The Colorado statesman., 1905-08-19
SHOT BY AN OFFICER
FIGHT OF BOULDER PRISONERS
Desperate Assault In Basement Of
County Court House Is Met by
Officers With RevoIvers.


Denver, Colo, Aug. 15.-A Boulder.
Colorado, special to the News last
night says: Five pistol shots rang out
from the basement of the court house
shortly after o'clock this evening,
and a great crowd was soon surging
through the building. Near the en-
trance to the cage in the jail lay the
body of Louis Cinkus, who was shot
through the right breast and almost
instantly killed. In a cell was James
Runyan, shot in the fleshy portion OF
the right leg. In another cell. pale
with fear, was Charles Schrode, an
other prisoner. He narrowly escaped
being hit by a hail of bullets fired
through the grating by Sheriff Barten
and Deputy Sheriff Madeira.
Which Of the officers did the killing
is not known, but both say they fred
as long as they could see anyone to
fire at.
A statement of the cause leading to
the tragedy was given out by Sherin
Bartell, Under Sheriff Thorne and
Deputy Sheriff Madeira tonight It ID
as follows:
"One of the prisoners gave us to un-
men, Charles Schrode, James Runyan
and Louis Cinkus, were going to break
Jail this evening at supper time. even
II they had to kill Under Sheriff
iThorne, who fed them, to do It, The
sheriff asked Deputy Sheriff Madeira
to be present with him when Thorne
] fed the prisoners at the regular time.
| When Thorne was coming out with
the tray of dishes after feeding the
prisoners the three men jumped on him
and, with the leg Of a table and the
two side pieces Of a washboard.
Knocked him down.
"Thereupon Sheriff Bartell and Dep
uty Madeira began shooting at the
prisoners. resulting in the immediate
death Of Cinkus, who was shot in the.
right breast just about the right nip
pie.
,Cinkus was in Jail on charge Of
highway robbery and awaiting trial at
the October term of the District Court.
James Runyan, at the same time, was
shot in the right leg. but the bullet in
ficted flesh wound only, from which
he will recover. Runyan is an inmate
! of the Jail on the charge of an assault
to murder, and also awaiting trial at
the October term of the District Court.
Charles Schrode is in Jail on a charge
of horse stealing, and is considered
one of the most dangerous of the pris-
oners.
when Thorne started to leave the
cage he was assaulted by the prison
ers, felled to the floor, and then the
shooting began. The under sheriff
crawled beneath the table during the
fusillade, and so escaped being struck.
He escaped without any other injury
than a bump on his head due to the
blow by one of the prisoners. After he
was shot Cinkus reeled into cell and
later staggered out into the corridor,
fell and expired.
Coroner Buchheit was on the scene
within ten minutes, as well as DR.. t.
B. Trovillon, the county physician.
The coroner took the body to the
morgue and will hold an inquest to-
morrow.
Cinkus was brought here from Lou
isville, charged with robbery. The evil
dence at the preliminary examination
was that he held up a man and robbed
rear of a saloon in Louisville. He was
any physical exertion.
Runyan shot his father-in-law.
Charles Mellin, near Longmont, a
month ago. The wound was in the
leg, but nearly caused Mellin's death.
Schrode, who was the real ring
leader in several attempts at jail deliv-
cry, has an extensive police history in
connection with horse stealing. He
/ also has penitentiary record. and Is
regarded as a tough man.
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