The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-11-16
SHERIFF CAPTURED.
Official Undertakes to Secure Two
Escaped Convicts.
IL Himself Made Prisoner Instead-
yi:x CAptors Use Him ana Farm
er's Wife ms a Shield to-
Make Their Escape.

Topeka, Kan. Nov. IL. - Sheriff
Cook, of this county, captured by
two escaped convicts from the Fort
Leavenworth military prison Sunday
afternoon at Pauline, five miles
south of Topeka, and held prisoner
in the farmhouse of man named
Wooster for several hours. They
finally escaped between lines of po-
lice sent from Topeka to reinforce
the sheriff and are now at large.
Both were slightly wounded. Woos-
ter was badly wounded by one
of the convicts when he tried
to fire on them. Mrs. Wooster and
Sheriff Cook were held before the
convicts as n shield by the prisoners
in making their escape. 4 posse is
in pursuit.
Captured the sheriff.
At $3.50 Sunday afternoon some
farmer boys near Pauline learned
that the convicts were in the neigh
borhood. Hastily forming posse,
armed with target rifles, pistols and
clubs, they gave chase. Neither of
the convicts was armed and they
were unable to make stand. Later
Sheriff Cook and Deputy Williams
arrived. Coming upon the convicts
both of the officers fired, wounding
the men, but not disabling them.
The convicts then fled through
small opening in the timber and ran
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.
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 imprisoned.
Chief Stahl Immediately began nego-
tiations with the convicts to give up
their prisoners and to surrender
themselves, but the convicts only
laughed.
Farmer Wounded.
Farmer Wooster then managed to
get gun and was about to make an
attack on the convicts when one of
them laid him low with blow from
the butt Of revolver taken from
one of their captives. The convict
broke Woostcr's right hand and cut
an ugly cash in his head. One of the
convicts told Sheriff Cook that he
wouldbe killed il he made the slight
est move looking toward their cap
ture. In the meantime the police
officers on the outside had surround
ed the building, but were afraid to
make n move for fear that Cook and
Williams would suffer.
Used ms n Shield.
Mrs. Wooster had tainted during
the excitement. She finally revived,
and at seven o'clock the convicts
placed the woman and Sheriff Cook
in front of them as shields and made
for the door. 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, wife, and the
submissive sheriff before them, the
convicts passed between n Gordon OF
police. who could have easily cap
tured them, and started for the rail
road track. The sheriff had in turn
exacted a promise from the police
that they would not modest the con-
victs, and they did not.
COnvicts Escape.
After covering considerable dis
lance down the track, the convicts
suddenly disappeared through
hedge fence, bidding the officers a
knocking farewell. One of the police
sergeants later said he could have
easily touched the leading convict
with his hand as he passed. The con-
victs had secured n 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 9TH
ers, started back to Topeka to take
up the chase later on. From Topeka
posse was started out, and Chief
Stahl expressed the opinion that he
would land the men before many
hours. The convicts are well armed,
having taken all the guns in the
farmhouse. including those of the
sheriff and his deputy. They are both
white men, but their identity was not
learned.