Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-21
BONNIE" HARRIS RECApTUREB.
One of the Three Who Escaped
From<New Castle Jail.

FROM NEW SdSll5 J1ils
Patroiman welch saw Him Over in the
NInth Ward and Waited for Him
Harris Arrested and VIII be Sent Back
to Prison.
Patrolman John +. WEIGH of tho
local police force signaliy distinguished
himself Thursday by capturing William
alias Bonnie" Harris, who escaped
from New Castle jail early Monday
morning, in company with Duncan and
Collins.
The officer took Harris in custody o
few minutes after 10 o'clock, noon, and
he was sent to the police station, where
he is now incarcerated.
The police have been on the lookout
for the men ever since they broke Jail and
about noon Thursday Officer WEIGH saw
Harris crossing the fields in Il line from
Concord station, on the 3. i Q. rail.
road toward Twentieth and Market
streets.
The policeman knew, or at least
thought that Harris was making for the
home of his mother, on Market street
just above Twentieth and stepped in a
stable on Twentieth street to conceal
himself. He was in position to watch
Harris movements and saw him pass
down Twentieth street and turn up
Market.
Policeman Welch was at his heels as
soon as Harris had passed the stable,
and the latter had just stepped inside
the door of his mothers house when the
officer opened the door and followed
him.
Harris was just taking his coat off,
and the officer placed him under arrest,
but allowed him to eat his dinner before
sending him in to the station house.
The officer sat close by him while he
was eating, and escape would have been
impossible.
Harris claims to have slept in the
police station at Chester Wednesday and
came down Thursday on freight
train. If he did stay at the station
house in Chester he showed great nerve,
but the officers there failed to recognize
him. or even suspect that he was u
criminal.
Harris will not divulge the where
| abouts of the other two escaped con-
victs, but says that after leaving the
| Jail he went to Newport, from thence
to Stanton, Hockessin, Landenburg,
| West Grove, Avondale aud reached
Chester yesterday.
The truth of his story is discredited
by some, and it is believed that he has
been in the city continually since his es-
cape.
BUTTON ALSO REcAPTURED.
Immediately after Harris was sent to the
| police station clue was obtained that led
to the capture of William Dutton, one of
Harris partners.
Acting on the information given by
patrolman Welsh, Captain Kane and
Welsh procured y team and drove to
| Bringhursts Crossing. on the Baltimore
& Ohio railroad, near Careroft, where
they found Dutton hiding behind spring
| house.
The policemen were not in uniform and
their approach did not attract much at
tention and they had no trouble at all in
coming up with the fugitive and arresting
him.
button claims to have been with Harris
since escape, and says that Harris left him
Thursday at the point where he (Duttonl
was found and came to his mothers house
for the purpose of getting some food and
money for both of them. With the money
II was proposed to leave this part of the
country and seek more cOngenial climate.
The men who were captured say that
the other escaped convict, Collins, left
them soon after they got out of Jail and
told them that he was going to his home
in Virginia.
The people in the northeastern part of
the city are of the opinion that Harris and
Button have not been far away from the
city and some are inclined to believe that
the Webster robbery could be traced to the
gang with which they are connected.
Harris and Dutton were taken to New
Castle Jail late Thursday by Deputy Sheriff
ellis. The reward that was offered fol
the capture of the men will go to thu
policemen who succeeded in arrestinf
them. The total amount Is 800, $50 fol
each fugitive,