The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-06-27
MAKES BREAK
FOR LIBERTY
At Noon, Wednesday, Collins Es-
capes From County Jail.
MAKES TRACKS TO THE HILLS
The Escape of the Accused Murderer
Is Discovered Within the Hour and
Posse Strikes His Trail at the
Edge of Ashley Creek.

James F. Collins, who has been
prisoner in the county Jail awaiting
trial on a charge of murder, made his
escape Wednesday about 1890 p. m,
and took to the hills west of town.
The escape was a bold one, and as
long as the fugitive keeps in the hills
his chances of getting away are
bright, and it is possible that he will
never be recaptured, in spite of the
fact that large number of men are
searching for him, and have been
within half an hour after he left
the Jail.
About 1 o'clock Wednesday after
noon, Jailer Mike Berne was told by
Frank Roberts that Collins was miss
ing and was not in the cells or corri-
dor.
Search was Immediately instituted
and the Jail was thoroughly gone
over, but the man was gone, and it
was found that the lock on the rear
door of the corridor opening into the
Jail yard had been broken off, max
ing escape but a matter of lifting the
bar and stepping out. With the lock
gone, Collins had merely to draw out
the pin and drop the bar After he
had stepped out, he replaced the bar
and pin, after closing the door, and
by so doing had averted the fact Of
his escape being noted at once, as it
would have been had he left the bar
hanging or the door open.
After once gaining the Jail yard,
Collins scaled the fence at the rear
of the Jail and dropped into the alley
between the Jail and Main street.
AS soon as his absence was noted,
which was about 25 minutes after he
made his escape, Sheriff Hand was
notified and at once sent men in all
directions to head off the fugitive
The sheriff, with Deputy Sheriff Mil
Ter, took up the search in the direc-
ton of the hills west of Ashley, and
after much questioning they were
told that a man answering Collins
description had been seen passing
through Ashley and going at about a
on, the officers found further trace
of him, which left no doubt but that
they were on the right trail. Col
Inns was seen to follow the lake
branch of the Great Northern for
some distance toward the main line
and then strike into the bushes AT
Mrs Kinnerly's, at the foot of the
hill, the officers were told by some
children that they had seen a man
come across the open field and disap
pear in the woods. The officers
with several other men made a
search, but could not find their man
although several traces of him were
discovered.
The sheriff's posse was reinforced
by more men from Kalispell, and al
night long the hunt continued, but
without result. The posse was vel
armed and was strung out to form g
Gordon around the woods where hi
was supposed to be hiding, but the
terrific rainstorm in the night made
it impossible to keep a vigilant watcl
and it is thought that Collins had NJ
trouble in slipping through the line
The dark night was greatly in hi
favor and made escape easy. Whel
morning dawned the hunt was re
newed with vigor and is still bein
maintained. The roads leading from
the valley are ali strongly guarded
and if he descends from the hills hi
capture is sure. kilograms hav
been sent in all directions and al
trains are closely watched. Men ar
watching the international boundar
line, in case he should make for Car
ada, and his escape in that directio
is cut off.
When Collins made his escape tn
sheriff was somewhat handicappe
by the absence of Deputy Sheriff
O'Neill and Therriault. who were i
the country, but both have returne
and are on the trail. ONeill i
watching the boundary line, Will,
Therriault is headed west.
Collins is charged with the murde
of Fred Fought, a Jennings ba
tender, whom he shot in a row
that place several months ago. TIL
two men became engaged in a roy
and Fought was shot through tn
right leg and fingered for sewers
weeks before he died Collins, afte
the shooting, escaped to Spokan
where he was gathered in by the of
GERS and returned to this city, whel
he was placed in jail When he wf
arrested his victim was alive, bl
died some time afterward. Durir
his confinement in the Jail ColliI
gave no trouble and appeared willin
to await his trial. but recently |
has acted in a queer manner tn;
caused the jailer and the other pri
oners to think him insane. The fir
information filed against him by Il
county attorney charged him wit
manslaughter, but Tuesday this W;
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