Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1897-05-12
DESPERATE JAIL BREAK THIS AFTERNOON!
Train Robber Parker L. c Miller and Mexican Escape From the County Jail at One oClock.-Jailor R. w. Meador Overpowered by Them When
 They Request Bucket of Water.
Lee Norris Who Comes to Meadors Assistance Shot Down by Parker, with Charge from Shot Gun Horses Secured from Sheriff Ruff ner's Stable to Make Their
 Escape.
IFrom Our Extra .f Sunday AtternOOl

ever attempted by desperate men was successfully made at 1 o'clock this afternoon from the county jail.
 It was accomplished by the prob able fatal wounding of Lee Norris, assistant district attorney of the county, and brother of T. G. Norris.
 At the hour above named the prisoners in the jail called Jailor R. W. Meador, stating that they wanted bucket of water. Meador opened the jail door, permitting a Mexican, who was confined on a charge of attempted murder, at Crowned King, to pass out with the bucket to secure the water. No sooner had he passed outside of the door, and before Meador had 6 chance to close it than he graPpled the jailor and prevented him from closing the door. Meador screamed for help snd fought desperately with tho Mexican to free himself from his iron grasp, and to prevent the other prisoners from escaping. h the tussle the Mexican wrested the big key from Meador's hand and 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 Meador was in pro- gress, Parker, charged with train robbery, and l.. c. Miller, charged with forgery, made their escape from the inside. Parker went into the jaiIor's room adjoining the entrance and secured a double barrelled shot gun, Winchester rife and a six shooter. Just as he came into the corridor of the jail with the weap- ons, Lee Norris. attracted by the cries for help from Meador, came down the stairway. On seeing the armed and desperate prisoners lie must have turned to fee up sta;ts again and as he did so Parker dis cherged one barrel of the shot gun the charge taking effect in Norris back and in his left side.
 By this time the Mexican released his hold on Meador and with Par ker and Miller started to run. As they left Meador fired three shots at them, but without effect.
 They went up stairs in the court house through the hali, passing out of the south door and went directly to Sheriff Ruffner's livery stable, where they held up the stable keeper and took two fine horses, one of them be- longing to a man named Yeomans, of Big Bug, and the other the fav- orite white horse belonging to the sheriff. Thoy did not take time to secure saddles. As they left they said tO the stable keeper, "Just tell them that you saw us"
 Chief of Police Prince and ex- Chief of Police Archibald; ;who were in front of the Corner drrg store when the affair happened, rushed up to the livery stable, arriving there just as the men were mounting the horses in the yard back of he sta oles, but as neither of them was armed they were compelled to let them pass unmolested.
 After mounting they rode down the alley, south, between Marina and Cortez streets to Carleton near Judge E. W. Wells residence, where they rode west to Cortez street going south on that street.
 Near R. Mosher's residence Miller and the Mexican, who were riding Yeoman's horse, fell of, but quickly remounted and they started over the hill in full view of hundreds Of people who by this time had been attracted by the shooting and the excitement.
 Fully fifty people were in the vi- cinity 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 organ ized and from fifteen to twenty men started in pursuit. w. J. Mulvenon who has had the arms of the old Prescott Grays stored at hlS place turned these guns over to the posse and Sam Hill furnished ammuni- ton for them. J. D. Moore joined the posse armed with a rife and took his blood hounds along to trail 1 the escapes.
 The key with which the Mexican struck Meador belonged to the out side door.
 The plan was evidently for the Mexican to secure this key over power Meador and then lock him in between the outer and inner doors secure arms from the iailor's room and escape unnoticed.
 At the livery stable one of the guns taken from the iailor's room was left and another one taken l from the stable.
 All three of them were armed, having two rifles, shot guu and six shooter.
 Jailor Meador was alone in the sheriff's office at the time they made the request for a bucket of water, Sheriff Ruffner being in Congress and Under Sheriff Dillon and Deputy Munds being at home.
 At this writing. an hour after the occurrence, Lee Norris wounds are not considered as dangerous as was at first thought as the gun was loaded with bird shot instead of buck shot. He is resting easy and the physicians have hopes of his rallying The other cartridges be- longing to the gun were opened and all found to contain buck shot, by some unaccountable accident this one alone having been charged with small shot.
 S,,n1o-s, IorD~yAr MyNsrp Exfra