The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-09
SHERIFF'S DEPCTYBLAMED
For Permitting the Escape of Pris-
oner This Morning.

The usual even trend of affairs Of the
district court was disturbed to some ex-
tent this morning by the escape of a
city prisoner who was brought to the
court room as the chief witness on the
part OF the state The escape did not
amount to much, as the prisoner was
captured in North Topeka. an hour aft
erWard, but the interesting part of the
matter is the fact that County Attor-
ney JetmOre charges Deputy Sheriff
Jones with wilfully allowing the pris-
Oner to get away.
Haytt Weatherby, one of Topeka's
tough cOlored citizens, was the man
who made his escape. and the case in
which he was to play an important part
this m,@ ming was that of the state
against Green Craiger Cor Creeger).
charged with stealing hides from the
Wolff Packing company.
When the examination of the jury
was concluded and the first witness
called to the stand, Judge Hazen an
nOunced that all of the other witnesses
must leave the court room. Among the
others Weatherby walked out into the
hall with Deputy Sheriff Jones, but it
was but a few minutes until Jones re-
turned to the court room and stimuli
taneously with his return Weatherby
made his escape.
He was in charge of John Jones.
was he 20 said County Attorney .JetmOre
when he heard of it. wen, his escape
is come of John Jones work, that's all
Why, Jones is interested in this case >
he continued, for he has been bother
ing me for a week or more to have the
charge against Craiger reduced and
let him plead guilty to petit larceny.
Isn't that so, Nichols?" turning to his
deputy.
That's right replied the assistant
prosecutor He's been after me for the
same thing for several days because he
said you told him I would have charge
of the case. And more than that, he is
witness for the defense. He's been go
ing around here saying that he knew
Craiger was innocent I'm rather cur
iOus to know what he knows about the
case"
"Weatherby said yesterday chined
in Chief Steele, that he would never
testify in this case. He knows too
much about it, and he is afraid that if
he gets on the stand and tells what he
knows about the business It Will con-
Wet his pal, and then Craiger will nip
him. That's about the size of it,
well, this is a pretty piece of bust
ness" said County Attorney Jetmore
Indignantly. The idea of a deputy
Sheriff deliberately letting q prisoner
and an important witness loose to make
his escape. 1t makes me tired and
with this parting expression on the
state of his feelings, the county prose
cutor left the court room.
AS the state could not go on with the
case without the testimony of Weather
by, Judge Hazen postponed the case
until 9 O'Clock tomorrow morning.
Judge Hazen remarked: Il don't know
whose fault it was, but it was a gross
piece of negligence on the part of some
body. We could have this case prob
ably finished by noon, but now the en-
tire morning has been practically vast
ed"
Whether anything further will hap
pen as the result of the disturbance in
the district court this morning is not
known. There is. however, talk of the
possibility of contempt proceedings be-
ing Instituted against Deputy Sheriff
ZONES by M Jetmore.