The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-09
TAKING TAYLOR KIRK.
Graphic Account of the Excit-
ing Man-Hunt in Texas,
TO UNLOCK THE DARBlES
When He Escaped, He Made
a Brass Key With His Teeth.

Guthrie, o. T. Aug. seTaylor Kirk, the
man who murdered his sister, Ida Var
borough, in Washita county and attempts
ed to coerce his relatives into eaying that
she committed suicide Is as ingenious as
he is vicious When te escaped from jail
at Cloud Chief he was handcuffed, and
irons were also locked around his ankles
How he ever got these irons or has been
one of the perplexing problems to the peo-
pie of Oklahoma, who suspected connl-
vance on the part Of the tailor.
The mystery of how his shackies be-
came unlocked and the prisoner released
was fully explained by Kirk on his re-
capture. He made key out of the blank
cartridge shell. shaped in form with his
teeth. and let himself loose. Kinks word
IS fully corroborated by the key itself,
which was found In his pocket after the
recapture. The marks of his teeth can
plainly be seen where he used them to
shape the ingenious key, that would give
him his liberty.
The following account of the capture Of
Skinner and an exchange of shots with
Kirk as taken from the Vernon, Texas
Hornet:
Sheriff J. T. Williams received mes
sage Monday from Sheriff D. N. Morri-
son OF Washita county, o. T., to look out
for one Taylor Kirk. a bloody murderer.
who murdered his sister, Ida Marlborough,
July 4, last, who had broken jail at Cloud
Chief on the night OF July 20 The fol-
lowing Is the description of Kirk: Is years
old, feet 10 inches tall, weigh $50 pounds,
blue eyes and fair skin, curly auburn hair,
beard six weeks old, hair long and shaggy,
scar over foerhead, stripped pants, shop
boots. high heel, has a 32-40 Winchester
rifle. A young man by the name of Skin
ner, who was in jail for stealing a sad
die, also left with Kirk. Sheriff Williams
and exICfty Marshall Lanter put out in
seach of the fugitives and located them
at Self ranch in the Wichita brakes in
Baylor county. They struck the trail on
Pease river and followed south to Sells
d
IL they were there, with the understand
ing that If he found them he was to pre-
tend that he came after medicine. On ar
irving he told what he wanted. There
was no medicine at the house and the two
young men staying at the ranch suggest
ed that the boy go to Seymour after q.
dOctir and that they would go with him
as far as the river to help him cross. They
saddled their horses and started and then
abe boy revealed his true mission. All
three rode or and went to where the Of
iicers were waiting. The officers changed
cloths with the two young men and re-
turned to the house. On arriving they
both entered the same door and found that
no one was in bed. Kinks suspician had
been aroused and he had dressed himself.
The officers had on thir belts and coats
and had thir pistols in their pants so as
not to be detected. Williams saw Kirk
with Winchester in his hand by the side
of the house, Kirk made a break around
the cornor and then across the woodland
near by. with Williams after him. Will
liams shot several times at him but Kirk
did not stop but returned the fire. The
officers tracked Kirk eight miles, going
west in the Wichita brakes, within a mile
of Ed Suddeth's house. Kirk dropped his
nat when the shooting commenced, which
was found the next morning. Skinner was
brought to town and lodged in Jail Of
Ulcers from Baylor county took I'D the
trail"
Here Sheriff Morrison caught up with
Kirk and Joined Deputy John Self OF Bay
Tor county and Sheriff Cope of Foard
county and they got on the hot trail and
followed to the dougout OF an old bache-
Tor in the ceder brakes in Knox county.
where Kirk had rendesvouzed before
Here Neil secured further assistance from
WftherspOon's ranch near by and sur
rounded the dugout and lay in wait FOR
Kirk to appear. Someone got tired wait
Ing. and hallowed. and Kirk came out on
The run and passed near Neil, who took
out after him, shooting as he ran. and
soon had him in a hole in the ground.
Here they surrounded him and at the
point of dozen Misunderstanding was
forced to lay down his gun and hold I'm
his hands, while Neil placed the hand
cuffs on him.
He was brought to Vernon, where ne
and Skinner were put on the train and
brought to Cloud Chief and chained In tbA
cell by Neirs own hands Tuesday night
about nine o'clock. Nell Morricon has
covered himself all over with glory IN thu
chase for eight days and night without
rest or sleep."