Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-07-12
Stephenson Captured.

OF Fred w. Stephenson's whereabouts
and doings from the time of his escape
from Jefferson Jail June rs until his
capture Wednesday the Waterloo Jour
nal gives the following particulars
The first definite clue to the where
abouts of F. W. Stephenson, the slayer
sent by a telephone message to Sheriff
o'clock Monday night, by party who
desires to hide his identity.
The message told the sheriff that
Stephenson was in hiding in his fathers
barn in this village and that he would
soon leave it. 1t is said that the party
giving the information would see the
officer at the cemetery as he would enter
the village.
This was done on the arrival of tn e
sheriff and his deputies at eleven o'clock
that evening. After getting all infor-
nation possible, the posse went at once
to the reported hiding place, the sheriff
entering the barn and giving it a thor
ough search but the fugitive had left.
On Tuesday morning word was re-
ceived from the town of York that Steph-
enson had driven a one horse milk
wagon from here to John Parker's where
the horse was hitched to buggy, owned
by Parker, in this he left shortly after
eleven O'Clock saying that he was going
toward Bristol.
The county was searched over all day
Tuesday by the Sheriff and his deputies
but no trace OF the escaped prisoner
was found by them.
Late investigation shows that Stephen
w POS ahn1 hi how hor 4
night after his escape and that he
has been here and in York since that
time. John Parker states that he was
at his farm on Wednesday morning July
Ind, and that he, Parker, was in such
fear for his own safety that he did not
lmpart his knowledge to the authorities
In fact so great was his alleged fears
that he came to the village Tuesday
and had two persons deputized to 90 to
his home and protect it.
After the excitement of the knowledge
OF StephensOns presence in this section
how it was possible for him to get a
horse and vehicle without getting out
side assistance. On investigation it was
found that he had been given assistance
by residents of the village, that the fact
hhoNh w Wiz puI WIN CAV
the information to Sheriff McGOlrick.
The facts as given to the officer were
that the horse had been bought by doc"
Donovan and brought by him to this vii
age. On the day before the flight the
animal had beer shOd in AdOlph Fisch-
er's shop. 1t was represented to Mr..
Fischer that the horse was owned by
Doc Donovan. 1t was led to the shop by
one little boy and taken away by diff
ferent one.
The wagon in which he rode away was
a covered milk wagon and was formerly
in use in this village. In the night a
person seated in it could not be recog-
nized by parties meeting or passing him.
His capture was effected by the chief
OF police and assistant, of Portage, We'd
nesday, between II and II o'clock, while
driving from Portage towards Baraboo.
His old horse trading had not been Grad
lcated by his confinement in Jail, as just
before the capture he had traded with
a farmer, who gave so accurate a de-
scrlptlOn Of the fugitive that his pursu-
ers soon effected his capture. He is
now in the Jail at Jefferson. where it is
hoped that the sheriff and his heavy
sleeping assistants will be able to keep
him until he is sent to Waupun.