The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-09
BOYS BREAK JAIL
F. C. Merritt and VIM. Lafton
Secure Freedom
REMOVE BRICK FROM WALL
Both Were in Jail for Short
Terms

Some time early Monday morning, F
c. Merritt and William Loftin. prisoners
in the county Jail, who were serving short
terms for petty larceny, broke jail and
succeeded in making their escape. A re
ward Of s. has been offered for their
capture. but at a late hour last night
they were still at large.
Their escape was not discovered until
yesterday morning. when Sheriff schadd
made visit of the cells, but is thought
that they made their escape early in the
morning, as a number Of persons were
awake at the jail until after midnight
Sunday night. The two men were con-
fined in adjoining cells on the third floor
and performed their work so quietly thar
even the prisoners in the cells just be
meath, claim u have heard no unusual
noise during the nighth. They state that
they heard footsteps above several times
but supposed it was the sheriff or turn
key.
The prisoners made their getaway
from the north side of the jail on which
side their cells were located A heavy
wire was found near the window, with
which it is supposed they picked the
locks Of their cells After getting the
freedom of the corridor they picked the
mortar from between the brick under
meath the third window from the east
on Elm street and removed six brick.
leaving a space about seven inches wide
and a foot long. II is mystery how
they squeezed their bodies through this
small space. They then tied a rope TO
the window and slipped to the ground.
The rope is a new one, and it is supposed
that it was slipped in TO them ar some
time by outsiders. They succeeded in
getting away from the jail unobserved
and the only clue as to the direction they
took was given by a paper carrier yes
terday morning, who said that he had
seen two men. filing the description.
going north on the Santa Fe tracks, be-
fore daylight. kilograms have been sent
10 all points along the railroads ana
Sheriff Schadd spent busy day yester-
day searching for them. \ reward Of
80 has been offered for their capture
and as they are without money ana
almost without clothing, it is thought
they viii turn up some place soon where
they viii be recognized by the authori-
ties
Both prisoners were in for very short
term and ii seems the height of folly
for them 70 break jail when they would
both have been free in a few days. Mer-
rift had just five more days to serve and
Ioftin's sentence would have expired in
fifteen days. but in breaking jail they
have committed a penitentiary ofense
and if captured. and it is very likely they
Will be, they viii have to suffer the pen
atty.
Both are young fellows and small.
When last seen Merritt wore a red shirt
and light trousers. while Loftin wore
blue shirt and blue trousers. Sheriff
schadd is confident they made their es-
cape through outside assistance and is
only more confirmed in his opinion that
the Jail windows should be covered with
heavy screen. He has experienced con
siderable trouble in keeping friends of
the prisoners away from the windows.
both in daylight and after night, and sew
eraI times has been forced to threaten
them with arrest if they did not keep
away He says there is little doubt in
his mind but what the rope and wire
with which the escaped prisoners picked
their cell locks were handed through the
bars by friends of the prisoners 1t is
TO avoid this that Mr.. Schadd wished to
have screens like those on the city jail,
placed on the windows.