The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1901-11-15
CONVICT CHASE STILL ON
Two Fugitives Surrounded in
Farm House, but Escape.
HUTiNEERs TRAP OFFICERS.

Sheriff Cook and Deputy Are Them
selves Made risoners-Forced to
Promise Immunity From Arrest.
Farmers Wife Used as Shield.
Topeka, Kan, Nov. 11.-Sheriff
Cook of this county and Deputy Sher-
iff Williams were captured by two es-
capped convicts from the Fort Leaven-
worth military prison yesterday after
noon at Pauline, five miles south OF
Topeka, and held prisoners in the
farm houss of man named Wooster
for several hours. They finally es-
capped between a 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 convicts when
he tried to fire on them. Mrs.
Wooster and Sheriff Cook were held
before the convicts as shield by the
prisoners In making their escape. A
posse is in pursuit.
At 2:30 p. m. some farmer boys
near Pauline learned that the convicts
were in the neighborhood Hastily
forming a 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 De-
putty Williams arrived. Coming upon
the convicts, both officers fired
wounding the men, but not disabling
them. The convicts then fled through
small opening in the timber and
ran into the house of Farmer Wooster
Sheriff Cook telephoned to, Topeka for
assistance and then took up the chase
Thinking that 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 Gives Up His Gun.
Sheriff Cook was ordered to give up
his gun, which he did. Deputy Will
Jams by this time had reached the
house and entered without knowing
what had happened inside, and he,
too, was made captive by the con-
victs.
In the meantime Chief Stahl of To
peka with eight officers were on the
way. They arrived at the Wooster
house about an hour after the officers
had been imprisoned. Chief Stahl i'm
mediately began negotiations with the
convicts to give up their prisoners
and to surrender themselves, but the
convicts only laughed. Farmer Woos-
ter then managed to get a gun and
was about to make an attack on the
convicts when one of them laid him
low with blow from the butt of a re-
volver taken from one of their cap
tives. The convict broke Woosters
right hand and cut a cash in his
head. One of the convicts told Sheriff
Cook that he would be killed if he
made the slightest move looking to-
ward their capture. In the mean
time, 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.
Walk OFF Unmolested.
Mrs. Wooster had tainted 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 to fire on
them, they started for the open. AS
they left the house with the fright
ened farmer, wife and the submissive
sheriff before them, the convicts
passed between a Gordon 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 a considerable dis
tance down the track, the convicts
suddenly disappeared through hedge
fence, bidding the officers a mocking
farewell. One of the police SER
geants later said he could have easily
touched the leading convict with his
hand as he passed.
The convicts had secured a good
start before the officers had recovered
the policemen wanted to pursue, but
Sheriff Cook would not permit it, as
he had promised the convicts immuni-
ty from arrest.
Sheriff Stahl left some of his men
on the scene and with the others
started back to Topeka to take up the
chase later on. The convicts are we'll
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.
Sheriff Cook arrived from Pauline
at 10 o'clock last night. He was
somewhat disfigured and his clothes
were ragged, but he had lost none of
his nerve by his usage at the hands
of the convicts. In telling the story
of his experiences he made no at
tempt to conceal the humorous aspect
of the affair. He said: Deputy Will
Jams was not captured, as at first re-
ported. When he saw me taken he
stood off from the house and the con-
victs did not molest him"
Maekad Man Paid 4 odoinn Lousa