The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-11-12
TERMS OF FLIGHT
Under the Agreement Sheriff
Cook Would Not Allow
Them to BE Pur-
sued.

the fOTI LedNGuWOIJu ihiiiIaiy PhoVh
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.
The convicts then fed through a
small opening in the timber and ran
into the house Of Farmer Wooster.
Sheriff Cook telephoned to Topeka for
assistance. He later was taken pris.
oner by the convicts.
In the meantime Chief Stahl, Of To.
peka, and eight officers were on their
way. They arrived at the Wooster
house about an hour after the officer
had been imprisoned. Chief Stahl
Immediately began negotiations with
the convicts to give up their prison.
er and to surrender themselves, but
tho convicts only laughed.
One of the convicts told Sheriff
Cook that he would be killed IL he
made the slightest move looking to.
ward their capture. In the meantime
the police officers on the outside had
surrounded the building, but were
afraid to make move for fear that
Cook would suffer.
About o'clock last night the con.
victs placed the woman and Sheriff
Cook in front Of them as shields and
made for the door.
Pacsed Between Gordon of Officers.
Then, after exacting 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
farmer, his wife and the submissive
sheriff before them, the convicts
passed between a Gordon {. police,
who easily could have captured them,
and started for the railroad track.
The sheriff, in turn, had 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 mocking
farewell. One OF the police sergeants
later said he could have easily touch
ed the leading convict with his hand
as he passed.
The convicts had secured a good
from their surprise. Then some of
the policemen wanted TO pursue, but
Sheriff Cook would not permit it, as
he had promised the convicts immun.
ity from arrest.
Another Posse Started Later.
Chief Stahl left some of his men on
the scene and with the others started
back to Topeka to take up the chase
later on. From Topeka a posse was
started out and Chief Stahl expressed
the opinion last night that he would
land the men before morning. The
convicts are well armed, having taken
all the guns in the farm house, includ- |
ing those Of the sheriff. They are
both white men, but their identity
was not learned.
Sheriff Cook arrived from Pauline
about 10 o'clock last night. He was
somewhat dishgured and his clothes |
were ragged, but he had lost none of
his nerve by his usage at the hands
OF the convicts.
He said that when he and Deputy |
Williams reached the scene in the af. |
ternoon farmer boy, lad of Is, who
had been chasing the convicts, was
get rifle. Cook snapped his revolver
five times, but only two cartridges ex.
ploded. One bullet hit the larger con-
vict in the arm, while Williams
caught the other with a bullet in the |
leg. Then long chase ensued.
Cook finally reached the Wooster
farm house, where the big convict met
him at the door and commanded him
to come in.
Come in here, or I'll kill you," he
said.
We'll" the sheriff related, 81 went
in" He continued THE woman
was screaming and Wooster was lying
on couch unconscious. His skull
was cracked and his right hand was
broken. The other convict crouched
behind the door, his gun drawn upon
me. Having searched me. the big fel-
low asked II was the sheriff.
I'm looking for the sheriff hs
said; I want to kill him.
Told Convict He Was a Farmer.
"Under the circumstances" said
Sheriff Cook, Il told him that was
only a farmer. Then he told me ho
would take me along as a shield from
tHO ulSA OuISluc. CLdul anu lib men
had arrived by that time, and the big
man told me to call him into the
house. He said he wanted more guns
and another shield. But Stahl re.
mained where he was.
Finally was commanded to take
Mrs. Wooster's arm. The convicts got
behind us and in that order we
marched to the field. Mrs. Wooster
was half fainung. She tried to
scream, but l put my hand over her
mouth. They reached the hedge, the
big man snapped his gun inefYectively
at me. and both made of In the dark
ness. Deputy Williams was not cap
turod. as ct FIRST supposed. When he
saw me taken he stood OF from the
house and the convicts did not molest
him. The big man was about 80 years
old and his pal probably rs. The lit
tie man left his ohOes. which will Give