The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-09-09
ESCAPES FROM
COUNTY JAIL
NUMLEY THE MURDERER
OVERPOWERS SHERIFF BELL
Sheriff Fires Three Shots but Fails to
Hit the Fugitive. Searching Parties
Now Securing the County.

Now Securing the County.
William Numlev, charged with the
murder of Brakeman Fred Powell on
a Chicago 4 Milwaukee train near
Arion, overpowered Sheriff Bell and
effected his escape from the county
Jail last evening little before 8
O'Clock Sheriff Bell was late in at
tending to tae lock up of the prisoners
who had been allowed the freedom of
the inner Jail during the dav. Numley
was allowed to have the same liberties
as the ordinary prisoners. When
Sheriff Bell reached the Jail it was
about S:45 and quite dark. Bell I'M
locked the door and thrust it about
half way open. Just as he did this the
negro sprang upon him with the fer
ocity of tiger and struck him sting
ing blow on the head which sent him
to the floor. Numley jumped over the
prostrate sheriff and ran out into the
night Bell quickly recovered him
self aud rushed in pursuit. He was
outside the jail in time to see the
negro running east on the cement walk
outside the Jail. The sheriff fired
three shots from small revolver just
as the negro disappeared around the
corner 1t is evident that none of the
shots took effect as there were no
traces Of blood The alarm was i'm
mediately given and within short
time men had started in pursuit and
all the other towns in the county had
been notified. The search was con-
tinued all night and it is hoped that at
any time word muy come of the cap
ture OF the criminal
STORY OF NUMLEY'S CRIME.
Fred D. Powell was fatally stabbed
by Numley at 3o'cloct Sunday morn
ing, July 20 The tragedy occurred on
an extra freight train on the Sioux
City Manila line of the Milwaukee
road
The tragedy took place just as the
train was pulling out of Arion for the
west After receiving the knife thrust
above the heart Powell craweled over
the tops of the cars to the caboose he
was lifted into the caboose through
the cupola window and PLACID upon
seat He was in great agony and
spoke only few words, dying within
twenty minutes. Death came before
the train reached Kenwood, the sec
ond station west of Arion.
After brief chase Numley was cap
tured. He seemed indifferent as to his
crime. He said he was trying to ride
the freight to Sioux City and that just
as they pulled out OF Arion Powell came
along and told him that he could not
ride without money and wanted him to
pay something for the privilege OF rid
ing. Numley said he told the brake
man he had no coin, and thereupon
Powell ordered him from train Some
words followed and Numley claims
Powell shot at him. He also sni6 that
as he started TO climb down the ladder
Powell stepped on his hand and that
this angered him so that he drew his
knife and stabbed him. He knew that
he had struck him, but did not think
the wound would be serious He left
the train and went back to Arion At
Ar.on ne met Pfetfer, a merry go-round
man from Pipestone, Mimi, and told
! hi hc hol hoJ ~,
and had left him something to
remember him by. He hung around
in the vicinity OF Arion and Dow City
Saturday night aud Sunday morning,
Overwhelming people talk about the
murder, he made tracks for the river
bottom. He crossed the Boyer on the
J Illinois Central bridge. and recrossed
on the Northwestern, and then started
southeast along the river. He told OF
his lying in the locg grass along the
the banks OF the Boyer ond hearing mis-
pursuers talk of shooting him on sight.
He added: eff had had gun it would
have been all day with those fellows .
LATER-The only news of Numley
! is word received by Sheriff Bell that
an unknown NEGRO was seen to leave
the Northwestern fast mail shortly
after midnight and that he again
J mounted the blind baggage when the
train pulled out.
Wanted.