The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-04

| MRS. MAGGIE a. BBOWN, WEST fGs
| PLEASANT, N. j.
the heavy door swung open on its massive
hinges. Stepping across the threshold the
sheriff called out in staccato whispers:
Jester! Jester"
What is it-what do you want?''
came back the eager questions from e
glcom-shrouded bunk.
Put on your clothes and come with me
quick" whispered back the sheriff.
There was the sound of hurried move
ment from the bunk and in an incredibly
short time Jester came forward and
touched the sheriff on the shoulder.
What is it?'' he whispered in eager in
quiry, "a rescue?"
Sheriff Trousdale did not answer but
guided the old man who was trembling
with the excitement Of supposed escape
outside the Jail and helped him into the
conveyance. The door of the Jail was again
locked, and taking his place on the front
seat with Nelson and Pittman, the sheriff
took up the lines for the return trip to
Shawnee. At the start he drove slowly
and carefully. but on leaving the outskirts
of the little shire town, the whip was free
ly applied and the frightened horses
sprang into a gallop which was main
tanned until Shawnee was reached.
For the first mile out of Tecumseh old
man Jester. perfectly happy in the delu-
sion that he was being driven TO freedom.
was content to remain silent and take his
anticipated happiness for granted. Then
UhiSuHrnd IN ne cit Il
him in the seat. a Pottawatomie county
deputy sheriff, who is in the front seat?'
Sheriff Trousdale, the county attorney
and the Missouri sheriff." and with a
sharp, quivering sigh Of anguish and dis
appointment the old man fell back and
maintained a silence of hopeless despair.
The swift-mOving team quickly covered
the six miles between Tecurnseh and
Shawnee. where the escape of kissing
steam told of the presence OF the special
that was to convey the prisoner and his
guards to Oklahoma City. Without any
unnecessary noise Jester was helped or
rather carried aboard the coach. There
was a defiant snort from the escape valve
Of the engine as the engineer jerked the
throttle open. and through the darkness
and gloom Of the early morn the special
speeded its way TO Oklahoma City, fifty
miles away.
The plans had been arranged so as to
make a close connection with the north
bound passenger train on the Santa Fe
which leaves Oklahoma City at 4:3O o'clock
in the morning, but II so happened that
the train was nearly two hours late, to
the intense disappointment and disnay
of Sheriff Nelson who dreaded every mo-
ment the appearance of an officer or a
telegram for the further detention of Jes-
ter.
Day had dawned and the morning sun
was shining brightly when at length the
delayed train steamed into the station,
hut the sleepy passengers apparently gave
little heed to the careless party, of which
and old. white-bearded man was the CEN
trail figure. To avoid attracting atten-
tion no handouts or shackles were placed
on the prisoner, the sheriff depending en-
tirely upon his own vigilance and that Of
his assistant to prevent an escape. Over
powerng his feeling of elaton over the
success of his plot was the constant dread
of discovery and it was not until Guthrie
was reached that Sheriff Nelson wrote out
n Photographed dispatch which he caused
to be sent to Mr.. Gates in Chicago. To
the casual observer the wording OF the
telegram would convey no particular
meaning, but the words: 81 have got my
man and am on my way rejoicing" were
fraught with the deepesh significance to
- nit tt-hnS
heart burns a desire of vengeance. the
fires OF which have not been quenched by
the lapse Of nearly a third OF a century.
At Guthrie an Eagle representative
Boarded the train and almost the first
person he encountered was Sheriff Mel
son. The recognition was mutual, but
with the advantage on the reporters side
in that the sheriff was not acquainted
with his profession. With his suspicious
aroused the newspaper fam started
through the train and in the second coach
seated by the SIDE OF a guard in double
seat. was Jester. whom he recognized
through the published pictures. IRE old
man was in his shirt sleeves and while his
face WAS not lighted up with the hapP;-
ness and content OF Il free man. ne GER
ta.Rly did not look 1.-The picture of de-
spair." There were no handouts on his
wrists. nor shackleS about his ankles. but
in the same seat with him was Deputy
Sheriff Howard Smith OF Pottawatomie
county. and as a further precaution the
window next to which the prisoner WAS
sitting was kept closed. Although the
coach Was crowded, none OF the other
passengers seemed TO have recognized the
prisoner. about whom the newspapers
have been printing columns, and when
the reporter essayed to enter into a con-
versation with the deputy sheriff he was
net with a wOrn.ng ''sh-h. Don't speak
SO loud. / don't want these people to catch
on" The deputy was evidently too muca
Weighted down with the responsibility Of
hs charge 10 be successfully interviewed.
50 the reporter agaln joined Sheriff Mel
son WAo as soon a-s the train passed be-
yond the Jurisdiction Of Oklahoma. read
ilV told the details ~