The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-19

carry them, but few of them are to be
trusted On occasions of this kind eV-
cry one sees in hiding in the brush, the
convicts and the prison authorities are
Immediately notified.
1t would require two or three regi-
ments of soldiers to furnish posses to
run down every rumor.
Warden Tomlinson is convinced that
the two men are not cornered, but is in
cIined to believe that they have escaped
from the pursuing posse.
The Warden'S opinion is based upon
the information which he has received,
none of which indicates that the men
have been again cornered in the woods.
Samuel Smith, the third convict, who
while attempting to escape, was shot by
Deputy Warden William Thompson OF
Topeka, is dead.
Smith, according to the Wichita police
is the most desperate criminal in this
section of the country. In July, 1898,
Smith, together with a half breed In
dian named Tom Wind, boarded a F'ris-
CO train at Andover, miles east of
Wichita, and after it had gone about a
mile from the station, the two held up
the passengers by threatening them
with their pistols. The passengers de-
Hvered their money, amounting to sew
eral hundred dollars, after which the
desperadoes made their escape. The
train was stopped and a posse of Ando-
yer farmers, led by a young man named
George Belford was organized and be-
gan a search for the robbers. They came
when cOrnered Smith shot and killed
Belford and then both robbers escaped
The railroad company's best detectives
and those of the Fargo company
together with United States secret ser
vice men, were detailed on the case. At
ter a search that took them all over the
territory and adjoining states and con-
tinued for four weeks. the robbers were
finally located and arrested 25 miles
south of Coheyville, in the Indian Terri
tory Smith was taken in chains to the
Butler county Jail, but both men were
taken to Wichita for safe keeping. There
Smith was placed in solitary confne-
ment, and during the year he was in Jail
an extra guard was placed over
him constantly and at night he was put
in chains. The officers here knew that
he would make a desperate attempt TO
escape and they took no chances Smith
was serving a life term in prison for the
murder of BeIford when he was killed
The half breed turned witness for the
state and is now serving ten years
ESTELLES RECORD OF CRIME
E. F. Estelle, the leader of the trio
who escaped from the coal mine in the
penitentiary Friday and the man who
planned the daring deed, has been in the
hands of the officers of the law several
times within the past year. This is his
second escape.
EsteIle is an old timer He was re-
leased from the penitentiary in Septem-
Der, 1899, after serving a sentence for
T. bbing the postOffice at Belleville
Kansas. He was out OF the convict
garb but a few days when he married
a girl in LaFontaine, Kansas. He mad
met her before going to the penitentiary
and while in prison he had coresp5nded
with her by sending his letters to a
friend in Texas who forwarded them to
the girl Esstelle told his sweetheart that |
he was making his living as a book
agent and to prove it had his friend in
Texas send the girl a Bible. The couple |
had been married but a few weeks when |
Estelle and his wife came to Topeka and
secured rooms at small hotel on East I
Fourth street
He left his wife at the hotel for a few |