The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-16
MURDERER
EVADES
OFFICERS
Montgomery Has Not Yet Been
Apprehended
ALL EFFORTS BEING MADE
To Capture Him---Facts of
Tragedy

Guthrie, o. T, May 15.-All efforts to
apprehend ". w. Montgomery, the
slayer of County Jailor J. d. Emerson
have failed. and it is believed that the
murderer and alleged bigamist has eluded
the posse which has been out since yes
aecdav afternoon. Men are still after
Montgomery, but no definite information
has been received relative 10 his where
asouts. It was believed last night that
the posse had surrounded Emerson south
Of Guthrie. = number Of shots were
fired during the night but this morning
no trace of the fugitive could be found.
The murder and daring escape OF Mont
Eomery has caused considerable feeling
among officials and every effort will be
made TO apprehend the escaped man.
Governor Ferguson in offering the re-
ward was exceedingly anxious that hG
be captured and made to suffer for his
cold-bIooded crime. !
As near as the facts of the killing
could be learned, the prisoners, of whom
there were four in the jail, were bathing
one at a time, and Emerson opened the
door OF the steel Jail, allowing Montgom-
cry to walk into the outside corridor and
toward the bath tub, leaving the outer
cell door open. The other prisoners were
locked in a cell. with the exception Of
John Gray, held on a charge of larceny,
who vas in the ipner corridor.
As Montgomery walked toward the
bath tub his back was turned to Emer-
son, who was backing away from him.
Just before Montgomery reached the tub
he made some remark about some cloth
ing he had in his valise and turned as
though TO go TO his cell.
1t is supposed that as he turned he
1eveicd a revolver. of which he had gain
ed possession in some unaccountable way,
on Emerson and commanded him to
threw up his hands.
Instead Of complying. Emerson, who
had his revolver in his hand opened fire,
firing two shots. neither Of which hit
Montgomery. Montgomery returned three
shots. two Of which struck the plucky
Jaler, causing almost instant death. AS
Emerson fell he called TO his wife. who
was in the front end Of the Jail, TO bring
him his other gun. Montgomery, who
had started for an iron bar with which
TO break the lock on the outside door.
on hearing Emersons call. Immediately
turned and started to meet Mrs Emerson,
with whom he came face TO face Just
after passing the dead man. She leveled
a revolver squarely at his breast and dis
charged il, but Montgomery apparently
struck her hand and DESTROYED her aim.
thus saving himself from injury. He
then wrenched the revolver from Mrs.
Emerson's hand. severely lacerating her
fingers, and returned TO the rear door.
which he pried open with an iron bed
leg and made his escape from the scene
Of his crime.
As Montgomery passed Emerson's body
while returning toward the rear door, he
discovered that he had killed him and
called TO John Gray. who was in the
inner corridor: NY God Gray, l have
kelied him, Come on and help me get
out of here" Gray answered that he
was unable to help him. and Montgom-
cry then demanded the keys TO the outer
door from Mrs Emerson, who was bend
Ing over the body Of her dead husband.
She told him that she did not know where
they were. and after little search
Montgomery procured the iron bar and
managed to break the lock and open the
door
Cray, who was hiding behind a door
IN the cell, saws Montgomery commanded
him to accompany him. but that he re-
fused and that he attempted to assist
Mrs Emerson in caring for the body Of
her husband and summoning the officers.
but that she TOLD him ne had better re-
turn 10 his cell as Montgomery might Kill
him, which suggestion he says he fol-
lowed
1t was some little time before the Of
hcers arrived ar the jail and Montgom-
cry consequently had quite n start which
enabled him TO successfully reach the
country without being over taken.
Montgomery has been in Jail in Guthrie
since the first week in April. when no
Wa brought here to answer to a charge
OF plgamy. 1t is alleged that he has
been several times married. tre last +ir,o
II seward in this county. while acting
as station agent at that place. He Mead
ed not guilty when arraigned I'm iustice
court and was bound over TO the Grand
jury. which has since indicted him. He
could nV secure trial until the next term
oi court IN November. and as there is a
very strong case against him. he had a
long stay behind the bars in front ~
him. ''' u
The prisoners who have been his COM
panions IN the jail state that he has never
bcen very sociablo with them. and has
1sd very little 10 say, hut that when he
oIu TAX ms conversation has mostly been
concerning an attempt to break iaU
IheN say that only the night before rho
killing he told Emerson that If ever he
got the drop on him and told him 10
throw up his hands he had better do II
or he would certainly kin him. No mar
ucuiar significance was attached to this
Ieulafk az the time, but there IS now a
beheI that be had a plan devised al The
time ny which he hoped to gain possess
SION OF n weapon. although II is hard 70
conjecture what il was. Whether he Dro-
cured one Of Emerson's revolvers or NOT
Is not known. IS there was no witness To
the opening OF the affair which resulted
80 tragically.
Assistant Chief Of Police Shirley Over
OF Arkansas City. who arrested MoDtgorr,
cry and brought him to this city upon the
charge OF bigamy. said last night:
4 am not surprised TO hesr Of his
escape Tor regarded him as one OF the
smootheSt Of criminals. resourceful and
ready TO accept any hazard TO escape
from prison He strived 10 get near a
window - I was bringing him from Ell
Reno 10 Oklahoma City. and I am sat
isned he would have 5umned from the
train had / given the slightest o0portu-
nifty. His talk his manner. in fact ey-
ery'hlng about him. indicated rer7s ahIe
shrewoness and resourcefulness as a
criminal hc got into trouble down al
!aWion some time ago for stealing a
morse or something Of the Kind ana
Jumped from the train moving n The rato
OF about thirty miles an hour and r1s6s
his escape from an officer who had mir,
under arrest"
ONE.