The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-12-29
THREE PRISONERS ALMOST Es-
CAPE FROM CITY JAIL.
'HuNcH' THAT PROVED TRUE
Carbon County convicts En- Route for
Penitentiary Attempt to
Make Getaway.

Sheriff Potter of Carbon county,
while he would probably vigorously
resent any intimation OF grain OF
superstition in his makeup, has pc.
come a convert to the belief IN
"hunches,' for ''hunch" that he re-
ceiyed Friday night terminated in a
reality.
That evening he arrived here from
Red Lodge with three convicts whom
he was taking to the penitentiary at
Deer Lodge. AS he had to wait until
Saturday morning for a train on which
to continue his westward journey, ne
placed the prisoners, Floodey Howe,
Albert Smith and Lonesome Joe,'
whose true name is H. L. Hughes,
in the city Jail for safe keeping.
Hughes was convicted OF horsesteal-
ing, while the other two were sent up
for jailbreaking, in addition to which
Smith must also serve time for steal
ing sheep. AS a matter OF safety
Hughes and Smith were placed in the
inner cage of the "bridal chamber,
while Howe was permitted to remain
| in the corridor The men having
been searched before they were re-
moved from the Red Lodge jail, it was
believed that they had nothing about
them that could be used as an lnstru-
ment for their delivery and the sher-
iff felt they were safe until he would
4 call for them. He went to his hotel
and later retired. For long time ne
was unable to sleep, having pre-
sentiment that something would oc-
J. cur. So uneasy was he that once he
/ made an inquiry concerning his
charges and was told that they were
as he had left them and no danger
existed as to their escape.
"Hunch" Is Verified.
At about o'clock Saturday MORN
} ing he was awakened by message
from Sergeant Hannah asking him to
, come to the Jail at once. AS soon as
: he arrived there he found that his
, presentiment had come true. Howe
had managed to saw off the outer lock
l of the main cage and had made good
r progress in the direction eli saving
off the one or the inner compartment,
r in which Smith and Hughes were
. confined. Had he not been discovered
, in time the three would have soon
y been in position where but little
d would have stood between them and
( the freedom they coveted. Only the
S timely appearance of Sergeant Han
r nah, who visited the jail for the pur
e pose of inspecting the place, knowing
t the desperate character of the three
5 men, prevented Howe from complet
4 ing his job.
y Planned to Attack Potter.
y The other prisoners said they hat
n heard Hughes, Smith and Howe plal
d the escape and the preparations the.
e made to attack Sheriff Potter, shoul.
(. he arrive while the attempt at escap,
4, was making. The lock sawed of
IS first was to be used as a weapon TO
y. assaulting the sheriff, the intention
'e being to beat him into insensibility, o
s. if necessary kill him with it. Th1
three denied this story and also dc
le MED that they had attempted to breal
y out. The lock that Howe had removes
le could not be found and they explaine
It. it's disappearance by saying that Pt
sr liceman Garnant had unlocked tn
10 cage to permit Howe to go to the bat
room. Mr.. Garnant was summone
and he denied the story.
caseknife for Saw.
lg| Howe used caseknife in cuttin
II. off the lock. the instrument that h
v. and Smith employed In their atteuI
lg to cut out OF the Red Lodge Jail. A
-. no knives are within reach OF th
a. prisoners confined in the local jai
II, the supposition Is that Howe stole on
TO from the Red Lodge jail and col
y, y, cealed 1t In his clothing. presumabl
n. the sleeve OF his shirt, and smuggle
IT. 1t Into the cage with the intention (
DO putting 1t to use. should the oppo
." tunitv arrive.