains which sur
round this place. For years he has been
a terror to all who travel over the noun
tains and through the passes between here
aud the Black Hills in Dakota Large re-
wards have been standing for his capture
for several years, and about a month ago
Sheriff Budd, with the aid of about dozen
Creek Indians, succeeded in locating the
outlaw, and by patiently waiting in ambush
for three days was able to effect his cap
ture by falling upon him while asleep.
Budd brought his prisoner here and he
was not only closely confined to the jail but
was chained to post in his cell and then to
prevent his release by members Of his band
heavily armed guard of six men was con-
stantly around the prison. Black Joe has
about dozen murders laid at his doors and
has gathered about him band of the worst
treats as equals on all occasions except
when work is to be done, and then he rules
them with a rod Of iron and will not toler-
ate the least infraction of his orders. The
result Of this treatment is that these men
will do anything for their chief, and Sheriff
Budd realized that if he would keep his
man he must take extra precautions. Three
times during his incarceration were at
tempts made to release him, and this was
only prevented by the perfect guard. When
at last the sheriff placed his man in the
courtroom before the judge he felt as if
load had been lifted from his shoulders.
Liddle was brought into court with man
acles on his feet and hands, but his lawyer
protested against going to trial with his
client in chains, contrary to the state Law,
which forbids this. The judge ordered the
handouts and chains removed, but told the
sheriff to be extra careful about the en-
frances to the courtroom. The trial was
one of great interest and brought people
from all parts of the state, the crowd being
SO great in the room that several people
We're pushed into the space behind the
railing around the lawyers tables. When
the court adjourned for dinner Sheriff Budd
would not take the prisoner out,
but sent deputy for meal for himself
and Liddle. The trial was resumed, and
most damaging testimony was produced,
showing that Black Joe was really in court.
The crowd was dense, and during the ex-
citing passages of the testimony there was
much confusion.
Suddenly a fight was started on one side
of the room aud pistols were drawn and
fired. In the same instant five men who
had crowded into the space around the
bench jumped to the prisoners box, one of
them shooting down the sheriff as he passed
him. Two revolvers were given to Liddle
and the six men made a dash through the
crowd, shooting as rapidly as they could
pull trigger On their way to the door
they were joined by four more men, and
then most desperate battle ragged in the
room.
The crowd had not been able to recover
from the sudden and desperate attack be-
fore Liddle and seven of his men were out
side and on horseback dashing away to the
mountains. Two of the band had held the
horses, while the others went inside to
effect the rescue of their chief. When the
excitement quieted down it was found that
Sheriff Budd was shot through the lungs,
and will probably die. Two of the robbers
We're instantly killed, two deputies were
killed, another died that night, nine specta-
tors received severe wounds, one being
probably fatal, and two received slight flesh
wounds 1t is not known whether any of
the other outlaws were injured or not, but
the crowd was so dense that it was almost
impossible to shoot for fear of killing inno-
cent spectators, and it is probable that they
got away unframed.
A quick chase was made after the flying
outlaws, but they were soon lost in the
mountains. This daring has had the effect
of calling out an especial proclamation from
Governor Warren, offering large reward
for the capture, dead or alive, of Liddle or
any member of his band The result of this
proclamation is that there will be system
attic effort made to hunt the men down.
The tragic ending of the case came near
ending disastrously for Col James Waters,
the attorney for Liddle. After the excite
ment quieted down someone remembered
the earnest protest Of the lawyer against
the manacles on the hands and feet of the
prisoner, and soon it began to be whispered
that Waters knew there was to be an at
tempt to escape. The talk became louder,
and soon mob of excited and angry men
gathered and marched to the hotel, deter
mined to hang Waters for making the trag-
edy possible.
Waters was hastily secreted by his
friends, and the Judge Of the court went to
the porch and addressed the crowd. He
told them that Waters had only done his
duty as an attorney, and even if he had not
demanded it, the court would have been
bound under the law to order the shackles
removed. This pacihed a large portion of
the mob, and it was dispersed. Waters,
however, was too badly frightened at his
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