Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-11
Used Him as a Shield TO Effect
Their Escape,
WALKED AWAY TO LIBERTY
Through IA Gordon a Police Were
Saved Through sheriil-s prointse
TO Them Of No Molesiatlon.

using as shield the sheriff of this
(Shawnee) county, and a woman, the
wife OF farmer In whose home they
had taken refuge, walked through a
Gordon of police who could have easily
captured them. bade them a cordial
farewell and then skipped out. The
men had captured the officer and using
him. together with the woman. as a
means to escape again.
AT 2;3O this afternoon some farmer
boys meas Pauline became acquainted
with the fact that two convicts were
IN the Deighborhood and soon had a
posse organized and were chasing the
conVlcts all over the country, The es-
capped prisoners had no arms or ammu-
milton and were compelled to run be-
fore the posse. which was armed with
twenty-five rifles, small pistols. clubs
and most every kind OF small weapons.
The sheriff soon heard of the conii-
ton OF affairs and started to the scene.
lie soon came up to the cOnyicts and
fred' wounding the men, but not dis
abling them. The convicts then fed
through a small open space In the tim
Der and ran into the house Of farmer
named Wooster. Meanwhile the sheriff
had telephoned to Topeka for help.
Sheriff Cook thought the convlcts had
run around the house, and he started
through the ovan door. thinking to sur
prise them al the back door. But in
stead Of this the conylcts had gone into
the house, and as the sheriff ran In he
fell right into the arms OF the con-
yicts nearest the door. He was ordered
TO give up his gun, which he did. Dep
uty Sheriff Williams had by this time
reached the house, not knowing what
had happened, and he too was gathered
in by the conyicts.
Chief Stahl with eight officers has
tened TO the scene and arrived there af-
ter the other officers had been imprls-
oned about an hour. Chief Stahl i'm
mediately began negotiations with the
conyicts TO give up their prisoners and
10 surrender themselves, but they could
not see II that way.
Farmer Wooster then managed to get
gun and made an attack on the con
victs, but was laid low by a blow
from the butt Of a revolver The con-
victs broke Wooster's right hand and
cut an ugly cash in his head.
The leader of the conyicts then told
Sheriff Cook that he would be killed
If he made the slightest move looking
toward their capture, and he promised
to be good In the meantime the po-
lice officers on the outside were afraid
TO do anything because the c0iylcts
threatened TO Kill the imprisoned off,
GERS If they did.
At o'clock the convicts had man
aged to revive Mrs. Wooster, who had
tainted from fright, and placed Sheriff
Cook and her in front OF them as
shields. They then started out, after
first exacting promise from Sheriff
Cook that he would not permit any Of
the officers to fire at them. Then the
prisoners left the house and started
down the railroad track.
They walked through O Gordon of POI
lice officers, who could have easily cap
cured them, but the sheriff had given
the convicts his word that they would
not be molested, and they were not.
After walking down for some distance
the convicts suddenly disappeared
through "a hedge fence, after bidding
the officers a hooking farewell. one
of the police sergeants in attendance
said he could have easily touched the
leading convicts with his hand as they
passed.
The convicts had gotten good start
before the officers had recovered from
their surprise. Then some of The po-
licemen wanted TO pursue, but the sher-
III would not permit II, as he said he
had promised IMMUNITY from arrest
to the convicts.
The chief OF police then started back
to town. but left some of his men ON
the scene and they started on a chase
alter on. They expect to capture the
conyicts before morning, as the entire
country is aroused by the stirring
events happening on the usually quiet
Kansas Sunday.
The convicts are we'll armed. as they
took all the guns in the farmhouse, IN
GLIDING three OF the officers, before
leaving. They are both white men.
SHERIFF COOKS STORY.
Topeka. Kan. Nov. 1O.--Sheriff Cook
arrived from Pauline at 10 o'clock to-
night. lie was somewhat dishgured
and his clothes were ragged, but he
had lost none Of ms nerve by his usage
at the hands OF the convlcts. In tell
ing tlie story Ct his experiences he
made no ATTEMPT TO conceal the hu-
morous aspect OF the affair
Sheriff Cook said that when be and
Deputy Williams reached the scene In
the afternoon one Of the farmer boy
q lad OF ~, who had been chasing the
conyicts, was rofping away at the
men with 4 target rife. Cook snapped
his revolver five times, but only two
cartridges exploded. one bullet hit
the bigger Of the convicts IN the arm,
while Williams caught the other with
a bullet In the leg. Then long chase
ensuod.
Cook finally rounded up at the
Wooster farmhouse. where the big con-
Wet met him at the door aud com
mandcd him TO come in, Cone In here
or I'll kill you" he said.
well" the sheriff related. I went
IN. The woman was screaming.
Wooster was lying on couch uncon-
scious. His skull was cracked and his
right hard broken The other convict
vas orouched behind a door. his gun
drawn upor me.
Having searched me, the big fell
low asked II | was the sheriff. I ain
looking for the sheriff he said. 4
want TO kin him Under the circum-
stances" said Sheriff Cook. Il told him
that was only a farmer. Then he
told me he would take me along as a
shield from the men outside.
"Stahl AMI his 'nen had arrived by
that time and tie big man told ne 10
call him into the house He said he
wanted more ours and another shield.
But Stahl reinaired where lac was.
Finally ! was commanded 10 take
Mrs. wooster's arm. The convicts got
behind us and IN that order VIC
marched 20 the Held. Mrs. Wooster
was half faintlng. She tried to scream.
hut ] put my hand over her mouth.
They reached the hedge. the big man
his gun ineftectively at mt,
and both made on In the darkness.
Deputy Williams was not captured,
as at first reported. When he saw ne
taken he su,cd on from the house, and
the convicts did not modest him. The
big man was about 30 years old ana his
az about ~. The little inan left his
shoes. which WIN give the bloodhounds
the scent"