Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-01
THE TRUNK MYSTERY,
An Elgin Papers Version of Con.
vict Pant0n's Escape.
ped TO Rock Is and-NO Trace
of Them Yet

details Of the escape from the insane hos
pitsl there of the insane convict, George
Panton, an account of whose shipment to
Rock Island in box or trunk appeared
in yesterdays ARGUS:
A mysterious occurrence on Sunday.
viewed in connection with another event
of the same day seems to indicate a well
devised and successful plan to allow an
insane murderer to escape from the coun-
try.
Sunday aftern Don two men called ups
on an Egip eXpressman and ssked him
if they could hire te, m and driver to
take some goods 10 the midnight train
The expressma an told them he could
provide the outfit, and asked them where
they desired the team sent. The men.
who were unkno wn to him, told him to
never mind where, they would tell him
when they came for the wagon.
The men returned at $50 and the
driver of the wagon had just come in and
not been to supper. He asked the men
if they were in IA hurry, aud as they were
not he went to supper and left them TO
await his return.
When he came back they got in the
wagon with him and directed him to drive
TO South ElgIn.
The men told him to drive TO barn in
the west end of the village, which they
entered, and showed the driver the bag
gage to be removed to the depot. 1t
consisted of two boxes and trunk. One
of the boxes wss large one and to this
the driver first directed his attention. He
went up to it and was about to take hold
of it TO roll it To the wagon, when he was
stopped by the two men who told him
not to touch it. they would load it.
They took of the box very carefully,
one at each enc, and as carefully placed
it in the wagon without turning il about
in any way.
They were careless as to how the trunk
and other box were handled and made no
remonstrauce against their being rolled
about. The two men were here joined
by q woman who was yelled and who &C.
compsnied them upon their return trip to
Elgin. They drove TO the Milwaukee
depot and there purchased tickets to Rock
Island. Here they met with some diff
Guilty. The box which the men had so
carefully loaded they as carefully took
from the wagon and would allow no one
TO touch save themselves They desired
it checked but $50 pounds is the limit of
checksble baggage and the box was found
to weigh 800 pounds.
There is one class of baggage, however,
which may exceed $50 pounds and that
is hunters supplies. The two men were
dressed in shooting costumes and each
carried gun and they finally induced
The baggsgenan TO check the box to
Rock Island.
Their care for ,heir precious box did
pot end here and the men themselves
carefully placed il in the baggage car. AL
ways looking out that it was kept right
side up. They were asked at the depot
what the box contained to make it so
heavy and they said that part of it's con-
tents was lead; that they were going on
hunting expedition and would make
their own BULLETS.
The party boarded the train for Rock
Island. the men were unknown to all
who saw them. One was q large man,
fully six feet tall and heavy, weighing
probably 200 pounds. He WAS of dark
com plexion and had black mustache.
The other man was shorter, probably i've
feet eight inches, and was also heavy set.
The woman WIS closely yelled, and SO
could not be recognized
When the story of George Panton's
escape from the insane asylum on Sunday
morning. and its mysterious accomplish
nent, became noised about. the express
man began to ponder over the matter and
came TO the conclusion the two might
have some COT nection. He accordingly
informed the city marshal. This theory
is generally agreed with. 1t is quite pos.
sible the two strangers were the confed-
crates who aided Panton 10 escape from
his place of confinement and it is also
quite possible the large box which was so
carefully handled had for its contents
nothing less than Panton himself, who
was in this ma Dner taken out OF the state.
The strange conduct of the men and the
careful guard they placed over this parN
ticular box would indicate something un-
usual.
If Panton is beyond the limits of the
state il will cause feeling Of relief to
many who know his revengeful nature.
Ii is known he threatened vengeance
against some Of the witnesses who testi-
fed against him in his trial for the murder
Of Smith. and these people would rest
easier if they thought at least the width
Of the state divided them.
So far Chief Miller, of the Rock Island
police, has learned nothing further con-
corning the mysterious boxes after leav-
ing Rock Islat d.