Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1903-09-10
PRISONERS EscApEERo JAIL
Fleetwood and Cooper Made Their
Escape Saturday Might and
Are Sill AT Large.

are Sill Al Large.
On last Saturday night between
o:3o and 10 O'Clock, the town was
aroused by the report that Fleet
wood and Cooper who were in Jail,
had overpowered Sheriff Givler and
escaped.
As near as we can gather the facts
in the case they are as follows:
About the time mentioned above,
Fleetwood called for a bucket of
of fresh water. Mr.. Givler got the
water ane went to the cage door,
but instead of locking Fleetwood in
the cell before opening the cage
door, as is customary, he opened
the door wide enough to admit the
bucket, but instead of taking the
water Fleetwood grabbed his hand
and the struggle for freedom began.
Fleetwood pulled his arm and at the
same time pushing the door open.
Givler was unable to hold the door
or release his hand. After the door
was opened they struggled just out
side when Cooper came out of the
cell to assist his pal and during this
scufle, Fleetwood had secured
piece of iron with which he struck
Givler on the back of the head and
put him out of commission for few
minutes-just long enough to make
their escape. After they struck him
they dragged HIM into the cell and
bolted the door. This seems to be
the practice of these men when they
break Jail, at Beaver they locked the
jailer up'and carried the keys away.
The whole affair was oyer IN
very few seconds, and very few
words were spoken. Before leaving
they told Sam that they regretted to
hit him but that they had to in or
der to escape. They had secured
his gun after he had been struck on
the head. Mrs. Givler was the first
to give the alarm, as she had sus-
plcioned for several nights that they
would make a break, as they had
called for water about the same time
for several nights previous and that
she had warned Sam to put them in
the cell before taking in the water.
So on Saturday night she followed
him to the door of the cell house
and soon discovered that something
was wrong, she Immediately locked
that door and ran out to give the
alarm. Geo. B. Cones was the first
to arrive about two minutes after
the prisoners had broken the door
which Mrs. Givlcr had locked, and
made their escape. City Marshal
Emick arrived next and opened the
cage and let Sam out 1t was found
that the blow had cut an ugly cash
which required several stitches.
During all this time everyone was
arming with Winchester and six
shooter and started in all directions.
1t was soon discovered that the had
gone from the Jail to the residence
of Sam Conger where they found a
horse and saddle belonging to Chas.
Boyer, tied at the front gate. They
both mounted and rode straight east
to John Graves fence thence north
and east to the railroad bridge.
From this point it seems that they
crossed to Mr.. Worman's place and
went east as far as Vonhoesen's
where they took horse and saddle
from his barn. This was the last
clue of them until Monday night
when word came from Englewood
that the men were seen on foo
about IS miles southeast of thai
place on Sunday morning about
O'Clock. They had abandoned
their horses and we're travelling or
foot over the country, Nothing
else has been heard of them and they
are no doubt, far into Oklahoma BY
this time.