Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1903-03-07
PRISONER KILLED THE JA|LER
CHRIST BENSON KILLS DAVID
MORRILL, OF OLYMPIA.
Thurston's County Jail Was Crowdea
With Prisoners-6enson Was Left
In an Outside Room-He Tore Loose
a Pipe, Struck Morrel on Head.
Took His Gun and Shot Him.

Took His Gun and Shot Him.
Olympia, Wash, March 2.-County
Jailer David Morrell was killed in "A
desperate encounter with Christ Ben
son, 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 / Ut escape, was
due TO the bravery or the wife OF Sher.
iii Jesse Mills.
The Thurston county Jail occupies
the second floor of a ramsnackle build
ing, where Jail breaks have been fire.
quent. There is a steel tank in the
main room, but last night it was crowd
ed with seven prisoners. The night
before two boys had broken through
the wall of the main room and escaped.
and there not being room for all in the
tank, and the wall not having been
mended, Benson was selected as pris-
oner who could be trusted TO stay in
the ante room, where there Is a sink.
trusty named Jack Kahla was left
in the main room.
In the night Benson wrenched loose
piece, about foot long, of the sink
drain pipe and concealed it on his
person.
Sunday afternoon, just after the
prisoners meal, Morrell was about to
shoot the bolt off the tank door on the
seven prisoners who mad been out i'm
the corridor. Benson then approached
him 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
ness to the affair He says MorrefA
was not stunned but started after
Benson. Kahla heard blows struck.
scufhe, and then a revolver shot He
got under the table to avoid stray bull
lets. He then heard two more shots,
heavy fall and Benson appeared in
the doorway of the main room with a
revolver in his hama, He seized his
hat from the floor and rushed out of
the Jail.
Kahla ran to the sheriffs 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 officer, who
| relieved Mrs. Mills and drove the pris-
oners back to the steel tank.
Jailer Morrell was found on the Jail
floor 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.
1t 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 rs men are guarding all
avenues of escape. The county COM
missioners have offered $500 reward
and it is expected Governor Mcbride
will offer the same amount.
DOhSoH was uuueI OHS year sent
ence for larceny.
Escaped Across Bridge.
Olympia, Wash, March 3.-About
dusk Christ Benson, the escaped muir
derer of Jailer Dave Morrell, appeared
at the Northern Pacific railway bridge.
across the Nesqually river and ON his.
own' statement that he was only a.
'bo was allowed TO pass by the.
dge guard, Frank Goison. Benson
.'ried himself with the greatest
we during the talk and afterwards
; DIPPED to drink from the river. Then.
ca some distance between himself
- the guard his courage suddenly
VET him and he fed into the quickly
pathering darkness