The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-07-18
ONE JAILBREAEER REGAPTURED
John W. Black Arrested at Kansas
City Monday.
Claims He Let Himself and Barnett Out or
. the Cell with q hey Made from = Spoon
Hacks Real Name Is Harding
and l. an All Around Thief.

Marshall Harding, alias John ".
Black, one Of the men Who escaped from
the GOOdiand jail July 2, vas arrested IN
Kansas City Monday. Chief Hayes sent
a telegram notifying Sheriff Walker,
who has been in Denver since Saturday.
He was wired from GOodland concerning
the capture and passed through here
Wednesday night on his way to Kansas
City to bring the prisoner back to Good
land.
Soon after escaping from Goodlsnd
the three men doubtless parted company,
each to seek the good fortune OF liberty
and to elude the ever pursuing Nemesis.
But an unsought fortune has already
fallen TO Black. After lettering about
the country for several days, be landed
in Kansas City Saturday and went to
the home Of his grandmother in the east
bottoms.
The police Of Kansas City were mott
fed Of Blacks escape by special agent
r. J. Smith, Of the Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific railway at Topeka. Black
has had something to do with the Kan
sas City police before, and when Police
Officer Lawson heard Of his presence in
the city, the officer went to the east bot
toms and discovered his man seated In a
boat, floating peacefully on the surface
of little lake that had been formed BY
the high water from the Missouri river.
Lawson had TO wait for Black 10 finish
his aquatic sports. and when the latter
came on land and sought a shady spot,
Lawson pushed q pistol under his nose
and marched him to central police sta
ton, where be was locked up to await
the coming Of Sheriff Walker. Lawson
will get the 50 reward offered for this
run away thief.
The events Of each day seem to clear
away the mems escape from the iron
cage IN which Black and Barnett were
confined. 1t has been thought all along
that the lock on the cage was worked BY
some sort Of craft or mechanical genius.
Now it comes to light that, with key
improvised out Of a spoon, Black worked
the lock on the cell door.
The men in jail were boarded from
the Hotel IDgsrsOll, and were allowed
forks and spoons, but DO knives. 1t is
known for certain that a spoon was stol-
en- and secreted by Black or his cOmpsn-
ions, and James Bainbridge, proprietor
Of the Ingersoll Hotel. says one table
fork was also missed from the basket re-
turned from. the Jail. So it is evident
that If Black was much Of a mechanic
be may have made a key to the Jock
from either fork or spoon, which are
composed Of mslleable material
When once again lodged in the county
Jail, Mr.. Black need not hope to gain his
liberty through a REPETITION Of "hOcus-
pOcus'' or presto change" In ali prob
ability the Jail will be guarded until bis
case is disposed OF by the July term Of
court, which cOnveDes on the I'D.
According to Kansas City police lore,
Black is an all round thief and has q
long police record. Although young in
years, he has served a term IN the re-
form school and has been 10 the county
/ Jail two or three times for the theft Of
brass and iron. The police say that his
particular speciality Of late has been rob
bing railroad ears
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