Phoenix weekly herald., 1897-05-13
A DESPERATE DEED.
Desperate Criminals Escape from
PrescOtt's Jail.
LEE NORRIS KILLED.
A Posse and the DesperadOes Fight
One Is Wounded But All
Escape.

) afternoon from the county Jail.
Il Ii was accomplished by the probsbl,
O fatal wounding of Lee Norris, sesistsn
district attorney of the county snC
brother of 7. G. Norris.
At the hour above named the prison
srs in the Jail called Jsilor r. W
Meador, stating that they wanted E
} bucket OF water. Mesdor opened the
, sil door, permitting a Mexican, who
. WAS confined on a charge of attemp pied
murder, at Crowned King, to pass out
with the bucket to secure the water. Nc
sooner had he passed outside of tie
door and be?ora Mesdor hsd chance
TO clcse it than he grsppled the jailoI
and prevented him from closing the
door. Mesdor screamed for help and
fought desperately with the Mexican to
free himself from his iron grasp and to
prevent the other prisoners from escap
ing. In the tussle the Mexican wrested
ths big key from Msadoe's hand aud
dealt him a murderous blow on the
head causing a severe scalp wound from
which the blood poured in torrents.
While the struggle between the
Mexican and Mesdos was 10 progress.
Parker, charged With train robbery, and
L. @. Miller, charged with forgery,
made their escape from the inside. Par
ker went into the jsilor's room adj Din
ing the entrance and secured a dou bIe
| bsrrelled SHOT gun, Winchester rifle
aud six shooter. just as he came into
| he corridor OF the all with the weapons
Lee Norris, attracted by the cries for
| help from Mssdor, came down the
stairway. On seing the armed and dss-
peFate prisoners hs must have turned
to f % up stairs ngein and as be did so
Parker discharged one barrel of the
shot gun, the charge taking effect in
Norris back aud in his left side.
By this time the Mexican released his
bold on Mesdor and with Parker and
Miller started to run. AS they left
Mesdor fred three shots at them, but
without effect.
They went up stairs in the court
house through thehall, l,passing out OF the
south door and went directly to Sheriff
Roffner's livery stable, where they held
up the stable keeper end took two foe
horses, one of them belonging to q man
named Yeomaps, of Big Bug, and the
other the fsvorite white horss belong
ing to the sheriff. They did nos take
time to securs saddles. As they left
they said to the stable keeper, "Just tell
them that you saw u.s."
GhiaF OP POiioo a1d ;aR
of Police Arc ibald, who were in front
of the Corner Drug Store when the
effsir happened, rushed up to the livery
stable, arriving there just as the men
were mounting the horses in the yard |
back of the stables. but as neither of |
them wss armed they we're compelled |
to let them pass unmolested.
Fully fifty people were in the vicinity |
of Ruffner's stable before they left |
there, but as none OF them were armed |
they were powerless to do anything to |
prevent their escape.
A posse was Immediately organized |
aud from fifteen to twenty men started |
in pursuit. w. J. Mulvenon who has |
had the arms OF the old Prescott Grays |
stored at his place, turned these guns
over to the posse and Sam Hill furnish
ed ammunition for them. j. D. Moore
j oined the posse armed with rf1s and
took his blood hounds along to trail the
escape. .-Jourmoz Miner.
1t is learned in this city that word of
the All break reached Sheriff Ruffner
at Congress while on bis way to this
city in company with Mr.. Geo. H. Cook
Of Preecott and that ne at once re-
turned to Prescott on special train
the escapes with another posse.
One OF the posses overlook the es
ospes last night near the Black Canyon
road and a fGbt took place during
which Miller was woupded aad one of
he horses killed Tia horse killed
vas the one ridden by the Mexican and
shes fellow started eff toward the
Crowned King mine on foot while
Parker and Miller on the same horse
went in the direction OF the Verde
The fight took place in the dark which
4ccounts for the escape of the despars-
does.
About ten O'Clock this morning tel
gram was received from PRESCOTT stat
log that Assistant District Attorney
Norris had died from the effects of his
wounds.
Sheriff Orme with small posse left
% receipt OF the first telegram from
PrsscotG yesterday afternoon for the
north in an effort to come up with the
escapes end this morning another posse
eft this city taking the Black Canyon
-oad.
Parker the train robbsr is valusble
nan to Sheriff Ruffaer as rewards to
ihe amount Of 81. 800 are offered for his
capture and conviction by the railroad
md express csmpanies which reward /
lad almost bssn earned and il is safe to
ay that he will again be safely behind {
he bars at PRESCOTT or lying on slab
q the Oornor's offias before Sheriff
euffasr gives up the chase A reward c
f $1,000 is offered by Sheriff Ruffaer l
or tho capture OF the escapes dead or
live. 8
PRESCOTT, May 10. L E Norris, the +
icsim Of yesterdays jail break, died Z
ariy this morning. He vas very popu~
ar end his death has intensified The
ceiling SO that conservative men talk n