The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-12-03
Daring Jail Delivery.


O. clock, six prisoners confined In
the Fulton county Jail al this place.
overpowered Jailer Noonon and
made their escape.
Two of the prisoners went towards
West Hickman, one went south
while three ran down to the river,
jumped into skiff and escaped into
Missouri.
Thursday was wash day" in the
jail and the prisoners we're out in the
corridor. Mr.. Noonon went down
about 4 o'clock to lock them in their
cells, as is his custom, and as he
stepped through the door two men
sprang on him and attempted to tie
rag over his mouth. He drew
his gun, a 50 calibre, and in the
scuffle which followed shot himself
in the hand, almost amputating his
left fore finger. A third prisoner
than took part in the fight and soon
overcome "Uncle" Joe, taking his
gun and jails keys from him. After
knocking him down, six of them ran
out. Mr.. Noonon followed, giving
the alarm. Seven other prisoners
in the Jail we're prevented from es-
Gaping by prisoner named Billiard,
former bookkeeper for a Fulton
concern and charged with embezzl-
ing. He took the keys and locked the
Jail door and waited outside for the
jailer to return. He and the other
six could have had their liberty had
he chosen to do so.
The prisoners who ran down
to the river found a skiff tied up
just north of the Buchanan building.
This they cut loose and jumped into.
but had some difficulty in ''pushing
off. While they we're trying to get a
start, Bun Hackett ran down and hit
one Of the men with a brick. If he
had had gun, he would have pre-
vented their escape. Marshal Bal
lard arrived on the scene in time to
have stopped them, but not knowing
what was up, would not shoot. When
Sheriff Seat arrived few moments
later, the trio was about so yards
from shore. He called to them to
stop. and upon their failure to do so
he opened FIRE upon them. The
officers and about ESQ spectators
we're somewhat surprised when the
prisoners returned the FIRE, and the
on.lookers beat a hasty retreat.
The battle lasted until the fugitives
we're out of range. The revolver
they we're using was the one taken
from the jailer. On reaching the
Missouri shore, they waved their
hats. receiving like response from
the Kentucky side, and disappeared
into the "tall and uncut"
A posse was quickly formed and
followed, but returned emptyhanded.
They learned that two of the men
had been seen at Dorena, leading
them to the conclusion one had been
wounded and was unable to travel.
This theory proved correct. The
three men were caught Sunday
morning by Deputy Sheriff King. in
the Dorena warehouse, where they
had taken refuge on account of one
of them being wounded. He was
shot by Mr.. Noonon, the bullet tax
ing effect in the right leg. between
the knee and hip, and the wound was
so painful he could not walk. His
companions refused to desert him.
None of them had eaten anything
except raw Irish potatoes since
Thursday noon and were almost
famished.
Deputy Sheriff King notified the
officers of this place who went to
Missouri and brought the prisoners
back and landed them in jail. The
men are Jas. Thomas, of Mayfeld.
charged with forging note on
Steve Stair; Jas. Wilson, of Missis-
sippi, charged with house breaking
at Fulton; Patrick Collins, of New
York. charged with house breaking
at Fulton. Collins is the wounded
man.
The two men and boy, who went
south and west. have not been heard
from.
Mr.. Noonon claims he tried to
telephone neighboring towns about
the escape but could not get even
Fulton or Brownsville and gave up
in disgust. The prisoners thus
got a whole nights start of the
news.
"Uncle" Joe received a note from
one Of the "trusties" in the jail
few days before Thanksgiving telling
him that a jail-delivery was being
planned for that day. but the writ
ing was so bad he could not read il.
The three prisoners still al large
/