The herald., 1894-12-18
A KNIFE FOUND ON JOHNSON.
The Train RObber Also Car
ried Struggled Money.
Something That Disproves a Con-
temporary's State ment.
scooped Contemporaries and Their Fu-
tile Attempts to Discredit the
Hsrald-Und sheriG's
Statement.

Something that may further prove the
assertion OF the HERALD that the train
robbers, "kid" Thompson and Alva
Johnson, were planning to escape from
the county jail came to light in that in-
stitution yesterday. Deputy Jsiler
Moore, in searching Johnaon, found a
ong knife and 500 in cash upon his
person. That this little Incl
dent has any significance, the journals
which print the news after it has ap-
psared in the HERALD will alone deny
Tho train wreckers had talked OF
escape before Friday. the day the HER
AID, exclusively. published the story OF
the contemplated Jail delivery. for no
one has had the opportunity to visit
them ns they did before. 1t is almost
certain that some one smuggled the
money and knife to Johnson before
Thursday, for visitors we're conversing
with Johnson in the corridor more or
less all the time.
On Thursday Under Sheriff Swim was
told that Thompson and johnson we're
plotting. The information came direct
from prisoner in the Jail. Ths train
robbers were allowed 20 converse to-
gether and had plenty of opportunity to
do all the plotting they desired.
The Times attempted to say that the
story was q "fake." 1t was only fake
because the twilight yournsl failed to
get it. This HERALD has all along been
ahead with the news of ths two Roscoe
train robbsries. The morning of the
first robbery tine HERALD printed over
column about it, giving all the details.
The Times printed about ten lines. On
the morning OF the second robbery the
HERALD had a reporter on the scene
The Times printed column of how the
trainmen were shot down by the rob-
bsrs, whau in fact no one was shot.
The frat report WAS 40 false that that
paper had to copy from the HERALD and
issue an extra later in the day to give
it's readers true account.
Again the HERALD had scoop when
it exclusively announced the arrest aud
arrival of Kid Thompson. This paper
published half a colnmn OF ths import
ant news. The Times had not line.
Not satisfied with these victories. tn @
HERALD exclusively Published john
sons startling confession, which re-
suited in his life sentence.
But that WAS not all. Wheu this
paper exclusively published the con-
tsmplated escape of both robbers, the
Timss was really behind the times more
than aver. and great kick was inaug-
uratsd. This only chance that journal
had to get back was to gay that Acting
Jsiler Billy Moore stated there was
nothing in the story. Under Sheriff
Swans information OF the plot came
direct and was authentic.
He ordered Moore to separate Johns
son end Thompson in the tanks and
keep them locked up. Mr.. Swan said;
"It would be not at all improbable or
impossible for the men to try TO escape,
and in their desperation we had to take
measures to prevent an outbreak. My
infor nation regarding the plot came
from the Jail, and was given for wSst it
was worth. | know not how the triple
murderer Craig knew of the plot. but
he sent Attorney Phibbs, his counsel, to
the sheriff's office to say that he, Craig,
did not want to be understood as having
any connection with the CLAN to eacape.
There were only two turnkeys on duty
in the Jail, and it would not be hard
matter to overpower them if the 10 or
IL robbers and murderers got the
chance"
That is what Mr.. Swan said to a re-
porter for the HERALD on the day the
plot was discovered. The next day, in
the presence of Deputy Jailer Moore.
and after his sentense to life imprison-
ment, Alva johnson said to the HERALD:
"Yes, Thompson has spoken to me of
escape. He said that if we didn't es.
cape we would be hung or 60 up ior life
but did not plan any attempt at es-
cape."
Whether the antediluvian contempo.
rary now gees its mistake is only mat
ter of conjecture. 1t is known, how
ever, that its readers-the sufferers
have ere this recognized the Times in-
ability to cope with news matters of im~
portance, and necessarily look else W here
for satisfaction.