The San Francisco call., 1901-11-11
.FUGITIVES
ENTRAP TWO
PURSUERS
Escaped Convicts Make
Sheriff and Deputy
Prisoners.
Kansas Officers Are Held
Captive Three Hours in
Farmers House.
Criminals Force From Them a Prom.
ise of Immunity From Arrest and
Walk Unscathed Through
Gordon of Policemen.

' TOPEKA, Kans., Nov 1o.-Sheriff Cook
az this county and Deputy Sheriff Will
Uans were captured by two of the es-
zaped Federal penitentiary convicts this
afternoon at Pauline, five miles south of
here, and held for several hours. The
convicts, whose names cannot be learned,
then escaped through a line of policemen,
going eastward.
At 2:30 o'clock this afternoon some
farmer boys near Pauline became ac-
QUainted with the fact that the convicts
were in the neighborhood and soon had
a posse organized and were in pursuit.
The escaped prisoners had no arms or
ammunition and were compelled to run
before the posse. which was armed with
22-caliber rifles. small pistols, clubs and
almost every other kind Of weapon
The Sheriff soon heard of the chase and
started for the scene. He and Deputy
Williams came up to the convicts and
both Of the officers fired, wounding the
men, but not disabling them The con-
victs then fed through a small open space
in the timber and ran into the house Of
farmer named Wooster. The officers
followed.
Runs Into Arms of Convict.
Sheriff Cook believed the convicts had
run around the house and he darted
through the open door, intending to sur
prise them at the back door. But, in
stead Of this, the convicts had gone into
the house and as the Sheriff ran In he
fell right into the arms Of the convict
nearest the door. He was ordered to give
up his revolver, which he did. Deputy
Sheriff Williams had by this time reached
the house, not knowing what had occur
red, and he. too, was gathered in by the
convicts.
Before he was captured the Sheriff had
been thoughtful enough to telephone to
Topeka for help. Chief Stahl, with eight
officers, hastened to the scene and arrived
there after the other officers had been
imprisoned about an hour.
Chief Stahl Immediately began negotia-
tions with the convicts to give up their
prisoners and surrender themselves, but
they could not see it that way. Farmer
Wooster then managed to get a gun and
made an attack on the convicts, but was
laid low by a blow from the butt Of a
revolver. The fugitives broke Wooster s
right hand and cut an ugly cash in his
head.
Threaten to Kill Sheriff.
The leader Of the convicts told Sheriff
Cook that he would be killed if he made
the slightest move looking toward their
capture, and he promised TO be good. In
the meantime the police officers on the
outside were afraid to do anything, be-
cause the convicts threatened to kill the
imprisoned officers if they did
At o'clock the conVicts had managed
to revive Mrs. Wooster, who had tainted
from fright, and placed Sheriff Cook and
her in front of them as shields. They
then started out, after first exacting a
promise from Sheriff Cook that he would
not permit any of the officers to fire at
them. The prisoners left the house and
started down the railroad track. They
walked through Gordon of police off,
GERS. who could have captured them cas-
ny, but the Sheriff had given the con-
victs his word that they would not be
rnolested. After walking down for some
distance, the convicts suddenly disap-
peared through a hedge fence, after bid
ding the officers mocking farewell One
Of the police sergeants in attendance said
he could easily have touched the leading
, convict with his hand as he passed.
Prevents Capture of Fugitives.
The convicts got a good start before
the officers recovered from their surprise
Then some Of the policemen wanted to
pursue. but the Sheriff would not permit
it, as he said he had promised the fugi-
tives immunity from arrest.
The Chief Of Police started back to
town. but left some OF his men on the
scene, and they began a chase later on
They expect TO capture the convicts be-
fore morning, as the entire country is
aroused.
The convicts are well armed. as they
took all the weapons in the farmhouse.
including those Of the officers. Both are
white men
Sheriff Cook arrived from Pauline at Il
o'clock tonight. He was somewhat dis
figured and his clothes were ragged but
he had lost rome Of his nerve by his usage
at the hands Of the convicts. In telling
the story of his experiences he made no
attempt to conceal the humorous aspect
the affair. Sheriff Cook said that when
We and Deputy Williams reached the
scene in the afternoon one of the farmer
boys, lad Of IS years, who had been
chasing the convicts was popping away