The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-11
TWO FUGITIVE coNv1cTs CAPTURE
A SHERIFF AND HIS
DEPUTY
F1r " MAKE THEIR ESCAPE
Walked Through Gordon of Police,
Holding Their Prisoners in
Front of Them for
e Shields
POSSES NOW IN PURSUIT

TOPEKA Kan. Nov. 10.-Sherim Cook,
of this county, and Deputy Sheriff VIII
liamS were captured by two escaped
conyicts from the Fort Leavenworth
military prison this afternoon at Pauline,
five miles south of Topeka, and held
prisoners in the farm house of man
named Wooster for several hours. The
convicts finally escaped between line
: of police sent from Topeka to reinforce
the sheriff and are now at large. Both
were slightly wounded. Wooster was
badly wounded by one Of the convcts
when he tried to fire on them. Mrs.
Wooster and Sheriff Cook were held be-
fore the conyicts as a shield by the
prisoners in making their escape. A
posse is in pursuit tonight
At 2:30 this afternoon some farmer
boys near Pauline learned that the con-
Victs were in the neighborhood.
Hastily forming a posse, armed with
target rifles, pistols and clubs, they gave
chase Neither of the convicts were
armed and they were uEable to make a
stand. Later Sheriff Cook and Deputy
Williams arrived. Coming upon the con-
victs both officers fired, wounding the
men but not disabling them.
The convicts then fed through small
opening in the timber and ran into the
{. house OF Farmer Wooster. Sheriff Cook
then took up the chase. Thinking the
conyicts 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 as ordered to give up his
gun, which he did. Deputy Williams by
this time had reached the house and en-
xy-6a had
pened inside, and he, too, was made cap
tive by the convicts.
In the meantime Chief Stahl, of To-
peka, With eight officers We're on their
way. They arrived at the Wooster house
about an hour after the officers had been
imprisoned. Chief Stahl Immediately be-
gan negotiations with the conVicts 10
give up their prisoners and to surrender
themselves. but the convicts only laugh
ed. Farmer Wooster then managed to
get q gun and was about to make an at
tack on the convicts when one of them
laid him low with a blow from the butt
OF a revolver taken from one of their
captives. The convict broke Wooster s
right hand and cut an ugly cash in his
head.
One of the convicts told Sheriff Cook
that he would be killed if he made the
slightest move looking toward their
GERS on the outside had surrounded the
building, but were afraid to make. a
move. for fear that Cook and Williams
would suffer.
Make Their Escape.
Mrs Wooster had tainted during the
excitement. She finally revived, and at
o'clock the convicts placed the women
and Sheriff Cook in front of them as
4
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, wife and
sheriff before them, the convicts passed
between a Gordon of police, who could
easily have captured them, and started
for the railroad track. the sheriff had
in turn eXacted a promise from the po-
lice that they would not moest the con-
victs, and they did not.
After covering a. considerable distance
down the track the convicts suddenly
disappeared through a hedge fence, bid
ding the officers a mocking farewell. One
of the police sergeants later said he
could have easily touched the leading
convict with is hand as he 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 posse was started out,
and Chief Stahl expressed the opinion
tonight that he would land the men
before morning.
The convicts are well armed having
taken all the guns in ne farm house
including those of the sheriff and his
deputy. They are both white men, but
their identify was not learned