Evening star., 1901-11-11
CoNVICTS TAKE SHERIFF
FORCE HIM TO GRANT IMMUNITY
FROM ARREST.
They Then Escape Through the Cor
don of Police - II Remarkable
Case in. Kansas.

A dispatch from Topeka, Kan, yesterday
saws: Sheriff Cook and Deputy Sheriff Will
Jams of this county were captured by two
escaped convicts from the Fort Leaven-
worth military prison this afternoon at
Pauline, five miles south of Topeka, and
held prisoners In the farmhouse of a man
named Wooster for several hours. The con-
victs finally escaped between the lines of a
police force sent from Topeka to reinforce
the sheriff, and are now at large. Both
were slightly wounded. Wooster was bad
~ wounded by one of the convicts when he
tried to fire on them. Mrs. Wooster and
Sheriff Cook were held before the convicts
as a shield by the prisoners in making their
escape. A posse is in pursuit tonight.
At 2:30 o'clock this afternoon some farIn-
er boys near Pauline learned that the con-
victs were in the nefghborhood. Hastily
forming a posse, armed with target rifles.
pistols and clubs, they gave chase Neither
OF the convicts was armed, and they were
unable to make a stand. Later Sheriff
Cook and Deputy Williams arrived. Coming
upon the convicts, both officers fired,
wounding the men, but not disabling them.
The convicts then fed through a small
opening in the timber, and into the
house of Farmer Wooster Sheriff Cook
telephoned to Topeka for assistance, and
convicts had run around the house, Cook
darted through the open door, intending
to surprise them at the rear door, but, inz
stead of this, the convicts had gone into
the house and the officer almost fell into
their arms.
Sheriff Cook was ordered to give up his
gun, which he did. Deputy Williams, by
this time, had reached the house and en-
tered without knowing what had hap
pened inside, and he, too, was made cap
tive by the convicts
In the meantime Chief Stahl of Topeka
and eight officers were on their ways They
arrived at the Wooster house about an
hour after the officers had been imprison-
ed. Chief Stahl Immediately began ne
gotiations with the conviets to give up
their prisoners, and to surrender them
selves, but the convicts only laughed.
Farmer Wooster then managed to get d
gun and was about to make an attack on
the convict when one of them laid him
low with a blow from! the hutt of re-
vofver, taken from one Eof their captives
The convicts broke Woosters right hand
and made an ugly cash in hts head.
One of the convicts told Sheriff Cook
that he would be killed if he made the
slightest move looking toward their cap
ture. In the meantime the police officers
had surrounded the building, but were
afraid to make a move for fear that Cook
and Williams would suffer-
Mrs. Wooster had tainted during the ex-
citement. She finally revived, and at Z
o'clock the convicts placed the woman and
Sheriff Cook in front of them as shields
and made for the door.
Then, after exacting a promise from the
sheriff that he would not permit any of
the officers outside to fire on them. they
started for the open. AS they left the
house the frightened farmer. his wife ana
the submissive sheriff before them, the con-
victs passed between a gordon Of police,
who easily could have captured them. and
started for the railroad track. The sheriff
ir, he.
police that they would not molest the con-
victs, and they did not.
After covering a considerable distance
down the track the convicts suddenly dis
appeared through hedge fence, bidding
the officers a mock farewell. One of the
police sergeants later said he could have
easily touched the leading convict with his
hand as ne passed.
before the officers had recovered from their
surprise. Then some of the policemen
wanted to pursue, but Sheriff Cook would
not permit 1t, as he had promised the con-
victs immunity from arrest.
Chief Stahl left some of his men on the
scene, and with the others started back
to Topeka to take up the chase later on.
From Topeka a posse was started out, apd
Chief Stahl expressed the opinion tonight
that he would land the men before morn
ing.
The convicts are well armed, having taken
all the guns from the farmhouse, including
those of the sheriff and his deputy They
are both white, but their identity was not
learned
Sheriff Cook arrived from Pauline at 10
o'clock tonight. He was somewhat disfig-
ured and his clothes were ragged, but he
had lost none of his nerve by his usage at
the hands of the convicts.
He said that when he and Deputy VIII
Jams reached the scene In the afternoon a
farmer boy, lad of eighteen. who had
g. target Cook
snapped his revolver five times but only
two cartridges exploded One bullet struck
the larger convict in the arm, while Will
Jams caught the other with bullet in the
leg. Then long chase ensued.
Cook finally reached the Wooster farm
house, where the big convict met him at
the door and commanded him to come IN.
Come in here, or I'll kill you," he said.
"Well,' the sheriff related, II went in
He continued:
1.-The woman was screaming and Woos-
ter was lying on couch unconscious. His
skull was cracked and his right hand was
broken: The other convict crouched be-
hind the door, his gun drawn upon me.
Having searched me. the big fellow asked
"I am looking for the sheriff. he said
| 4 want to kill him.
Under the circumstances" said Sheriff
COOK. II told him that was only farmer.
along as shield from the men outside.
Stahl and his men had arrived by that
time, and the big man told me to call him
into the house. He said he wanted more
guns and another shield, But Stahl re-
mained where he was
FINALLY l was commanded to take Mrs.
Wooster's arm. The convicts got behind
us. and in that order we marched to the
field Mrs. Wooster was half fainting. She
tried to scream. but I put my hand over
her mouth. They reached the hedge, the
big man snapped his gun ineffective!y at
me and both made of I'M the darkness.
xUoc
first reported. When he saw me taken he
stood off from the house and, the convfcts
did not modest him. The big man was
about thirty years old and his PAL about
twenty-five. The smaller man left his
shoes. which will give the bioodhounds
the scent"
BISHOP AS MEDIATOR.
Mgr. Sbaretti Credited With This Mis-
sion to PliIinuinea.