The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-09-08
1t Has Developed how Tom How
ell and Bill Christian Made
Their Escape From
The CalabOOSe.
Elmer ThOrnberry Secured a
Key From "Slick" Lighter
and Gave it to Bill
Christian.

jail few days ago and things ha,
been red hot since in consequen,
thereof.
The police force are now thorough
exonerated from the charges ths
have been freely made.
When Mayor Stevens returne
from Iowa this morning he went &
once to work in connection with Chic
Prentice to ferret the matter out and b
2 o'clock this evening "SIick' Lighte
and Elmer Thornberry we're in du
rance vile. 1t is unnecessary TO stat
how the mayor found enough evi
dence to warrant this proceeding, bu
there is no doubt no mistake has beer
made and the guilty ones will be duly
punished according to law.
ELMER THoRNBERRY,
when arrested made the following con
fession to the mayor and chief Of
police in the presence of a BAzoo re.
porter:
81 am twenty-four years old and
my occupation is delivering meat for
the butchers.
81 gave Bill Christian the key that
released him and Tom Howell. Ire.
ceived no money for getting the key.
They had the key four or five days
before they made their escape.
Tom Howell told me when /
took him some tobacco and pies
that he wanted me to do favor for
him. l told him l would if l could.
He then said that "Slick" Lighter
HAD A BIG KEY.
For me to 60 and get it and bring it
to him. He did not tell me that it
would let lin out of the city prison.
Invent to 'Slick" and told him
what Tom had said. "Slick" did not
have the key with him, but told me
to come the next day and get it. 1
went as directed and he gave me the
key. He told me afterward that he
had had the key for two years and it
was the key that let "Texas" Parker
out while Col. J. d. Crawford was
mayor. Bill Christian was on the
rock pile when l gave him the key.
Babe Hunt has never said anything
10 me about this matter. No one
,ffered me anv compensation, neither /:
10 l know Of any one receiving any.
hing for the release of |,
TOM HOWELL AND BILL CHRISTIAN.
''Sunday, August 80, 1 took a buggy
With a man and went to Otterville, to !.
Mr.. Sanders, whose wife is a sister of |.
Tom Howell. 1 went there to pre-
Iail on them to get Tom Howell and !;
christian to come back and work out
heir fines, as felt bad about being
n instrument in the hands of bad
eople to let them out l accom-
Iished nothing by my trip there as v
irs. Sanders said they were not there 9,
nd had not been there for several :,
ays." u
"sLICK" LIGHTERS STATEMENT. U
''Slick" Lighter was seen in his IL
partment in the cslaboose by W
AGO reporter, but was not disposed n
talk much. The key he said was 4,
e one used by Texas Parker in 1888 -
effect bis escape, and then came '"
to possession OF Elmer Tnornbsrrv, Il
ho gave it to "Slick" Lighter. 81,
lst before the fair the latter gave itfr,
ok londonderry who threw it in to ~,
e prisoner. This is the version of the "
Try by "Slick" Lighter, and comes q
city near being official.
THE KEY. i
The police report that the KEY was
t about three years ago and it has ial
W developed that Texas Parker ne
IS the first to escape with it. After "a
'exas Was out of the way, Bob WI
,ndrix was the next ms to have it. ag
'ndrix is sort of harmless tramp. 10
is said fast woman of the town at Gel
time figured as custodian of tie ov'
7, but j: cannot be established that me
ever used it in releasing any Gull Nc
Is from the tar box.
The mayor and chief Of police .
erve credit for their vigilance +
activity in successfully ferreiing ,
the guilty parties with a good
W OF melting out justice to them. +
does the BAzoo rejoice Tor
t the police are fully exonerated Ii
INV completely or knowledge of the
K transaction. NH.
t is quite possible that "S lex will by
''over the road" and Thornberry for
}, for the star engagements they "
e played as prison liberators.