The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-03-07
PRISONER KILLED THE JA|LER
CHRIST BENSON KILLS DAVID
MORRILL, or OLYMPIA.
Thurston's County Jail Was Crowded
With PrisonerO-senson Was Left
in an Outside ROOm-Hs Tore Looss
= Pipe, Struck Morren on Head,
Took His Gun and shot Him.

Olympia, Wash, March 2.-County
Jailer David MorrelI was killed in 4
desperate encounter with Christ Ben
son. a prisoner, and Benson, startled
the city's Sunday quiet by rushing. GOV.
cred with blood, up a main Residence
street and disappearing In the brush.
That seven other prisoners, including
Charles Clark who murdered his mis-
tress. Leila Page, did not escape. We
due to the bravery OF the wife Of Sher-
in Jesse Mills.
The Thurston county jail occupies
the second floor Of a ramshackIe build.
ing. where jail breaks have been ire
susnt. There is a steel tank In the
main room, but last night 1t was crowd
ed with seven prisoners. The night
Sefore two boys had broken through
the wall Of the main room and escaped.
and there not being room for ali in the
tank. and the wall not having been
nended. Benson was selected as q pris-
ener who could be trusted 70 STAY N
The ante room, where there is a sink.
\ trusty named Jack Kahla was left
in the main room.
In the night Benson wrenehed Iooa~
piece. about foot long. Of the sink
Train pipe and concealed it on his
person.
Sunday afternoon, just after the
prisoners meal, MorreIl was about %
shoot the bolt on the tank door on the
seven prisoners who had been out IN
the corridor. Benson then approached
aim from behind. and struck him with
the lead pipe. then ran out into the
entrance room and tried to get out the
front door.
kahla Heard the Row.
The trusty. Kahla, was the only Wit
aess TO the affair He says Morrell
was not stunned. but started after
Benson. Kahla heard blows struck.
a scufie. and then a revolver shot. He
got under the table to avoid stray bull
let's He then heard two more shots.
a heavy fall and Benson appeared n
the doorway Of the main room with q
revolver in his hama. He seized his
nat from the floor and rushed out OF
the jail
Kahla ran to the sherinrs house
nearby. but Sheriff Mills was out OF
town, and Mrs. Mills secured a revol-
yer, went into the jail yard and held
at bay the seven tank prisoners, who
had by that time reached the front
door, and were on the outside steps.
kahla was sent for an odicer, who
relieved Mrs. Mills and drove the pris-
oners back to the steel tank.
Jailer Morrell was found on the fail
door quite dead. He had been struck
four times on the head with the lead
pipe. shot twice in the body and once
through the head.
II is believed the revolver used was
MorrelPs though another was found IN
his pocket He was in the habit Of car
rying two.
Posses have been started in pursuit
Of Benson and IS men are guarding all
avenues Of escape. The county COM
have offered $500 reward
and it is expected Governor Mcbride
will offer the same amount
Benson was under one years seat
ence for larceny.
Escaped Across Bridge.
Olympia, Wash, March 3.-About
dusk Christ Benson. the escaped muir
ierer Of Jailer Dave Morrell, appeared
At the Northern Pacific railway bridge
across the Nesqually river and on his
own statement that he was only q
hobo was allowed to pass by the
bridge guard, Frank Golson- Benson
carried himself with the greatest
nerve during the talk and afterwards
stopped to drink from the river. Then.
with some distance between himself
and the guard his courage suddenly
eft him and he fed into the quickly
darkness