The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-11
Both Are Wounded, but They Injure
a Farmer Badly and Later Make
Their Way to Freedom.
WALK THROUGH POLICE GORDON
USING THE SHERIFF AND FARMERS
WIFE AS SHIELDS.
Posse from Topeka Is in Pursuit.
None of the Fourteen Fugitives
Has Been Captured.

TOPEKA, Kan, Nov. 10.-Sheriff Cook
of this county. and Deputy Sheriff Will
liams were captured by two escaped con-
victs from the Fort Leavenworth military
prison this afternoon at Pauline, five miles
south of Topeka, and held prisoners in the
farmhouse of a man named Wooster for
several hours. The convicts escaped
through a line of police 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 con-
victs when he tried to fire on them. Mrs.
Wooster and Sheriff Cook were held before
the convicts as a shield by the fugitives in
making their escape. A posse is in pur
suit tonight.
At 2:3O this afternoon 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 a stand. Later Sheriff Cook and
Deputy Williams arrived. Coming upon the
convicts, both officers fired, wounding the
men, but not disabling them.
The convicts then ned through a small
opening in the timber and into the
house Of Farmer Wooster. Sheriff Cook
telephoned to Topeka for assistance, and
then took up the chase. Thinking the con-
victs had run around the house, Cook dart
ed through the open door, intending to sur
prise 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 was ordered to give up
his gun, which he did. Deputy Williams,
by this time, had reached the house and
entered, without knowing what had hap
pened inside, and he, too, was made cap
tive by the convicts.
In the meantime Chief Stahl, of Topeka
and 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 negotiations
with the convicts to give up their prisoners
and to surrender themselves, but the con-
victs only laughed. Farmer Wooster then
managed to get a gun and was about tC
make an attack 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
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 capture. Ir
the meantime the police officers on the out
side had surrounded the building, but were
afraid to make move for fear Cook anC
Williams would suffer.
Mrs. Wooster had tainted during the ex-
element She finally revived and at
o'clock the convictS placed the woman
and Sheriff Cook in front of them as shield:
and made for the door. Then after exact
ing 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
farmers wife and the submissive sheriff
before them, the convicts passed through
the Gordon of police, who could have easily
captured them, and started for the rail
road track. The sheriff had in turn exacteC
a promise from the police that they would
not modest the convicts and they did not.
After covering a considerable distanc,
down the track, the convictS suddenly dis
appeared through a hedge fence, bidding
| the officers a mocking farewell. One OF tn,
police sergeants later said he could hav'
easily touched the leading convict with hi
hand as he passed.
The convicts had secured a good star
| before the officers had recovered from thei
| surprise. Then some of the policemen
wanted to pursue, but Sheriff Cook woulC
| not permit IL, as he had promised the con
victs immunity from arrest.
Chief Stahl left some OF his men on tn
I scene and with the others started back t
| Topeka to take up the chase later on
From Topeka posse was started out ant
| Chief Stahl expressed the opinion to-nigh
| that he would land the men before morn
| ing.
The convicts are well armed. having takei
| all the guns in the farm house, includin,
| those of the sheriff and his deputy. Boil
| are white men, but their identity was no
| learned.