Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-28
WALKED OUT
OF CITY JAIL
UNMOLESTED.
Men Charged With Grave Crimes
Make Good Their Escape.
COLLINS AND WESNER ARE THE MEN
Alleged Officer Ninemier Left Lock
OFF Outside Door, When He Gave
Prisoners Their Breakfast-collins
Charged With Burglary.
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
The door of the city Jail was left
unlocked by one of the policemen this
morning and two men charged with
grave crimes walked out unmolested
and made good their escape. The
men We're John Collins, charged with
the robbery at the Big Store Monday
night, and Frank Wesner, of Bloom
field, who was arrested last night for
the Bloomfield officers, being charged
with perjury.
About $50, John Ninemire, one of
the officers on duty at the station,
handed in the breakfast to the prison.
ers confined in the city Jail. 1t is al
legged when he did this and came out
of the Jail he left the lock on the door
unfastened. One of the men reached
out, and throwing back the bolt walk
ed out. Collins and Wesner stepped
out into the corridor where Assistant
Chief Schmidt and several of the fire.
men were standing, and after talking to
them several minutes, walked on out
of the front door and started up Mar
ket street. The firemen did not know
the men and consequently made no eff
fort to detain them.
When they reached the Methodist
church their absence was discovered,
and frantic chase began. The men
ran over Green street. and out to
Fifth, turning west on Fifth then ran
to near the Episcopal church, then
running down the alley between
Fourth and Fifth they started west in
the alley and disappeared. Officers
Grammer, Pitts and Ninemire were af-
ter them all the time, but were dis
tanced, and all returned to the sta
tion. At 10 o'clock no trace of the
men had been discovered, altho all the
police in town had been notified and a
search is still being kept up. Collins
is a stranger in the city; is small,
dark complexioned man, wearing dark
clothes. He was arrested early yes
terday morning by Chief Williams and
Captain Gray with some of the goods
alleged to have been stolen from Phil
lips store in his possession, which
were later identified by Mr.. Phillips
employees. His preliminary trial was
to have been held at 8 o'clock this
morning. Wesner is young fellow
from Bloomfield, whom instructions
were given yesterday to the Ottumwa
officers to arrest. He was wanted in
the city on the charge of perjury. 1t
was learned he was trying
to enlist in the regu-
| lar army, and upon a watch being
placed at the recruiting office he was
soon located. While the officers were
watching, however, he gave them the
| slip, and it was not until about 9
o'clock last night that he was again
caught. Bloomfield officers were not,
flied, and they were to have been here
this morning to take him back.
| Police Court.
w. M Adams, who was arrested
yesterday in connection with Collins
for the Phillips robbery, was arraign.
ed in police court this morning and
his trial was set for 2 o'clock tomorrow
afternoon. His bonds were fixed at
$500, in default of which he was
committed to the county jail. L. G.
Hendershott appeared as his attorney
Mr.. Collins acknowledged he was in
toxicated last night and was fined SIC
and committed. Three "vags" were
given three days on the rock pile and
another man, P. Ryan, who claimed he
was member of Columbian knights
and made a pretty good talk, was re
elased on his promise to leave town.