The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-20
Escaped Convict Snrrenders to
Kansas City Police. Il
James G. POgue Ran Away from
Lansing Three Years Ago.
FATHER Is IN TOPEKA
Sister Had MOrtgaged House to
Save Him From Prison.
Following Escape Repaid Loan
and Saved Her Home.

Kansas City, Kan, Dec. 20.-Because
he could not bear to have his only
sister lose her home which had been
nortgaged to assist in his defense, Jas.
G. Pogue in 1906 escaped from the
Kansas state prison at Lansing for the
purpose of working and saving his mon
ey in an effort to lift the mortgage.
Having accomplished his purpose. and
realizing that he would never be able
to make a home for himself or live
in peace with the grim threat of re
capture constantly before him, Pogue
declared his identity to two policemen
in this city and expressed his desire to
return to prison and suffer whatever
penalty might be exacted by the law.
Never Missed a Remittance.
During the three years and more of
his precarious freedom. Pogue has wan
dered over almost the whole of the
United States. A coal miner, and ac-
customed to the hardest kind of labor,
lie worked increasingly with the one,
object in view of saving the home for
his widowed sister. From the harvest
fields in South Dakota to bridge build
ing in Arkansas. the hunted man has
Travelled, but with all his hardshipS
and the difficulty encountered in Sc
curing work he has never failed to
send his remittance to his sister, Mrs.
Ada Tienfel, Fourth street and Marion
avenue, Leavenworth. IN all, the err
ring brother has contributed something
in excess of $3.50.
Pogue was convicted in the district
court at Leavenworth in November,
1903, on charge of grand larceny and
sentenced to seven years in states
prison. According to his story, he was
made a trusty and effected his escape
failed to locate him. and in the cir
culars sent out from the prison since
that time will be found the name and
description of James G. Pogue.
In Fear of Recognition.
After making his escape Pogue went
to Hutchings, S. D.. where he worked
for Clyde Carpenter. a sheepman. La
ter he went to Arkansas and was en-
ployed as a irackman on the Kansas
City Southern railroad. He had ASSUME
ed the name of Mike O'Brien. and in
his travels about the country went by
that name. Returning from Arkansas,
he again went to Dakota and worked
for farmer by the name of Jerry
Files, near Spencer. S. D.
Three months ago he went to Pine
Bluff, Ark, and was employed as
pump tender by the Missouri Valley
Bridge company. While working there
he recognized among his fellow labor
erS a man who had known him years
ago in Leavenworth. The haunting
fear which had followed him at all
times after his escape from prison
prompted him to quit his job at Pine
Bluff because he feared that his old
L
determination to give himself up came
as a result of frequent discussions with
his sister on this subject.
Anxious to Finish Term
He knew that his desire to take a
claim and prove up on it could not be
realized with safety as long as he was
an escaped convict. Saturday morn
ing he arrived in Kansas City and de-
termined to make himself known. In
former years he had lived at 225i
North James street Kansas City, Kan,
and the thought came to him that he
would deliver himself up to Kansas
officers. Early Sunday morning he
disclosed his identity to Robert Hoop
er and Pres Younger, Kansas City,
Kan, policemen. He was taken to
No. police station and locked up
while the prison authorities at Lans-
ing were notified. He probably will
be taken at once to the prison, where
he will be compelled to serve the re-
majE Ter of his term.
Il am anxious TO max a man of
myself" said Pogue. as he looked
through the bars of his cell at the