The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-04-18
A PLUCKY WOMAN
PREVENTS JAIL BREAK
ALONE ON GUARD SHE HELD
PRISONERS AT REVOLVER
POINT UNTIL HELP CAME.

vomans quick wit strong nerves
and her revolver were all that pre-.
vented a wholesale Jail delivery in
plattsmouth last week when three
criminals succeeded In breaking
through tho jail wall. only to be GOV
cred by revolver in the hands Of
Mrs. W. r. Manspeaker wife of
the deputy jailcr, who forced them
t. return to their cells. over which
she stood guard for an hour until
help arrived
Deputy Manspeakcr lives in the
jail and often leaves his wife in
charge of the prisoners while he Is
of the outbreak he went To court
with prisoner. leaving his wife
to keep an eye on the eight or ten
prisoners. among whom were James
Lynch and Henry Harrison, under
penitcntiary sentence for burglary.
and Arthur Brann, convicted of hors
stealing.
In the middle OF the afternoon MIS-.
Manspcakor heard a suspicious noise
as of piece If metal falling ON
stone. Picking NJ her husbands re.
Nolver she started an inycstig1 ion.
Looking from second story wiado"
she saw casekhife lying on the
ground and then say mans LnnG
protrudc through the opening that
was rapidly being made larger. with.
out hesitation Mrs Manspeake"
rushed to the Jail door. opene H.,
passed through and locked the door
behind her thus placing herself be.
yOnd the possibility of retreat should
she not he able 20 overcome the
criminals llurrying on through an.
other door she made her way e. :he
engaged in removing brick from Il
hole In the outer wall. He was h, Ing
assisted by two other criminals ana
all three We're so intent On thC'r
work that they did not hear the
approaching womaG.
The prisoners, startled. turned To
face the muzzle OF 3S-calibcr re-.
yolver ard the swapping black eyes
OF the iailer's wife. They hesjtatel
for an instant and then their hands
went up with jerk.
Now fall in and march To your
cells. The man who stumbles gets
a bullet was the terse command
which they instantly obeyed.
Mrs. Manspeakor drove the three
men into their cells. but condition
were such that she could not locL
the doors. So she took her stand a;
the end of the corridor, where ;h,
could see all the doors.
I'm put bullet through the -!rs,
head that comes through one ol
those doors" she told them
For half an hour she remained
in the cell room. her gun covcurH
the doors 10 the cells. Then her hus
band came. and. locking the men
H. their cells, relieved his pluCky
wife from her vigil. II was found
tnat IN, prisoners had secured pos
session Z Kitchen knife. rith
which they had gone t. work on the
jail wall Two layers of brick haG
been removed and the third or outer
layer, was being worked ON when
one of the men dropped the knife,
making the noise heard by Mrs
Manspraker Five minutes more nd
they would have been free.
Mrs Manspeakor. the hcroin" oi
/ IN" occasion, states that she never
intended to permit onc of the pr,s.
/ oners To escape She says she woui'
have opened fire had the despera-
does failed 10 instantly obey hrr
/ orders These who know the won - :
nerve and her ability 10 shoot
straight are congratulating the pris.
oners ON their good sense in civ
inp mp when ordered 10 do So