The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-07-04

son and John ". Blask, confined il
the county Jail, charged with crime
made their escape Wednesday night al
about o'clock and at this writing nc
trace Of their whereabouts has been
found.
When Deputy Sheriff Morton Justus
unlocked the door of the county Jail
Thursday morning he found the
Jail empty and the "birds" gone. The
door Of the steel cage was wide open
and in the ceiling near the-top of the
cage q large rent was made in the cell
ing. Here they made their exit from
the walls of the Jail and creeping along
on the upper space between the cell
ing and the roof decended through a
scuttIe hole into the vestibuIe of the
Jail whence an exit was easily made
through the windows.
To what direction FROM town they
made their fight is not known. Since
they doubtless received some secret
assistance in libersting themselves,
they also got help in getting away. It
is pretty certain they rode away in a
livery rig. At about niue o'clock a
stranger appeared at the livery barn
of Ben Canaga, and asked for a team,
saying that he wanted to go to Char
lOtte POstoffice, and as he was sleepy
and desired rest be wanted a good
team. Arley CrOckfOFd, who was in
charge at the barn, hooked up for him
q sOFrel and a grey to single buggy
aud the man drove east on Tenth
street into the drrkness- Croekford
says the stranger was q small man and
I2ose black suit Of clothes and
black hat. The light afforded by the
lantern did not enable him to get
clear view of the strangers face, bat
as he stepped into the buggy Crock
ford saw that the man wore a large
pair Of colOred sPectacles. Why col
Ored spectacles we're needed at night
seemed strange to CrOckford, who by
this time entertained little suspicion,
but as the stranger said be would re-
turn by noon or not later than three
O'Clock the following day, no further
inquiries were made. CrOckford is &C
auainted with Thompson and says that
while the man was about the size of
Thompson he is confident that it was
not he.
Not more than five minutes after the
stranger asked for the rig, Mrs. Bar
nett came to the livery barn and asked
Crockford to borrow a razor, as her
husband wished to shave. As the "a
zor belonged to Mr. Canaga, who was
down town, this request was refused.
Barnett had g heavy mustache and
whiskers. In escaping he would wish
TO alter his appearance as much as
possible, aud had Mrs. Barnett sue
eeeded in getting the razor it would
haEe been very easy to have conveyed
1t to the man with the team.
How it was possible for Black and
Barnett to escape is mystery
While it might have been possible for
Thompson to escape, not being con
fined in the cage, but having the liberty
of the space outside the cage, it was
not thought possible for the prisoners
within the cage to get out. Barnett
bad been confined in the cage night
and day, aud never was given any op-
POrtpuity to deEise means of getting
away.
Black was allowed the freedom Of
the outer space during the day but at
at night was Gagged with Barnett
The cage is a reg IlatiOn affair, such as
isgenerally found in county jails, and
the door was heavily barred and lock
ed with a massive paddock. No vio-
lence was done to the cage, but in
some way the door had ben unlocked
and the prisoners set free. The in
mates copld not haye unlocked the
door aud there Is no doubt the Gagged
prisoners had outside assistance.
Fhe prisoners left three letters in
the jail One was addressed to Sheri f
Walker IN which was expressed few
happy phrases, as "presto change, now
you see US and now you don't" In an
other Deputy JUstus was remembered
for his kind treatment of them. Bar
nett left short message to his wife
and children, telling them he knew not
where his fight would lead to. He de-
clared his innoeenee of the charge, aud
invoked the blessing of God upon them
in their misfortune in the persecution
NJ h,,Sbar.5 and fatbor
All three Of the escaped men were
resting under the charge of grand lar
eeny Barnett for horse stealing,
Thompson for stealing freight IN tran
. Sic and Black for breaking the seal on
a freight car and taking bacon.