The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-10-28
Takes Part in the Capture of
Two Sick Prisoners, Who
Were in the Hospital at the
Columbus Barracks.
KNOCKED HIM DOWN IN
EFFORT TO GET AWAY.
In Bringing About Their Cap
ture a Corporal Wounded
One Italian and Killed An
other-VindIcated.

Murl c. Pierson, a Richmond hoy.
who is in the serric of the United
States army, and at present located a.
Columbus. O.. writes as follows of
recent exciting experience he had;
Columbus. o.. Oct. II, 1907.
l had rather narrow escape last
night when two sick prisoners escaped
from the cell at the hospital here.
About $50 last Wednesday night
went on duty. About ten minutes aft
er | went on duty one of the prisoners
called me TO the cell door and asked
for pitcher of water unlocked tho
cell door and took the pitcher. but
made sure to lock the door, About
half hour afterwards they called me
to the cell to scatter some disinfectant
in one of the corners. While | was
STOPPING over. scattering the disinfect-
ant, they made rush at me and hurl-
ed me to a kneeling position on the
floor. Just as | went down they made
Il dash for the large steel door which
was slowly closing upon them. They
made a dash up the corridor and then
into the main hall. | yelled for help
knowing that Sergeant Harp was Oh
the dispensary, but before he couli
get to them they were out the door.
Just as they went out the door | came
around the corner of the main hall and
threw a carbolic acid bottle at Coop
ers head. Ii hit him on the shoui-
der, but it did not stop him. | chased
after Penty while Gephardt went aftsr
Cooper. | got up with Penty as he
went around the corner L. the hospital.
| hit him in the ear with my fist,
knocking him down. and then he gave
up. | took him back to the cell and
Sergeant Harp telephoned for the
guards. In about three minutes there
was about thirty-9ive guards on the
scene searching for Cooper.
In the search that followed, Corporal
Boyer Of the tenth company and fo;.r
privates, went into saloon looking
for Cooper. The place was filled with
Italians who made some ugly remarks
about the soldiers. When the corpo-
raj and his guard went out the door
two of the Italians went after them
with razors.
When they came up to Corporal Boy
er he instantly fired his rifle. shooting
one in the arm at the elbow. The
bullet continued on its way and struck
one in the head and instantly killed
him. The corporal came back and
gave himself up to the officer of the
day.
In, --sr
got d steel saw into his cell with which
he sawed the fetter which fastened his
ball and chain on to his ankle
Cooper was caught about eleven
o'clock the same night He was taken
TO the guard house and put into the
dark cell on bread and water. This
morning I noticed he had a belt on
which was fastened a couple of
chains which was fastened OH a twen-
ty-pound ball on each foot. He also
had handouts Oh. The authorities
here are not taking any more chances
on his making an escape.
Willard c. Penty, the other prisoner.
while he was being brought here from
Illinois. jumped from a train that was
going forty-five miles an hour.
The coroner here found that Corpo-
raj Boyer had shot in self defense and
he was released from the guard house
this afternoon.
Taking it altogether. / do not want
to be in such tight place again. They
suspicion some woman of getting the
saws for Cooper. This morning when
she came to see the prisoners she was
promptly told the air on the reserva-
ton would be purer If she would kind
ly leave the place. She refused and
was escorted off the place.