Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1903-03-04
PRISONER KILLED THE JA|LER'
CHRIST BENSON KILLS DAVID
MORRILL, OF OLYMPIA.
Thurston's County Jail Was Crowded
With Prisoners-Benson Was Left
in an Outside Room-He Tore Loose
a Pipe, Struck Morrell on Head,
Took His Gun and Shot Him.

Jailer David Morrell was killed in q
desperate encounter with Christ Ben.
son, a prisoner, and Benson, startled
the city's Sunday quiet by rushing. COW
cred with blood, up main residence
street and disappearing in the brush.
That seven other prisoners. including
Charles Clark, who murdered his mis-.
due to the bravery OF the wife Of Sher.
if Jesse Mills.
The Thurston county jail occupies
the second floor Of a ramshackle build
ing, where Jail breaks have been fire.
quent. There is a steel tank in the
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 q pris.
oner who could be trusted to stay in
the ante room, where there is sink.
A trusty named Jack Kahla was left
in the main room.
In the night Benson wrenched loose
a piece, about foot long. Of the sink
drain pipe and concealed 1t 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 In
the corridor. Benson then approached
MIN from behind, and struck him with
the lead pipe, then ran out into the
entrance room and tried to get out the
front door.
kahIa Heard the Row.
The trusty, kanla, was the only wit
ness to the affair. He says Morreil
was not stunned, but started after
benson. kahla heard blows struck,
d scuthe, and then a revolver shot He
got under the table to avoid stray bui-
lets. lie then heard two more shots,
a heavy fall and Benson appeared In
the doorway Of the main room with a
revolver in his hama. He seized his
nat from the floor and rushed out OF
the Jail.
kahla ran to the sheriff's 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
nad by tnat time reached the front
door. and were on the outside steps.
Kahla was sent for an officer, who
relieved Mrs. Mills ana 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.
It Is believed the revolver used was
Morrell's 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 25 men are guarding all
avenues of escape. The county COM
missioners have offered 5000 reward
and it is expected Governor Mcbride
will offer the same amount.
Benson was under one years sent
enCe for larceny.
Escaped Across Bridge.
Olympia, WASH. March 3.-About
dusk Christ Benson, she 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
hohO was allowed to mass 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
left him and he fed into the quickly
gathering darkness.