Waterbury Democrat., 1901-11-11
CAUGHT BY CONNECTS.
Kansas Sheriff and Deputy Held by
 Escaped Prisoners.

EScapeu 8I1SOnefS.
 TOPEKA, Kan, Nov. 11.-Sheriff Cook and Deputy Sheriff Williams of this county were captured by two es- capedsconvicts from the Fort Leayen- worth military prison at Pauline, five miles south of Topeka, and held prison CTS in the farmhouse of man named Wooster for several hours. The con- victs finally escaped between a line of police sent from Topeka to re-enforce the sheriff and are now at large. Both were slightly wounded. Wooster was badly wounded by one of the conyicts when he tried to fire on them. Mrs. Wooster and Sheriff Cook were held be- fore the convicts as shield by the prisoners in making their escape. A posse is in pursuit.
 At 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon some farmer boys near Pauline learned that the convicts were in the neighbor- hood. Hastily forming a posse, armed with target rifles, pistols and clubs, they gave chase. Neither of the con victs was armed, and they were unable to make a stand. Later Sheriff Cook and Deputy Williams arrived. Coming upon the conyicts, both officers fired, wounding the men, but not disabling them.
 The convicts then fled through q small opening in the timber and ran in to the house of Farmer Wooster. Sher-. if Cook telephoned to Topeka for as- sistance and then took up the chase. Thinking the convicts had run around do Tod o11 10 open door. intending to surprise them at the rear door. But instead of this the conyicts 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 Will Hams 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 To- peka and eight officers were on their way. They arrived at the Wooster house an hour after the officers had been imprisoned. Chief Stahl immedi- ately began negotiations with the con yicts to give, up their prisoners and to surrender themselves, but the con- Victs only laughed. Farmer Wooster shen managed to get q gun and was about to make an attack on the con- victs when one of them lad him low with blow from the butt of revolv- q taken from one of their captiyes. The convict broke Wooster's right hand and made an ugly gash in his head.
 One of the convicts told Sheriff Cook hat he would be killed if he made the slightest move looking toward their .apture. In the meantime the police officers on the outside had surrounded the building, but were afraid to make l move for fear that Cook and Will iiams would suffer
 Mrs. Wooster had fainted during the excitement. She finally revived, and at o'clock 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 fright, -ACd AoIAnC1, Alo N Nl1C 1l4u 4IuG SuD- rnissive sheriff before them, the con- yicts passed between a cordon of po- lice, who easily could have captured hem, and started for the railroad track. The sheriff in turn had exacted prom ise from the police that they would not molest the convicts, and they did not.
 After covering a considerable dis tance down the track the convicts sud- lenly disappeared through hedge 'ence, bidding the officers mockng farewell. One of the police sergeants ater said he could have easily touched he lending convict with his hand as le passed.
 The convicts had secured good tart before the officers recovered rom their surprise. Then some of the ,olicemen wanted to pursue, but Sher- Cook would not permit it, as he had
 romised the convicrs immunity from lrrest.