Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-11-14
THE TABLES WERE TURNED.
onaoers Hun,in Escaped convicts Thsm-
selves Captured by Unnrmed.
Fugitlves.

Topeka. Kas., Nov. 1O.-Sherih Coo
Of this county and Deputy Sheri
Williams were captured by two e.
capped convicts from the Fort Lea,
enworth military prison this afte1
noon at Pauline. five miles south c
Topeka, and held prisoners in til
farmhouse of a man named Wooste
for several hours. They finally es
capped between a line of police sen
from Topeka to reinforce the sheriff
and r now at large. Both wers
slightly wounded. Wooster was bst
ly wounded by one of the convits
when he tried to fire upon them. Nr..
Wooster and Sheriff Cook were hed
before the convicts as a shield by fhe
prisoners in making their escape. "A
posse is in pursuit tonight.
AT 2:30 p. m. to-day some farper
boys lea Pauline learned that The
convicts were in the n~eighborheos.
Hastily forming a posse, armed al1n
target rifles, pistols and clubs they
gave chase. Neither of the ~copFlcts
was armed, and they were unable TO
make a stand. Later Sheriff COOK
and Deputy Williams arrived. coming
upon the convicts both Officers nred.
wounding the men, but not disabling
them.
The convicts then fled Though q
small opening in the timber snd ran
into the house of Farmer Wooster.
Sheriff Cook telephoned to Topeka
for assistance, and then took up the
chase. Thinking that the conVlcts
had run around the house, COX dart
ed through the open door, intending
to surprise them at the rsar door.
But instead of this the %couvlcts 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 tbs time had
reached the house, and eDtered with
out knowing what had bppened in
side, and he, too, was made captive
by the convicts.
In the meantime ChiefStahl of To-
peka with the officers we're on the
way. They arrived at the Wooster
house about an hour after the Off
GERS had been impisoned. Chief
Stahl Immediately began negotiations
with the convicts to give up their
prisoners and to surender them
selves, but the convics only laughed.
Farmer Wooster thenmanaged to get
a gun, and was abou. to make an at
tack on the convic when one of
them laid him low nth a blow from
the butt of a revolv6 taken from one
of their captives. fhe convict broke
Wooster's right han and cut an ugly
cash in his head.
One of the c~onicts told Sheriff
Cook that he word be killed if he
made the slightes o looking to-
ward their captGe. In the mean
time the police Ulcers on the out
side had surrouned the building, but
were afraid to nike a move for fear
that Cook and Williams would suf-
fer.
Mrs. Wooster had tainted during
the excitement She finally revived.
and at seven o'clock the convicts
placed the wonan and Sheriff Cook
in front of then as shields and made
for the door. Then after exacting
a promise firm the sheriff that he
would not permit any of the officers
outside to fin on them they started
for the open As they left the house,
the frightend farmers wife and the
sheriff bebre them, the convicts
passed betreen a Gordon of police
who could ave easily captured them,
and starte for the railroad track.
The sheriff had in turn exacted a
promise fom the police that they
would no modest the convicts, and
they did lot.
After oyering a considerable dis
lance down the track, the convicts
suddenly disappeared through a hedge
fence, b1ding the officers a mocking
farewell One of the police sergeants
sid he could have easily
the leading convict with his
a. he passed.
The eonvicts had secured a good
start jefore the officers had recov-
cred f'om their surprise. Then some
Of the policemen wanted to pursue,
but Sheriff Cook would not permit it.
he had promised the convicts i'm +
from arrest.
Chief Stahl left some Of his men
IN the scene, and with the others
back to T%opekatto take up the
.hase later on. From Topeka a posse
vas started out and Chief Stahl ex-
,ressed the opinion tonight hat he
would land the men before morninr
The %convicts are well armed, having
aiken all the guns in the farm house.
including those of the sheriff and his
They are both white men.
tut their identity was not learned.
Death of a Prominent Citizen.