Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-11-11
CAUGHT BY CONV|CTS
Sheriff Cook Captured by Two
Escaped Desperadoes,
In Kansas.
DICTATED TERMS FOR FLIGHT.
un&er Agreement Released Sheriff
Wousa Not Allow Them Pursued.
He ard a Woman Used as Shields.
Another Posse Pursued Later.

Another Posse Pursued Later.
Topeka, Kan, Nov. 11.-Some
farmer boys near Pauline learned Sun
day afternoon that two convicts from
the Fort LeavenWorth military prison
were in the neighbofhood. Hastily
forming a posse armed with target
rifles, pistols and clubs, they gave
chase. Neither Of the conyiets was
armed and they were unable to make
a stand Later Sheriff Cook and
Deputy Williams arrived.
The convicts then fled through
small opening in the timber and ran
into the house of Farmer Wooster.
Sheriff Cook telephoned to Topeka for
assistance He later was taken pris-
oner by the eonVicts.
In the meantime Chief Stahl, of To
peka, and eight officers were on their
way. They arrived at the Wooster
house about an hour after the officer
had been imprisoned. Chief Stahl
Immediately began negotiations with
the convicts to give up their prison
er and to surrender themselves, but
the convicts only laughed.
One of the eonvicts told Sheriff
Cook that he would be killed if he
made the slightest move looking to-
ward their capture In the meantime
the police officers on the outside had
surrounded the building, but were
afraid to make a move for fear that
Cook would suffer.
About o'clock last night the con-
victs placed the woman and Sheriff
IN, r1F ID H..
made for the door.
Passed Between Gordon of Officers.
Then, after exacting 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 and the submissive
sheriff before them, the convicts
passed between a Gordon of police,
who easily could have captured them,
and started for the railroad track.
The sheriff, in turn, had exacted
promise from the police that they
would not modest the convictst and
they did not
After covering a considerable dis
lance down the track the convicts
suddenly disappeared through a hedge
fence, bidding the officers a hooking
farewell. One of the police sergeants
later said he could have easily touch
ed the leading convict with his hand
as he passed.
The convicts had secured good
start before the officers had recovered
from their surprise. Then some Of
the policemen wanted TO pursue, but
Sheriff Cook would not permit it, as
he had promised the convicts immun-
ity from arrest.
Another Posse Started Later.
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 and Chief Stahl expressed
the opinion last night that he would
land the men before morning The
conviets are we'll armed having taken
all the guns in the farm house, includ-
ing those OF the sheriff. They are
both white men, but their identity
was not learned.
Sheriff Cook arrived from Pauline
about 10 O'Clock last night. He was
somewhat disfigured and his clothes
were ragged, bur he had lost none OF
his nerve by his usage at the hands
OF the convicts.
he said that when he and Deputy
Williams reached the scene in the at
ternoon farmer boy, lad of IS, who
had been chasing the convicts. was
popping away at the men with tar
get rifle, Cook snapped his revolver
five times, but only two cartridges ex-
ploded. One bullet hit the larger con-
Wet in the arm, while Williams
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,a he
said.
"Well,' the sheriff related, Il went
in" He continued: The woman
was screaming and Wooster was lying
on a couch unconscious. His skull
was cracked and his right hand was
broken. The other convict crouched
behind the door, his gun drawn upon
me- Having searched me, the big fel-
low asked if | was the sheriff,
I'm, looking for. the sheriff. he
faid: ! want to kill him.
Told Convict He Was Farmer.
Under the circumstances, said
Sheriff Cook, Il told him that | was
only farmer. Then he told me ho
would take me along as a 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
manned where he was.
Finally | was commanded to take
Mrs. Woosters arm. The conviets got
behind us and in that order we
marched to the field. Mrs. Wooster
was half fainting. She tried to I
scream, but | put my hand over her
mouth. They reached the hedge, the |
big man snapped his gun inoffectively /
at me, and both made off in the dark |
ness Deputy Williams was not cap |
tured, as at first supposed When he /
saw me taken he stood off from the |
house and the convicts did not modest |
him. The big man was about 30 years
old and his pal probably 25. The lit. /
LEA