The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-27
a whHrrA ToUcH.s ANTICS

Yesterdays Oklahoma City Times
prints the following about well known
Wichita tough who has caused the Wich-
itx authorities no end of trouble His
name is John West. but has gone under a
number of aliases Three years ago he
effected his escape while in care of the
sheriff of this county. He is known also
as the husband of the notorious Madam
Hall and he has given the officials of both
Kansas and Oklahoma lots Of trouble.
The Times says:
On June 20. 1891 James Wilson. in COM
pany with two other men. buneoen an old
farmer OF Davis county, Mo. out OF several
card monte swindle They were pursued
and captured and lodged in the Gallatin
Jail. Shortly afterwards one of them was
released on 81 900 bail, aud when the time
for his trial came on could not be found
and his bail was forfeited and paid. Will
son and his other pal could not secure bail.
but the night before his trial WAS to COM
mence. IN some mysterious manner they
escaped, and have since beeu at large.
The next fall D p Waters was elected
sheriff of Davis county, aud at once began
a search for the two men, finally locating
wilson III this city, where he Was going
under the name of West and making his
headquarters at the house OF Madau Hall.
Securing requisition papers Walters arriv-
En- here on Monday and captured his man;
Sam Bartel being deputised by Sheriff
Calcord to help him effect The arrest. He
was arrested at Madam Halls.
he made great roar abort not being
the man wanted, and pending an appeal to
Judge Clark on Il writ of habeas corpus.
asked that he might he guarded and not
put in Jail. Sheriff Walters Informed
Deputy Bartel, Deputy Thomas and Sher-
1T Colcord that they were dealing with a
dangerous and slippery customer and asked
that he'be put III JAIL being absolute
~ certain be WAS the man he was after.
West, however. brought influence greater
than that exercised by Mr.. Walters, and
was allowed the freedom of the city, to 20
to gambling houses and saloons aud enjoy
himself generally. under guard OF Bartel.
Tuesday night he desired to visit jim
Miller's place, and WAS taken there and
allowed to sit at the faro table and gamble.
About 10 O'Clock he ''cashed in" aud re-
marking TO Bartel that he was ready to
go, passed out the back door. Bartel WAS
eight or ten feet behind him, and as the
door swung back saw his prisoner give a
spring-and that was the last he saw of
him. He ran out and fell over some kegs
and barrels. ana by the time he gathered
himself together his prisoner was gone.
West ran through Haley's saloon, jumped
into a cab evidently waiting for him md
was driven away.
Mr.. Walters feels badly over the loss Of
his prisoner, but certainly no blame Can
al tach to him. H did all in his power,
and warned the officers Of the kind OF man
they were dealing with, and the onus OF
the escape must Fest upon them. Efforts
are being made to recapture him bat they
Will doubtless prove futile.
West Is said to be one of the slickest
confidence men in the country and has a
large numb r of friends among the class to
which he belongs. Notwithstanding this,
he ought by all means to have been kept IN
a secure place pending the legal proceed
ings. Sheriff Walters was entitled to this
favor at the hands of the officers aud has
the best of grounds for feeling aggrieved
over the matter.