Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1901-11-15
THEY HELD UP THE SHER|FFS
ESCAPED C0Nv1CTs FIGHT
They Were Chased Into House
Were Followed i'm by the Ofhcers
-COnvicts Bcstcd the Ofncers,
Took Their Guns and Made Escape
"A Farmer Also WOrsted.


"A Farmer Also WOrsted.
Topeka. Kan, Nov. 11.-Sheriff
Cook OF this county and Deputy Sher-
IN Williams were captured by two of
the escaped federal penitentiary con-
victs at Pauline, Ave miles south of
here. and held for several hours. The
convicts. whose names can not be
learned. then escaped through line
OF policemen. going east.
At 1880 Sunday afternoon some
farmer boys near Pauline became &C.
Quainted with the fact that the con.
yicts we're in the neigLborhood and
soon had a posse organized and were
chasing the cOnvicts all over the coun-
try. The escaped prisoners had no
arms or ammunition and were com.
PEELED to run before the posse which
was armed with % caliber rifles. small
pict0ls. clubs and most every kind of
small weapons. The sheriff soon
heard cf the condition of affairs and
started for the scene. He soon came
up to the cOnvicts and both Of the
officers fred. wounding the men but
not disabling them.
The convicts then fed through a
small open space in the timber and
ran into the house OF farmer named
Wooster. The officers followed. Sher
III Cook thought the convicts had run
around the house and he darted
through the open door. thinking to sur
prise them at the back door. But In
stead Of this the convicts had gone
into the house. AS the sheriff ran
in he fell right into the arms of the
convicts near the door. He was or.
dered to give up his gun. which he did.
Deputy Sheriff Williams had by this
time reached the house. not knowing
what had happened, and he. too, was
gathered In by the convicts.
Before he was captured the sheriff
had been thoughtful enough to tele-
phone to Topeka for help Chief Stahl
with eight officers. FASTENED to the
scene and arrived there after the Of
flcers had been imprisoned about an
hour.
Chief Stahl Immediately negotiated
with the cOAvicts to give up their pris-
cners and to surrender themselves.
but they could not see 1t that way.
Farmer Wooster then managed to
get gun and made an attack on the
convicts. but was laid low by blow
from the butt Of a revolver. The con-
victs broke Wooster's right hand and
cut an ugly cash in his head. The
leader Of the convicts then told Sher.
IN Cook that he would be killed II he
made the slightest move looking to.
ward their capture, and he promised
to be good. In the meantime the
police officers on the outside were
afraid to do anything because the con-
victs threatened to kill the imprisoned
officers II they did.
At o'clock the convicts managed
t. revive Mrs. Wooster who had faint.
ed from fright. and placed Sheriff
Cook and her In front of them as
shields. They then started out. after
first exacting a promise from Sherir
Cook that he would not order any OF
the officers to fire at them. Then they
left the house and started down thu
railroad track. They walked through
a Gordon Of police officers who coult
have captured them. but the sheriff
had given the convicts his word tina
they would not be molested and the,
were not. After walking for som
distance the convicts suddenly disaI
peared through a hedge fence. afte
bidding the officers hooking fare
well. One OF the police sergeants l
attendance said he could have easil
touched the leading convict with hi
hand as they passed.
The convicts had gotten good star
before the officers had recovered frol
their surprise. Then some Of the p
licemen wanted to pursue. but tn
sheriff would not permit II, as he sal
he had promised immunity from a
rest to the convicts.
The chief Of police then starte
back to town. but left some Of his me
on the scene. and they started on
ture the convicts before morning.
the entire country Is aroused by Il
stirring events happening on II
usually quiet Kansas Sunday.
The convicts are well armed, as the
took all the guns in the farmhous
including three OF the officers. befo
leaving. They are both white men.
Kansas City, Nov. 11.-Fourtet
escaped convicts from the Fort Lea
enworth prison are still at large,
though armed guards and either