The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-27

went to the lower corridor to releaSe
the prisoners. Before he slips the lever
that unlocks the cells he has been in
the habit of going inside and securing
Filings cell so as not to give him the
liberty of the corridor with the other
prisoners.
This morning Jailer Lawson unlocked
the door of the inside corridor as usual.
Sounds of deep breathing came from a
half dozen of the cells and he had no
fear of impending danger. He had ia
ken not more than two steps inside the
corridor when Filing sprang like
panther from his concealment. His move
mentS were so cat-ike that Lawson did
not hear him.
The club came down with a crash on
the head of the jailer. For a moment
the officer lay sprawIing on the steel
floor of the corridor and in his half con-
seriousness he felt fingers fumbling at
his pocket. 1t was the hand of the
burglar hunting for the revolver of the
jailer. He graSped the hand and Strug-
gled to his feet. The two men were al
most facing each other when Filing
wrenched his right hand loose and step
ping back struck the jailer a terrible
blow across the forehead. The officer
dropped to his knees. Again and again
the murderouS club descended on his
head. The fingers of the officer which
had caught at the clothing of his as
sailant Ioosened their grasp and he fell
forward on his face.
Jailer Lawson, though only half con-
scious kept up an incessant shouting for
picked the keys up from the floor and
ran out. He stopped long enough to pull
the lever which unlocked every cell door
and let the prisoners out into the inner
corridor where the wounded man lay.
PRISONERS ALL GOT OUT.
The prisoners swarmed out and Jailer
Lawson staggered to his feet. He saw
that a wholesale Jail delivery was i'm
minent and he drove the men back into
their cells with threats. He then stag
n door pushed
lever down locking the cells. The burg
lar had not stopped to lock the outside
cell door and the wounded man. faint
from loss of blood succeeded in reaching
the jail office only to find that his man
had gone. Bert Carson, the boy stood
helpless in the office, white and tremb-
ling. The Jagged remains OF the plate
glass in the front door told of the means
of exit.
Bert Carson had heard the cries of
Lawson while he was in the struggle
with Filing in the inner corridor and he
went to the telephone to call the police
He was trying to ring central" when
Filing with Lawson'S revolver in his
hand rushed into the Office.
Leave that telephone alone or VIII
blow your brains OUT said Filing in a
low voice as he pointed the revolver at
the boy who needed no second admonl-
ton.
Carson then walked to the office win
dow and tried to signal man who was
passing on the sidewalk, but the man
did not see him, and again the revolver
was leVeled at the boy, who by TINS
time was almost dead from fear.
'-Give me the key to this front door
and be quick about it, said Filing.
II don't know whore the key is,' said
the boy.
Get in that corner then" said Filing,
land will find way out" He pointed
the revolver at Carson
He then tried to break the glass in
the door with his fist, but it was of
heavy plate and resisted his blows
Then he pounded out the glass with
the butt of the revolver.
BY this time the family Of Sheriff
Cook who live in the jail residence, had
been alarmed, and Mrs. Cook, wife of
the sheriff, had gone to the police sta
ton Filing had broken the revolver
in pounding the glass, but 1t still an
sWered his purpose, and as Jesse Cook,
son of the sheriff, came toward the Of
fee door he pointed the weapon at him.
At the same time he forced himself
through the opening he had made in the
door. Jesse Cook grappled with the man.
but he slipped on the broken glass ana
Filing escaped. He ran west, and just
as he was crossing Van Buren street,
which is in front of the jail, Policeman
A w. Hopkins and Mrs Cook reached
the iaiI The man ran down on Van
Buren, street and was soon out of sight.
DR.. Hall was summoned and attended
the wounded jailer. He said that he is
not yet able to tell what will be the re-
suit 1t was at first supposed that
Ja1ler Lawson Skull Was IIdCllA4 CO ny
the blows of the club, but it will not be
known for a, day or two how serious his
injuries are. There is a, cut three and
a half inches long in his forehead, his
ewes are blackened and there is a large
knot on the back of his head He was
taken to his home at noon He is still
in a dazed condition and is unable to
give a detailed account of the assault.
He does not remember how he was
struck nor when Filing relieved him of
his revolver.
AS soon as possible posse, headed by
Under Sheriff Williams and Chief of
Police Strauss, was organized, and they
are making a careful search for the
fugitive. Though he took Jailer Law
sons revolver with him, it is useless,
for on the inside of the door of the Jail
office was found the five cartridges and
parts of the weapon. He Is known as a
| desperate man. The officers think that
Filing will be captured, but he is an old
| criminal and is an adept at eluding Of
| ficers He would have been taken to
| the penitentiary in a few days.
Sheriff Cook is in Council Grove.
Both Filing and Mccoy, who were
| captured very cleverly, have thus es-
| capped and the efforts of the Shawnee
| county authorities to punish burglary
/ 10