The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-08-11
HE WAS RUN DOWN
MAN WHO BROKE TWO JAILS CAP
TURED AND IN CITY PRISON.
Deputy United States Marshal Arrests
with Larceny and Jail Breaking IN Illi-
nois-Davis Arrested Him q Year Ago
but He Broke Out of the Guthrie Jail
Sheriff COburn Of Christian County, ILL.,,
Here After Observation-Disclosures Says the
Marshal is a Liar-Were Schoolmates.

| James Edwards is now in the city
| him back TO Illinois on the charge of
burglary and jail breaking.
United States Deputy Marshal c. H.
Davis arrested Edwards, alias Jim
Smith several days ago at Riverdale
| and lodged him in the city prison here
| on the charge of breaking Jail at Guth-
RE
Deputy Marshall Davis did not seem
in any hurry about getting his prisoner
away and the officers here thought
there must be something peculiar in the
case.
Mr.. Davis represented Edwards as
dangerous man and one that is hard
to hold after he is arrested. He says
he arrested Smith as he called him
| about a year ago and had him held N
the Jail at Guthrie but he got away by
greaking Jail.
Deputy Marshall Davis says when he
| located Smith at Riyerdale that he
did not attempt ia go into the house
and arrest him because he knew he
would have to fight if he did. Smith,"
he said, would run and shoot as long
as he had an even show
Hence the officer Swallowed him until
he went out in a field to start a new
on him and ordered him to hold up his
hands.
All that seemed to be mysterious
about the case was cleared up yester-
day morning when Sheriff Ira Cohurn
Of Christian county, ILL.,, appeared upon
the scene with requisition for James
Edwards TO take him back TO Illinois
on the charge of burglary and Jail
breaking.
Sheriff Coh1,rn c,vc Edwards was ar
rested and broke Jail before he came in
to office and he does not know very
much about the particulars of the case
but he knows what the charges are.
A reporter for the Eagle called at the
city prison yesterday and finally in
duced Edwards to talk.
He wears good clothes and does not
look like very dangerous man though
he is very guarded in his expressions
and had the reporter read over his
notes after taking them.
He is young man nearly six feet
high with auburn har and blue eyes,
In answer to numerous questions he
said:
Il was born and raised in Montgom-
cry county, Ill, where / went to school
and learned the carpenters trade.
Il was arrested five years ago in
Christian county, Ill. on the charge of
stealing some parts of steam engine.
/ was mere boy then for 1 am not yet
% years of age.
when 1 was put in jail there were
three men in there who had planned a
jail break. They postponed It for two
weeks until they found out that 1 would
not give them away. Then they cut
hole through the wall and went out.
I was tired of staying in Jail and I
went out with them.
eff Davis told You that broke Jail
at Guthrie he is a liar, / was never in
Oklahoma in my life. We were old
school mates and he found out that
there was a reward of s25 for my ar
rest and he betra yed me to get it.
During year past / have been In
Wichita fully eleven months of the
time. l boarded part of the time at the
Keystone restaurant and the rest of the
time a the Douglas avenue hotel.
Davis lied again about me being a
dangerous man and wanting to get me
out of the house. He had another Off
Ger with him when he arrested me and
they let me go to the house TO change
my clothes and they would not have
done that if they thought me a danger
Gus man.
81 am willing to go back to Illinois
without a requisition. I have been
back to Illinois twice since ] broke
Jail and they did not arrest me. The
charge against me was larceny and
they can not convict because l never
stole any of the engine.
please say that the officers here at
Wichita have used me white and I con-
slider them gentlemen who understand
their business ~