The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-23
HIS MAD BREAK.
:" Missouri Kid" Makes Futile
Attempt to Kill Guard.
Takes a Desperate Chance to
Escape from Prison.
FACES THE GALLONS.
Officers From Missouri Want to
Take Him Back.
Error in Requisition Papers
Causes a Delay.
FACES THE GALLONS.

Owing to an error in the requisition
papers for "Bill'' Rudolph, the Mis-
souri, Kid" whom the Missouri officials
want to take back to Franklin county,
No., and hang for the murder of Chas.
j. Schumacher, a Pinkerton detective,
Governor Bailey did not go fully into
the case Monday afternoon. When the
papers were submitted to Assistant
Attorney General John S. Dawson for
the .. K. of the attorney generals de-
rartment, he discovered that the in
formation against Rudolph had not
been properly sworn to, and the papers
have to go back to Missouri to remedy
this defect.
All doubt to the identity of Ru-
dolph has now been removed. He is
registered in the Kansas penitentiary
as Charles Gorney. under a sentence of
five years from Johnson county for rob-
berry.
Last evening about o'clock Rudolph
made an attempt to escape from the
penitentiary by cutting the throat of
Officer J. B. Rowe in the prison dining
room The attempt would have been
successful but for the timely interfer-
ence of Tobe Taylor, a life prisoner,
who struck Rudolph on the back of the
head, knocking him down. Other con-
victs rendered assistance and Rudolph
was overpowered. The prisoners had
finished supper and were :eaying the
dining room when, as Rudolph came
opposite Officer Rowe, he threw one
arm around him and presented a case
knife to RoWe's throat, excia inning:
Give it UP, you -; give it I'D"
Before injury could be done, Rudolph
was overpowered by fellow conyicts. AT
the time of the occurrence, no other
officers were close enough to render
Rowe assistance. He owes his life to
Tobe Taylor Rudolph thought Rowe
had a revolver concealed on his person,
and with that he intended to hold up
officers in charge of the gate and es-
cape. The exit to the dining room is
about ten yards from the main en-
trance to the prison walls, and escape
might have been made had he secured
revolver Since the Identification of
Rudolph last week by ST. Louis officers.
he has been closely watched, and took
the one chance in a thousand to es-
cape. e
Rudolph refuses to talk about his
case but it is known that he is in re-
ceipt of letters from an attorney living
at Paola. ''Bill' is quite a hero at the
prison, and all the prisoners are anx-
ious for a look at him. News travels
very fast in the penitentiary, by some
unaccountable means, and every man
in the big institution knows the story
Of 'sBill'' Rudolph. They are always ON
the lookout for q chance to see him.
He has been in pretty close confine-
ment and will be kept even closer now.
The prisoners, almost to man, are
bitterly opposed to any attempt on the
part of the governor and authorities-to
hand Rudolph over to the authorities
in Missouri. Many of the guards hold
a similar view of the matter. Rudolph
himself seems to be the most uncon-
cerned man in the prison He undoubt-
edly realizes that at the expirat ton of
his term, which is for five years, he
will be arrested and taken to Missouri
to be hanged He has not expressed
himself on the matter at all, but it IS
the general opinion at the prison that
if there is any chance for him to serve
his term here he will do 1t. All pris-
oners live in hope of something turn
ing up. Like confirmed policy players,
they think their luck is bound to turn,
and although there is small chance Of
anything turning up to make Rudolph
free man, he no doubt has that in
extinguishable hope. He might die a
natural death in that time and avoid
the disgrace of hanging.
On searching Rudolph note ad-
dressed to his mother was found in his
clothing. The officers state there was
nothing Of Importance in the note, but
it fully establishes the identity of Ru-
dolph. Rudolph has been put III
Shackles since the break in the dining
room. and he will be confined in a soli-
tary cell until released from the peni-
tertiary.
Attorneys hold different opinions as
to the necessity that Rudolph must be
pardoned before he can be taken back
to Missouri. There seems to be little
difference of opinion on the proposition
that he cannot be compelled to accept
a pardon. but it may not be necessary
for him to be pardoned. If an attempt
is made to take him back without
pardon, however, his attorney viii
doubtless bring habeas corpus proceed
fngs to secure his release.
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