The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-12-02
W!tY FksSUNER AI
LAST SENTENCED
J, II. Wilson, Expert Forger,
Gets Four Years in
Penitcntiary.
is A DESPERATE Man
Was Possible Several Times. Though
Closely Watched to Escape Clutches
of Law, But Was Always
Recaptured.

Sioux FAILS, S. d. Nov. 29.-Four
the sentence imposed in the case of
j. II. Wilson. an expert forger who has,
been in the county Jail in this city for
some time. who is wanted by the au-
thorities of Minneapolis, Sioux city,
Dubuque and other places.
Wilson appeared before Judge Jones.
of the state circuit court in this city,
and pleaded guilty TO the charge of
assault with a dangerous weapon and
it was upon this charge that he was
sentenced. Two other charges still
stand against him here, that of forgery
and for attempting to break Jail.
Without question Wilson is one of
the most desperate criminals with
whom the local authorities ave a to
deal. just after he had been sentenced
to the penitentiary. Ryan. another des-
perate prisoner. was arraigned on the
same cllarge-that of assault with a
dangerous weapon-to which he en-
tered a plea of not guilty. AS the two
men resumed their seats Wilson was
heard to say to Ryan:
Its Il wonder l didn't get the other
spot and make it five"
Inen noticlnS tnal Deputy SntrliA
Noelsch, who is a German. was close
behind him. Wilson raised his voice
and said:
Just wait till 1 get up to the en-;
I'll kill half Il dozen Dutchmen up
there"
The county authorities are very anX-
ious to get rid Of Wilson, and within a
few hours after he had been sentenced
he was transferred from the county
Jail to the penitentiary. For greater
security While making the transfer he
was handcuffed to a deputy sheriff.
The two n another deputy got into
the sheriffs buggy n started for the
penitentiary.
On The way Wilson. under the ODE
which was thrown across their knees,
fumbled continuously with the hand-
cuff on his wrist. He finally said he
guessed the handcuff had been put on
to stay. He acknowledged to he two
officers that if he had not been shackled
to the deputy he would nave jumped
out of the buggy and made a u for it.
When asked how it felt to be running
With bullets flying after him. Wilson
replied that it only made him run
faster.
When arrested here last summer
Wilson was accompanied by a woman,
Who was also arrested n subsequent
ly turned over to the authorities at
4NlttilhdlO. NilIlil. Eli recently plSdueu
guilty at that place to the charge of
forgery and was sentenced to a term
in prison.
During the time he was in the county
Jail Wilson kept the officers in a con-
slant turmoil. When originally ar
rested last summer he escaped from
a deputy sheriff by jumping out of Il
hotel to a roof below, from which he
made his way to the ground.
1t was several weeks before he was
recaptured, officers at Dell Rapids
finally locating him at that place. He
was then lodged in the county Jail in
this city, and 1t was not long before
himself n Ryan. the prisoner pre-
viously alluded to, took advantage of
an opportunity to make their escape.
In making their way out of the Jail
Wilson struck Deputy Sheriff Crooks
on the head with a piece of gas pipe,
lnfiicting a serious wound.
1t was for this that the charge of
assault with a dangerous weapon was
lodged against him and for which he
Will serve a term of four years in the
penitentiary. Both prisoners were re-
captured after an exciting chase.
1t was only two or three weeks ago
that they again were the principals in
a daring effort to make their escape
from the county Jail. The janitor of
the county building, while working
outside the structure, heard a peculiar
scratching and scraping near the
foundation of the portion containing
the Jail.
An inspection from the inside showed
that Wilson and Ryan had succeeded
in cutting a hole through the steel and
cement floor of a store room Which
was temporarily used as a bathroom,
and that commencing at the hole they
had dug a tunnel Il distance of about
thirty feet to the outer foundation
walls of the building.
If they had not been detected just
when they We're, 1t is believed that the
two men would speedily have cut a
hole through the foundation wall and
made their escape.