The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-11-18
JAILED HIM AGAIN
ELLIOTT CAPTURED AFTER A
BREAK FOR LIBERTY.
He Served Sentence and Upon Re
lease Was Re-arrested-He Scaled
Wall and Escaped But Was Cap
tured Again-He Still Avows His
Innoceuce-Tells His Story.

l.. E. Elliott is behind the bars again IN
the Jail of this county. What charge is
against him this time is not known here,
except by Commissioner Shearman who
is absent from the city, nor does be know
it himself. Elliott was at one time "A we'll
known freight conductor on the Santa Ee
,oad. He received hurt once and WAS
compelled to give up work. He boarded
at the Occidental hotel with his wife and
one morning quite a sensation was caused
among his many acqusintances by reason
OF his arrest for receiving aud disposing of
stamps stolen from the postoffice at Cof-
feyyille. He was tried in the Uuited
States court, found gui ty and sentenced
10 three years in the Kansas peuilentiary.
A few days ago he was released at the ex-
piration of MS sentence and when he lett
the Jail he was re-arrested by United
States Marshal Neeley. He was given
the freedom of the yard and seeing lad
der he clim bed to the Top OF the wall and
escaped. He was apprehended again the
day before yesterday aud brought here for
a preliminary hearing, and Is now IN the
county Jail pending his trial. He was
seen yesterday by reporter for the EAGLE
and desired a statement made. In answer
10 questions he said:
Yes, / was convicted in the federal
court at Topeka, Kan, for receiving stolen
goods. know it is often the fact that
persons who have been sent to the penl-
Tertiary set up the claim of Innocence, but
in this case | now have no Object in con-
realing the truth. | have paid the penalty
by three years confinement in the state
penitenrisry, and | say Today what said
at my trial, thai | was innocent of the
crime for which l was imprisoned.
The postoffice at Coffeyville had been
robbed, and the matter was finally trailed
lown to J. W. Maxey. He was arrested
md pleaded guilty to the charge, but
stated that he had given me the postage
stamps in the woods near Coffsyvie. L
proved conclusiveIy that l was in Wichita
,t the time be said he had given me the
stolen property, but the man had an old
yrudge against me for difficulty we once
mad. and he was determined that / should
20 down with him.
II was placed in the Kansas peniten-
tiary for three years for receiving stolen
goods. | was in the same TX that } y.
REYNOLDS. the author of the Twin Hells,'
was only l was not sent 500 feet beneath
the surface to extricate the black diamonds
rom the fire clay. Owing To my lameness
Was given berth IN the printing estab-
ishment of that institution and | had the
Donor of being one of the assistant editors
of the Prison Trusty. The editor in chief
WAS G. W. Peters of Wichita / have
0othing to say against the treatment l re-
ccIved during my confinement, under
both administrations, but the greatest
cause of suffering / had was in the fact Of
BeiRg separated from my wife. GOd bless
Ter, she never doubted my innocence, aud
very week | received letters from her.
During the last year we counted the days
lDtil my release. At last the time came
md wrote her at Houston. Tex, to meet
ne at Kansas City. She had lived with
NY brother-in-law during my imprison-
nent.
We'll, Monday came and the warden
.cok me TO his office, where he gave me
my release. / was given suit of good
cloth hes. cut and fitted ready for me by
Emmett Dalton, one OF the famoUs out
laws, who is the head cutter of the tailor
ing department. l went to the front door,
AID as stepped out upon the walk lead
ing to the gate. and realized that / WAS
once more a free man, could not restralu n
myself from throwing my hat III the air.
There WAS only few miles, and less than
two hours between me and nv wife. be-
lieye at that time could have readily for
given the w@rst enemy | had in the word.
went TO the gate and was bidding the
old guard good bye, when United StFtes
Marshal Neelev laid his hand uDon my
shoulder ard told me | would have 10 20
with him. / asked what We're the charges.
nut he SAID that be ulu not know, out tnat
would have to 20 TO Wichita before Com
missioner Shesrman to learn the trouble.
Il got in the buggy with him. and on the
way TO the Leavenworth jail told lin
how had sent for my wife, | showed him
the letters she had written and begged that
ne would take me to Kansas City that
might meet her. He said it would be i'm
possible. as he had business, but that he
would see that | was treated right at the
Jail and do all be could for me.
You can imagine nv disappointment
did not, nor do / at this time have any
idea for what was rearrested. ! stopped
that night in the jail. but could not sleep.
The next day | WAS allowed 10 walk in the
back yard of the Jail, and seeing a ladder
placed against the wall / could not resist
the temptation of scaling that little obsta-
Gle, and l went.
AT the junction | was overtsken by
Deputy United States Marshal GRAY and
brought to Wichita. | have sent for my
wife to come here and expect she will be
here this evening. i cannot say what will
be the result of my preliminary examina
tion, AS have no idea what the charges
are. ] am confident that / can prove an
alibi TO anyi hing that may be brought
You see | have recovered from my lame
ness dur ing my confinement.
MADE GOOD CATCH.