The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-03-19
INNOCENT MAN
ALSO A VICTIM
Forced at Point of Gun to
Drive, Blunt Is First
Killed.

Fapillion. Neb.. March 1s.-Coroner
Armstrong OF Sarpy county left here
today for the Blunt farm to hold an
inquest over the body of Roy Blunt,
the young farmer who was killed yes
terday during the battle between the
escaped convicts and the officers in
the northern part of the country. An
effort will be made to fix the responsi.
bility.
The Battle.
Omaha. March 1.-two of the
three convicts. John Dowd and John
Taylor. alias Shorty Gray" who es-
capped Thursday from the state peni-
tenttary at Lincoln. and Roy Blunt.
an innocent victim of their murderous
attempt to secure liberty. are dead as
the result Of an exciting battle be-
tween the bandits and officers of the
law this afternoon.
Charles Morley. the third member
Of the trio which escaped from the
state prison after killing three officials
OF the institution. saved his life by
surrendertnG to the officers with whom
he fought running battle over two
and half miles Of country with
horses on the gallop.
The three escaped convicts were
within striking distance of the goal
which they hoped might secure their
safety when the final desperate strug.
gle for liberty occurred. They had
covered the stretch from Lincoln to
within ten miles Of the Omaha city
limits. where they expected to receive
protection of friends.
From the moment Of their escape
the three men employed the same des-
perate methods to protect themselves
yl.h htoI,
escape from prison and they did not
hesitate at the crucial moment to at
tempt to sell their lives as dearly as
possible. 1t was futile attempt, how
ever because they were armed with
shotguns and revolvers, while their
pursuers had Plentiful supply of re-
peating rifles and revolvers.
Early in the day the telephone or
orator at Gretna, about 15 miles south
Of here. gave the alarm of the pres
ence in that vicinity of the desperate
men. 1t had the result of bringing to
the vicinity six organized posses.
Reaching point eight miles from
here. the officers caught up to the
vehicle carrying the convicts Young
Blunt was forced to lash his horses in
to run. but the officers kept I'D the
chase until they were within a few
hundred yards of the fleeing convicts.
Chief Briggs driver. who led the
rest of the party. baked and refused
to drive further. Briggs himself
grained the reins and whipped the
horses into gallop.
When they We're within "A hundred
Hards OF the pursued men. Briggs and
Irouten opened fire. From that time
until Morley finally surrendered, it was
dashing fight over three miles Of
rough country roads. The three con-
VlctS' revolver shots went poorly and
were spent in the snow drifts on either
side of the road and the shotguns'
fire fell short.
Finally there was halt when
young Blunt toppled back into the
wagon. the victim Of bullet. Chief
Brlggs jumped from the buggy in
which he was riding and with deliher-
ate aim fired at the men in the wagon.
came up and Joined in the fusilade,
John Dowd was next to fall. Taylor
was also dropped by a bullet and
Charles Morley. the third convict.
threw up his hands in token of sur.
render.
Chief Briggs. who was leading the
party, shouted to Morley. Drop that
gun or I'll blow your head off,
Morley, who held aloft big re-
voiVer. dropped it, and Briggs ordered
MN TO come forward with hands up.
This Morley did and Briggs took a
second revolver from his pocket when
he approached. Not knowing lust
what happened. Briggs demanded Of
Morley the surrender of the other
men in the wagon.
They are all dead" declared Nor.
ley.
The bodies of the dead conyicts
We're turned over to Sheriff Hyers of
Lincoln and that of young Blunt to
his family.
Flyers also took Morley back to
Lincoln.
Briggs and Trouton received several
slight flesh wounds as a result Of the
shooting, but they We're insignificant.
Blunt. %. was married but two
months and his young widow wa,
prostrated when his body was returned
to tho family home by his brother.
MOrley's Statement,
Lincoln, Neb.. March 19.-Charles
Morley. the convict who surrendered
and was taken back to the peniten.
tiary last night, told the story of hi.
escape. pursuit and today's battle. He
said the volley from the posse in the
fight near Gretna first killed young
Blunt, the convicts' hostage. who was
driving them across country. Convict
Taylor was the next man hit. and he
died within minute without sayins
a word.
'Dowd." said Morley. "shot him.
self in the head when he saw escape
was impossible. He attempted to do
this earlier in the game. but I knock
ed his hand away and told him we
might as we'll fight 1t out. fired sir
more shots with my revolver and then
Jumped out Of the wagon and raised
my hands above my head and ran to.
ward the posse. Deputy Sheriff Elk.
enberry caught me by the collar ana
he and Sheriff Hyers saved my life,
The bunch who were in the lead in
the buggy wanted to shoot me after
I had given up. But the two men
would not let them"
We spent last night on the way
from Prairie Home." said Morley in
recounting the experiences leading up
to today's oattle. I'VE stopped at the
house OF farmer named Elmer Hall.