The age-herald., 1901-11-11
Holding Sheriff and a Woman Before Them They Escape
 Through the Police
SHERIFF HAD ID MAKE TERMS
Two convIets Entrap Sheriff and De- putty Into Farm House and
 Take Away Their Guns.
 Farmer Wounded. vt1

this county and Deputy Sheriff Williams were captured by two escaped convicts from the Fort Leavenworth military pris- on this afternoon at Pauline, five miles south of Topeka, and held prisoners in the farm house of a man named Wooster for several hours. The convicts finally walked off between a line of police sent from Topeka to reinforce the sheriff, and are now both at large. Each were slightly wounded. Farmer Wooster was badly wounded by one of the convicts when he tried to fire on him. Mrs. Wooster and Sheriff Cook were held before the con victs as a shield by the prisoners in mak- ing their escape. A posse is in pursuit tonight
 At 2:So this afternoon some farmer boys near Pauline learned that the convicts were in the neighborhood. Hastily form ing a posse, armed with target rifles, pis- tols and clubs, they gave c,ase. Neither of the convicts was armed, and they were unable to make a stand. Later Sheriff Cook and Deputy Williams ar rived. Coming upon the convcts, both of the officers fired, wouHding the men, but not disabling them.
 The convicts then fled through a small
 convicts Fled Through Woods. opening in the s'lnber and ran into the house of farmer Wooster Sheriff Cook telephoned to Topeka for assistance and then took up the chase. Thinking the convicts had run around the house, Cook darted through the open door, intending to surprise them at the rear door. But instead 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 entered without knowing what had happened inside and he, too, was made captive by the convicts. In the meantime Chief Stahl of Topeka with eight officers were on their way. They arrived at the Wooster house about an hour after the officers had been impris- oned. Chief Stahl immediately began ne- gotiations with the convicts to give up their prisoners and to surrender them selves, but the convicts only laughed. Farmer Wooster then managed to get a gun apd was about to make an attack 
 him low with a blow from the butt of a revolver taken from one of their cap lives. The convict broke Wooster's right hand and cut an ugly gash in his head.
 One of the convicts told Sheriff Cook that he would be killed If he made the slightest move toward 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 and Williams would suffer.
 Mrs. Wooster Painted.
 Mrs Wooster had tainted during the excitement. She finally revived and at ' oclock 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 farmers wife and the submissive sheriff before them the convicts passed between cordon of police, who could have easily captured them, and started for the railroad track. The sheriff had in turn exacted a promise from the police that they would not molest the convicts and they did not
 After covering themselves a considera- ble distance down the track the con- victs suddenly disappeared through a hedge fence bidding the offictrs a mock ing farewell. One of the police sergeants later said he could have easily touched
 
 passed.
 The convicts had secured a good start before the officers had recovered from their surprise. Then some of the police men wanted to pursue but Sheriff Cook would not permit it. as he had promised the convicts 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 and Chief Stahl expressed the opin- ion tonight that he would land the men before morning.
 The convicts are well armed, having taken all the guns in the farm house, including those of the sheriff and his deputy. They are both white men, but their identity was not learned.
 No Other convicts Captured.
 None of the fourteen escaped convicts from the Fort Leavenworth prison at liberty last evening were taken today. although armed guards and citizens kept up a steady hunt all day Sunday Last evening three of the prisoners held up and robbed man near Manhattan, Kan, but escaped and all trace of them was lost. One of the men is believed to be Frank Thompson, the notorious negro leader of the mutiny.
 At the prison today John Green, a white convict who was wounded Friday at Nor tonville, when two of his comrades were killed by citizens. suffered the amputa- tion of his leg. He will recover. Quinn Font, killed at the stockade while at- tempting to escape. and James Huffman. killed in the Nortonville raid, were buried