The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-09-07
FOUR PRISONERS ESCAPE,
After Murderously Assaulting Dep
uty-sheriff Geo. N. Baker.
rwo OF THEM REcAPruRED.


Sheriff George N. Baker just before dusk
Saturday evening, and after beating him
into a state bordering on insensibility,
liberated two Of their fellow inmates.
amer which they locked the officer in a
cell and the four made their escape.
Deputy Baker had locked the sixteen
inmates OF the Jail in their cells for the
night and was about retiring from the
upper west corridor, when BEN Eddy.
Jenner townships bad boy. who il
charged with horse-stealing. asked him
to place rough box table stationed in
the corridor for the convenience OF the
prisoners. in the cell occupied by Harry
Zsrfoss, charged with opening switch
and robbiDg the lockwood postofIice. and
| himself, alleging that the table in their
cell was broken. The moment the kind
hearted officer unlocked the cell door,
the two boys-for Eddy is only II and
Zsrfoss Is years of age-pusted it open.
when zerfoss assaulted him with the
heavy leg Of an oak Office chair, raining
blow upon blow on his head with all his
strength. while Eddy attacked him with
a broom handle, poking its sharp end
viciously into the officers stomach.
Baker fought desperately, as his blood
smeared all over the sides of the cell and
the grated front mutely testifes. but he
was unable 10 long Withstand the un-
equal battle and soon sank to the floor,
bleeding from dozen wounds. One of
the prisoners secured the officers keys
and released Russell Schroyer and Pat
rick Morgan, charged with burglary,
after which they hustled Deputy Baker
into the cell vacated by Eddy and Ze--
foss and pulled the lever at the end of
the corridor. locking him mp securely.
The four prisoners then made their os-
cape through the front door of the jail,
passing through the Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's daughter, Miss Venie
Hartzsll. was about starting for horse
back ride when her escort saw the men
running from the Jail. She called to her
father, who was seated on the veranda OF
the Sheriff's residence conversing with
Mr.. and Mrs. J. c. Bennington, who had
come from Pitts6urg TO spend a few days
with Sheriff and Mrs. Hartzell, that the
prisoners were escaping, and a; her
fathers request she ran TO the courthouse
and tolled the bell, thus raising an alarm
within few minutes after the prisoners
made their dash for liberty. Sheriff
Hartzell rushed TO his offi-e. where he
secured brace of revOlvers, ana was in
hot pursuit of the criminals by the time
they had disappeared around the north
west corner of the courthouse square.
He leaped the high fence at single
bound, a feat he would not undertake
under less exciting and pressing con-
ditions, but was too late 10 catch
glimpse OF the prisoners. who by this
time had disappeared beyond the ceme-
terry hill.
Meanwhile an excited crowd of several
hundred people surrounded the Jail. The
other inmates of the prison were CRYING
loudly for help, and when their cries
were ansT cred they told of the assault
on Deputy-Sherif Baker. Baker was
found in the cell in which he had been
locked, faint aud groaning with pain.
He was assisted to the Sheriff 5 private
Office, where in the bright glare Of the
electric light his wounds were washed
aud examined. His shirt-front and vest
were saturated with blood running from
ten or twelve wounds on his head and
long cash cut on his left cheek. Both of
his eyes were swollen shut and black
Jumps the size of an egg were prominent
above his diseolored optics. Blood was
streaming from his mouth and nose and
he presented an altogether horrible spec
tacle. DR.. Louther was prompt in reply
ing to q summons for professional assist
anee, and after the disabled officer had
been removed to the Sheriff s parlor, he
stitched up the gashes cut in his scalp
and applied lotions 10 reduce the
swollen condition of his head. Later in
the evening the disabled officer was
placed in bed aud remained at the Sher
ih's residence until Sunday morning,
when he was removed to his home.
where he will in all probability be con-
fined for week or ten days before his
wounds have healed sufficiently to per-
init him to resume his official duties.
A search of the jail revealed the club
Zsrfoss had used with such murderons
intent upon the deputy and the keys
wrested from the grasp of the brave OFF,
Ger. The club was broken and splintered
and coated with blood, and the wonder
is that il was not the means of causing
murder.
While the excited crowd gathered in
front of the Jail, where il was believed for
a short time that Deputy Baker had been
-. ...-..1r.. .......,Ro1 Sba-;fr TT,-.-.ff and
a large posse surrounded a corniield at
the northwest edge of town, in which
several persons claimed TO have seen the
fugitiyes take shelter. A. J. Stein, of the
C numerical Hotel. and Frank McDOnlld,
the well known B & o. conductor from
lockwood. had started in pursuit of the
escaped prisoners and were driving down
Union street at top speed, whe1 they saw
a man lying concealed in the gutter in
front of the borough water pumps. Nc
Donald sprang from the buggy and show
ing a revolver under the mans nose com
manded him TO surrender. The man
was not SLOW in complying with the de-
m and and admitted that his name was
Morgan and that he was one Of the fugi-
tive prisoners. He said that he was un
able To keep up with his companions, as
he was "out Of fog breath-and de-
clared that be did not know the direction
they had taken after they separated at
the cemetery. He was returned to Jail
and locked 0p.
Zerfoss boarded a freight train at
Welrs Creek station at an efrly hour
Sunday morning. when he was promptly
recognized by one of tie brakemen who
had known him in lockwood. The
brakemen directed him to conceal him
self in a certain car, and when the train
reached Hooversville he pointed out the
fugitive to the local constable, who had
been notified by telegraph to be at the
station and arrest him. zerfoss was
greatly su prised when he was placed |
under arrest and fought viciously. lie
attempted to break out OF the Hoovers-
Vile lookup. when the officer at that
place found it necessary 70 place hand
cuffs on him. He was brought TO Somer-
set on an afternoon freight train and re- |
Turned TO Jail. Zerfoss claims that Eddy |
assaulted Deputy Sheriff Baker. and that !
he only gave the officer q few jabs in the
ribs. He viii be kept in solitary confine-
ment until the charges resting against
him. 70 which will be added aggravated |
assault and battery and Jail breaking,
\ A. ~