The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-08-20
LEAPS FROM TRAIN.
Scott Johnson Escapes From Cecil
County's Big Sheriff.
HE is REcApTURED NEAR YORK.

|
After being brought from California to
answer the charge of numbering Jas. L.
McAllister, near Rowlandville. on May
81, Scott,ohnson escaped from big, hand !
some Sheriff H. G, Hager, on Thursday
morning Of last week, By jumping from
the platform of sleeping car on North.
ern Central railroad train, near York,
The murder of McAllister was not dis
covered for some days after it occurred,
and suspicion pointed to Johnson as being
implicated in it. The suspect had disap-
peared in the meantime. his whereabouts
being unknown, until word was received
from the authorities of Santa Rosa, Cal,
that Johnson had given himself up there
and admitted he killed McAllister. Sheriff
H. G. Hager, of Cecil county, then went
to Santa Rosa to bring back Johnson to
| face trial.
Arriving at Santa Rosa he got his man
and brought him safely East to within
few miles of the Maryland line. The
Sheriff. with his prisoner. occupied berth
on Pullman on the Chicago & Washing
ton Express, leaving York for the South
at !. so a. m. The train isNa fast one and
makes but one stop between York and
Baltimore. When about mile or two
south of York the prisoner requested
the Sheriff to release his handouts, to
permit him to go to the toilet room of the
car. Johnsons request was complied
with, but when the Sheriff looked again
for his prisoner he was missing.
A small boy on the same train reported
to Sheriff Hager that he saw man leap
from the platform of the car few
moments before.
The Sheriff notified the conductor, who
refused to stop the train until it reached
New Freedom, the first regular stop
about 20 miles from York, at which point
the Sheriff got off and returned to York,
where the local authorities were notified
and serveral posses. organized. Automo-
biles were pressed into service and the
country around the city secured.
Johnson was known to have been
very tricky and shrewd man. but not the
kind that has nerve when circumstances
are unfavorable. 1t is alleged that
Sheriff Hager was warned of all this, and
told to keep very close watch on his
prisoner Those who knew Johnson
had predicted that when he realized he
was about reaching the Elkton jail. ne
would not be anxious to have justice
meted out to him. Despite these warn
ings the prisoner was permitted to escape
through the carlessness of the Sheriff.
The hunt for the escaped murderer was
prosecuted with vigor by the officers but it
remained for an inquisitive farmer to re-
capture Johnson on Friday evening, near
East Berlin, about IS miles from York.
While driving along the road Wilson B.
Stambaugh overlook man answering
the description of the fugitive, and ques-
toned him, but was informed by the man
that he was not the party wanted. Stam-
baugh, however, hurried to his farm,
where he instructed the tenant to keep
the man in sight until he could secure
Constable Henry Stambaugh. Together
they drove up to the traveller, who had
kept steadily on his way, and after
persuading him to get into their vehicle,
finally obtained an admission from him
that he was Scott Johnson.
The prisoner was lodged in Jail at
York, where he was later found by Cecil
county's valiant Sheriff.
II don't know why did it." said
Johnson at police headquarters. 'Iguess
must have lost my nerve when got to
thinking of having to face that charge.
and being so near home. After jumped
struck through the stockyards and came
out onto the main street. had no money,
but kept on walking out into the country
and managed to pick up little something
to eat.
II hadn't started out with any clear
idea of where was going. and when
thought it over saw that had made at
mistake, and made up my mind to give
myself up if was recognized"
Johnson's action when Stambaugh in
his uncertainty first made know TO him 7
what he suspected indicates the truth of
the last part of his story, as he had OPP
portunity to at least make an attempt to
escape.
The prisoner makes light OF his feat in
escaping serious injury in his leap from
the train. deep cut upon his right
hand is the only mark he has to show for
the performance.
U.,-nad E.nsv. xu.~S~