The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-01

=
Young Mr. Humphrey. who has been
considered as trusty in the county jail
now reDoses in one of the steel cells of
the rotary. He is no longer considered
trusty-
Humphrey was arrested with young
man named Mcdonald for stealing cat
tie. Mcdonald denied the charge but
Humphrey turned states evidence and
gave testimony that helped TO convict
Mcdonald who now awaits sentence 10
the penitentiary. and in the mean time
making an effort TO secure new trial
When Humphrey and Mcdonald We're
arrested for stealing cattle up near
Maize the people in that section took
the ground that Humphrey was an in
offensive boy and had been misled by
Mcdonald. He turned states evidence
and it was generally supposed that he
would not be given more than d
Jail sentence but he has now forfeited
all sympathy of the men who have him
in charge.
Since the escape of Harris the officers
lave been making a thorough search
for evidence touching his escape and
some Information has been gained ana
it was obtained by prisoner in the
jail who was in a position TO see what
was done on the night of Harris escape
and after developments seem TO confirm
this mans story, which is as follows;
On the north side of the jail in the
east wing is small passageway or hall
Facing this little hall are two cells, one
of which was occupied by Harris and
the other by John Reynolds and Hum
phrey. The cells formed one side and
end of this passageway and on the other
side was the unprotected brick wall
Humphrey being sick was given ac-
cess to this hall in order to let him get
TO the radia tor which is used TO warm
that part of the Jail. Last Tuesday
night about IL o'clock Harris came into
the hallway and placed a blanket over
the door leading into the large hall and
with a bent wire commenced TO work
the morton from the brick
This was Immediately IN front of the
cell occupied by Humphrey and Rey-
nolds- VINO had recently protested reli.
gion and the two men kept up a sing
ing Of religious songs which would pre-
vent anyone hearing the scratching
sound made by Harris operating with
his wire.
There is an air chamber in the wall
and by midnight Harris had made an
opening to this chamber and his work
that he seemed unable to stand longer
and he gave up the job and went in and
laid down on his cot.
At this point Humphrey urged him to
nerve uD and finish his work and told
him by getting out he would avoid the
penitentiary. Harris after a rest of
half an hour. renewed his work and by
o clock in the morning had made hole
through the walls large enough 10 add
nit his body. When he was ready
Humphrey worked pair OF black pants
and coat through his cell door to Har-
ris which he donned and crawled out.
II is supposed that these black clothes
aided Harris in making his escape from
! the city as the officers sent out a wrong
! description of his clothing. When ac-
| cused of assisting Harris to escape
| Humphrey denied IL but the officers al
| the jail claim to have the evidence tC
! substantiate the above story.
Humphrey was taken down and put
/ in one of the rotary cells and in addi-
ton to being charged with cattle steal
ing he is now charged with assisting a
I United Staotes prisoner to escape. He
however denies the whole story and
says he did not hear Harris at all.
The United States commissioner
thinks noscharge will be made by the
United States authorities against any
of the officers in charge of the jail but
some Of the deputy sheriffs take a diff
ferent view of the matter and rather
expect that an investigation Will lac
ordered. About the only excuse that
will be offered for the escape of Harris
will be that the officers thought him too
sick TO attempt to escape.