Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-07-01
CROSS RIVER TO POLK
ESCAPED CoNvICTs SEEN NEAR
BUENA VISTA.
Beats Man Nearly to Death and Steals
His Young son---Use Boy
as Shield.

After clubbing into unconsciousness
ing his son late Wednesday afternoon,
two convicts, Harry Brennan and John
Wormsdorff, who escaped from the
Oregon penitentiary last Saturday, are
rapidly making their escape In a bug
gy and are believed now to be near
Suver, says yesterdays Oregonian-
1t is thought that the escaped crimi-
nails hope to use their captive, who
lives near Buena, as shield to ward
off bullets when they are overtaken
and an attempt is made to capture
them.
Though the two convicts escaped
last week, the chase has not yet been
taken up by the state officials looking
toward the recapture of the men,
though Warden Curtis declared late
Wednesday night that he would form
posse early Thursday morning and
start on their trail.
Both Men "Trustfcs.''
The two men were TRUSTEES" at the
when they took the easy chance to es-
cape, and with pitchforks as weapons
the duo are beating it" for liberty.
When last seen they were driving in
Starts buggy south of Buena Vista
at rapid rate, with young Starr held
between them.
Though details of the beating of
Starr are meager here, ii is said that
his injuries may prove fatal. 1t ap-
pears that Starr and his young son
were driving into Buena Vista from
farm, few miles out of town, where
Starr is employed.
Man Refuses Rig to Convicts.
He was accosted by two men, who
told him they wanted the horse and
buggy. that they had no money. and
didn't intend to buy the outfit, any
how, but that they needed it at once.
Fearful of losing time, which was
precious, and seeing that parleying
with the farmland was needless, the
convicts made a rush at Starr with
their pitchforks and beat him into in
sensibility. 1t is said Starr suffered
injury to the head, although it is not
known If the skull was fractured.
When Starr was laid out the two men
jumped into the buggy after grabbing
young Starr and made a desperate
drive toward the South, leaving Starr
lying as IL dead in the road.
Both Men TRUSTEES.
Brennan, who is the most daring
criminal of the two, was serving two
years from Umatilla County for lar
ceney, and had but three months more
to serve. Wormsdorff was serving one
and one-half years from Multnomah
County. and had nine months more
to serve.
The deed of the convicts is one of
the most daring in the history Of the
penal institution of the state and re-
calls the escapade of the famous des-
perado, Harry Tracey who kept the
state authorities guessing
for SO long a time in 1905.
Search on the quiet had been made
by the prison authorities about Salem
and in the immediate vicinity of the
prison where the convicts escaped, but
no trace of the convicts had been Sc
cured. Now that the officials are aware
which way the men are travelling and
their style of travel they will be pur-
sued. 1t is believed they are headed for
Farmers May Form Posse.
From Buena Vista 1t was learned
hat several farmers had declared
.hemseles anxious to aid in the pur-
suit of the fugitives. and to this end
would organize a posse of their own.
the state officials formed such
lr not II