Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-04-12
Escape and Recapture of Dan. D"wnin


Dan. Downing, who was under sentence
of death for the murder Of Joe Anderson
at Ovehut last summer. escaped from The
county iail at Montesano last Thursday
about noon, while Deputy Sheriff Hep
finger was at dinner, Sheriff HUFF beng
absent. attending the republican state
convention at Ellensburg.
The conviction OF Downing was entirely
upon ciwumstantial evidence and his
counsel, j. G. Cross, has appealed and is
now preparing bis case for the supreme
court. downing had help from outside
the Jail, as Il set OF burglar tools were left
behind him in the II.
From John Humphrey, who was con-
fined in the Jail with Downing, it is learned
that the latter had been engaged in cut
ting the iron bars Of the Jail window, as
opportunity afforded, for more than Il
month, and when Deputy Heptinger went
to dinner Thursday he hastily finished
cutting two OF the bars. and, taking some
bread and coffee, crawled through the
opening, OF about 1Oxl5 inches, and start
ed for the adjacent woods, having,
Humphrey said, two revolvers with him.
After he left Humphrey crawled out OF
the hole and gave the alarm, but the
prisoner had gained the woods.
Deputy Heptinger at once organized a
pursuit and telegraphed Sheriff HUFF, as
well as the authorities in the Sound cities
and adjacent counties, and before night
had parties scouting the woods in all d.
rections. This was continued unit Sat.
urlay afternoon when Downing was found
within mile Of the Jail in an exhausted
condition, and very willing to return.
1t appears that lie had been sick for
some time before his escape, and whoever
aided him 10 get out Of the Jail failed to
assist him in getting away. In his weak
ened condition he could not travel far at
time. and the cold stormy nights;
Thursday and Friday, completely used
him up. and he was forced to seek shelter
He went to the house OF Chas. Keller, in
the northern part OF the city, and asked
to be taken in, but Mrs. Keller was afraid
to admit him. He next went to the resi-,
dence OF II. Il. Shorey. and was refused
admittance by Mrs. shorey, who recog--
nized him, and, after he departed, went
to the logging camp OF Mowbray BROS;
near by, and informed Lon Mowbray and
]. A. Perkins that Downing was in the
immediate vicinity. a short search dis.
CONeTtU tIlc cSCapcu PIioOuct AJ'"S .'o.P
less in the brush, and he begged to be
taken to town. Messrs Now bray and
Perkins carried him tc town where med
ical aid was summoned, and arrived none
too soon, as the man was completely
collapsed. So much so that his recovery
is considered doubtful. A 81 calibre
revolver was found on him.
The authorities believe they have track
of the party who aided Downing from
the outside, and will follow it up vigor-
ously. The custom in vogue in the jail,
to allow the prisoners the liberty OF the
corridor all day, with, practically: free
communication with the outside, is en-
tirely too loose method to adopt with
dangerous criminals. The fact that
Downing had the tools and was engaged
in cutting his way ont Of Jail for !. month
reveals lack OF discipline entirely in
ex,usable in the officers charged with
the safe keeping Of criminals. and, in
auditing the bills Of expense incurred in
the search. the commissioners should see
to 1t that II the escape was due to neglect
Of duty by the sherifs Office, the burden
of the extra expense entailed should not
fall on the taxpayer il it can he avoided.