The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-06
INMATE RETURNS.
RecOnsiders After Escape From
Hutchinson RefOrmatOry.
Frank Hagenmaster Is Once
More Behind the Bars.
HOME AT STAFFORD
Family Advised Him Against At
tempting to Leave Country.
Convicted Of Forgery He Has
Ten Years Yet to Serve.

Hutchinson. Kan. Nov. 6.-One OF
the most daring escapes and un-
paralleled returns of a prisoner at
ter making a break for liberty, when
after saving the bars of a window in
the tinshop at the Reformatory, seal
ing the twenty-four foot wall enclos-
ing the grounds of the institution
and making a successful getaway
Frank L. Hagenmaster, of his own
accord, returned in an automobile to
the place where he had beer con-
fined and told the authorities that he
was willing to serve out his term.
Hagenmaster crawled through the
window, the bars of which he had
sawed about 8 o'clock. He had
planned to go to his home in Stafford,
with the idea that his parents would
give him sufficient money and clothing
to carry him across the border line of
the United States into Mexico. After
he had burst in upon his father,
mother and brother, however, he soon
realized that he had made a mistake
Father Advised Him to Return.
IF you should be able to get be-
yond reach of the authorities his
father told him, ''you would never
theless be fugitive from justice and
this would make you miserable for
life. Go back to the Reformatory
and serve your time out; then try and
live an honest manly life.''
The young man entirely broke
down, consented to follow the advice
of his father and brother. The latter
hired an automobile and. paying the
driver SIS. babe him take Hagen
daylight. It was about 4 o'clock in
the morning when Hagenmaster
walked up the steps of the Re-
formatory and delivered himself to the
custody of those from whom he had
escaped but a few hours before.
While Hagenmaster was not ex-
actly a trusty at the Reformatory, his
excellent department had won him
many favors from those in charge of
the institution: he was given his
choice as to what work he engaged in
and as he asked for employment in |
he electrical department, he was as |
signed the duties of inside electrician. |
His work was for the most part in |
he tinshop in the south wing of the |
Reformatory buildings.
How He Made His Escape.
Shortly after the supper hour Hag-
,nmaster was seen with a lantern in his /
1and About S:45 whenNight WatchmanI
v E. Holmes checked over the inmates,
to locking them up for the
light, he noticed that Hagenmasterj
vas not among them. Immediately he
eported the matter to Assistant Super
ntendent B. S. Berry, who instituted i
earch of the building and grounds.
disclosed the fact that u
leavy board had been left in the re-
ormatory yard and it is probable that
Iagenmaster made use Of this piece of
lumber in climbing the outer wall
Hagenmaster. who is % years old,
vas sentenced to the reformatory Sep
ember 10, of the present year, having
Headed guilty to the charge of forgery
n the fourth degree. He was receiyeIi
t the institution the following day and
cooked for a ten year term. The young
mans parents are among the most re-
pected in Stafford.
The crime which Hagenmaster con-
essed was the drawing up of a number
notes which he deposited in several
anks and upon which he collected Ger
ain payments Being the representa-
i've of a leading insurance company he
btained the signatures of his victims:
y having them sign other notes which
e forwarded to his comnanv He ffe,