Mexico weekly ledger., 1905-11-30
ExICo AUDRAIN COUNTY MISSOURI
F0UR CoNvICTs DYNAMITE
PRISON GATES, FIGHT GUARDS
desperate Criminals, Led by Train.
hoober Waugh, Kill Two officials
at Jefferson City and One Of
Their Number Is Dead.


JEFFERSON Cry, Nov. 24.-Two
omcers and one convict Of the State
penitentiary are dead and Deputy
warden R. E. See and another ofiicer
ana Two conyicts are wounded, as the
result OF a terrific battle with weap-
ofis and dynamite at the prison gate
at 3'l6 O'clock this afternoon, followed
oy running fight through the streets
OF the State capital, which terrorized
the citizens and drove everyone, save
the pursued and the pursuers, 10 the
shelter OF their homes or places OF
business.
Two Of the officers we're shot down
and killed within the prison walls.
They we're Captain e. Allison and
Offices John W. Clay. Deputy War.
den See was shot while in his private
Office.
TRAIN hoBDER HARRY VAUGHN, SENT
UP FROM ST. LOUIS, IS LEADER
OF CONYICTs.
The two wounded conylcts are Uar-
5 Vaughn, the train robber, "a leader Of
Of the attempted escape, who was sent
up from st. Louis for burglarizing q
drug store, and Charles Raymond.
Convict Charles Blake was killed dur.
ing the flight
Officer John Young was shot through
the thigh while pursuing the fugitiyes
Convict Ryan escaped without an in.
jury.
Twenty blocks were covered by three
OF the convicts in heavy freight
wagon before four young men inter-
cepted the fleeing conyicts and forced
them TO surrender.
Throughout the pursuit perfect
fuslllade of shots was kept up, the con.
victs firing in volleys at Officer John
Bruner and Policeman George Staihr,
the latter joining in the chase when
the escaped prisoners turned into
High street, the main business
thoroughfare Of the city.
OFFICER YOUNG SHOT DURING PURSUIT
Early In the chase, Officer John
Young was shot 10 the thigh and fell
unconscious. Bruner continued fol-
lowing, firing at intervals with bis
rifle. He finally brought down Con-
vict Charles Blake with a mortal shot
through the abdomen.
Then the three convicts sprang into
a transfer wagon and holding the
driver between them and Bruner as q
shield, drove rapidly toward the busi-
ness portion OF the town, passing the
governors mansion in their flight.
None OF the three was struck by the
shots Of Bruner and Staihr until sew
eral blocks had been covered, when
Convict Charles Raymond dropped
from the wagon.
With the woundlng OF Raymond the
other two conyicts, Vaughn and Ryan,
urged the horses to faster pace, see-
ing that Staihr, who had secured a |
light buggy, was gaining on them.
FOUR YOUNG MEN STOP FUeITIvEs.
At this instant, Houck McHenry,
owner Of the wagon, seized by the con-
victs, George Walthers, Gerhart Gre |
veit and Leonard Green, intercepted
the fleeing prisoners,
Green rushed to the horses heads |
and caught the bride. Walthers drew
his revolver and forced Ryan to hold
up his hands.
Quick as flash, Vaughn fired at
Young Green, but the shot went wild.
Despite the shot the young man
swung to the brides Of the terrified
horses. Vaughn jumped from the
wagon, rushed toward Green and or
dered him to release the horses, pull
ling back the hammer to his revolver
as be did so.
The shot from vaughn's revolver
would have killed Green had the
weapon been discharged. The ham,
mer caught, and Green, realizing the
desperate situation which confronted
him, sprang at the convict, and wrest-
ling with him for q moment, wrenched
the revolver from bis grasp.
vAUaHN's NERVE FAILS AND HE
sURRENDERs; FIGHT AT PRISON
BEFORE THE ESCAPE.
Vaugh's nerve failed him when his
revolver was gone and be surrendered
without protest to Policeman Staihr,
who arrived just as lyoung Green dis
armed the former train robber and
crook.
Ryan offered no resistance and the
two were taken back to to the Peni-
tentiary.
The fight at the Penitentiary be-
fore the flight and capture Jf the four
convicts resulted in the death Of Cap
tain e. Allison and John Clay, both
prison officers.
The first shot was fired at Deputy
Warden See, who was In charge. lie
was shot down while seated in ia chair
In bis private Office. He sank back and
was unable to resist.
Instantly the convicts returned TO
the gate and met Gateman John
Clay, who had been alarmed BY the
shots
Before he could raise bis weapon be
was shot dead.
Then, as II to signal to the other
convicts that the escape had been De-
gun, the convicts seized the bell rope
hanging by the gate and momentarily
rang the bell.
CAPTAIN ALLISON KILLED IN kN-
TRANCE; MASSIVE STEEL DOORS on
GATE DYNAMTTED.
Gateman Clay had left the wagon
gate aiar when be appeared and was
Salt RheuM