The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-07-06
FIVE CROOKS BREAK JAIL
oUlNTETTE, BELIEVED TO BE
BANK ROBBERS. ESCAPE.
HAPPY HARRY WAS IN THE GANG

He Who Blew Several Hundred Dollars
Here In a Short Time and Who is
Said to Have Paid 500 for a Kiss,
Was Back With Clipped Nose.
From Mondays Daliy.l
Five prisoners in the Norfolk city
jail, who are believed to be professions
al bank robbers and who were sus.
pected of preparing to attack a bank
in this territory, made their getaway
from behind the bars shortly after
midnight yesterday morning, with the
assistance of outsiders who shattered
three heavy locks with a big axe that
was taken off the hook and ladder fire
truck. Included in the bunch of Jail
birds was "Happy Harry" Thompson,
who used to blow in and out of Norfolk
frequently, and who at one time paid,
it was claimed, 500 for a kiss while
drunk in this city. He is the man
who, whether the kiss story be right
or not, spent almost $1,000 in n very
short time while on a big spree here
three years ago.
9 o'clock in the evening by Night
watchman Bill Uecher. At midnight
the Jail doors stood ajar and the birds
had flown. The axe was left on the
floor to show what means had been
employed in breaking the locks The
main entrance door was broken open
in this way and two cells, in which
nj hn Run oil
opened There were no other prison
ers in the Jail at that time, so that the
whole prison was emptied like a rat
trap opened up.
Cigarette Causes Arrest.
A cigarette caused the arrest of the
quintette. It's little red light, shining
out in the darkness, gave away the
hiding place of the thugs and led to
an investigation by the nightwatch
which resulted in the jailing OF the en-
tire bunch.
1t was along the coal yards that
stand near the M. & o. railroad track
east of the union depot that the crowd
was found, nesting in coal bind like
gophers in hole. officer Uecher was
making his rounds at o'clock. He
looked at the coal bins and saw,
through a crack, the red fire of a
cigarette. Opening the door, he found
the bunch of men. Ordered out, the
crowd filed from the door. And when
they had lined up outside, Uecher not
ed that Happy Harry" he with his
nose Clipped out on one side, was in
the gang.
Turns Hose on One.
No trouble was experienced in get
ting the crowd to JAIL where they were
locked in cells. Once behind the bars
of steel cage, one of the crooks de-
clared he would tear the policeman to
pieces if he were only free. Later
this same prisoner picked up a pail
of water and threw it at the officer
In return, and to quiet his nerves, the
policeman turned a hose on him until
the fellow looked like a drowned-out
ground squirrel. But the prisoner was
game" and never once begged for
relief
At midnight Uecher met Ed Mar
quardt. Anybody in jail?" asked Ed.
Give" said Uecher. They're gone"
said Marquardt
Marquardt had seen the five escaped
prisoners fleeing from the Jail door.
They ran like footracers, going north
to the M. e o. track, where it is sup
posed they left town.
officer Uecher believes the bunch
were planning to turn trick in this
vicinity. Happy Harry" is said to
have been lounging around town for
three or four days. He at one time
stole a pair of trousers from local
store and was sent to Madison for
thirty days. He is silent customer,
but is believed to have helped in more
than one bank breaking job.