The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-19
NDITS KILLED
IN RUNNING FIGHT
Two Escaped Convicts
Shot Down and Third
Surrenders.
FUGITIVE CAUGHT
AFTER HARD CHASE
Roy Blunt, Who Is Forced to
Furnish Team and Act as
Driver for Trio of Despera-
does, Is Innocent Victim of
Murderous Attempt to
Gain Liberty.

Omaha. Neb.. March 1s.-1wo OF the
eonv!cts. John Dowd and John Tay-
Tor, who escaped last Thursday from
the State renitentiary at Lincoln, and
Roy Blunt. an innocent victim OF their
murde-ous attempt to gain liberty.
are dead as the Result Of battle
between the bandits and officers OF the
law this afternoon.
Charles Morley. the third member
or the trio which escaped from the
State prison after killing three off,
GERS OF that institution. saved his life
by surrendering TO the officers. with
whom he had fought running battle
over two and a half miles of country
With horses on the gallop. The three
escaped convicts were within striking
distance OF the hoped-for goal Of
safety when the nnal struggle for
liberty occurred. They had covered
the stretch from Lincoln TO within
ten miles Of the Omaha city limits,
where they had expected TO receive
protection of friends
Employ Desperate Methods.
From the moment OF their escape
the three !ten had employed The same
desperate methods TO protect them
sseiics. tEatn itecMpture which featured
their escape from prison. and they
did not hesitate at tue cybciap. mo-
ment TO attempt TO sell their lives
as dearly as possible. 1t was a futile
attempt however, because they were
armed with sho.Euns and revolvers,
:. fi,ll ~
OF repeating rliies. Early IN the DAY
tho teIepnonc operator at GTeluu, about
nfttta niles south OF this city, rgs.
ported The presence OF the desperate
men. IL i!au the result ot Dragging
10 me vicinity six organized posses
chief Br!gEs. vi South Omuha, and
his deputy. john q. Irouton, were
Traders III the parry wnicn nnaliy over.
took ana vanuuisned tie three con-
viGis and shut an innocent victim OF
tue desperate dasa fur liberty.
Bri6Gs ieIt thls cry on an early
morning special tram with several
omaha poiice officers. They left the
train at Springfield, abou, fifteen miles
south of mere. and there learned OF
the movements of the conyicts. The
mon had broken into stors AZ Muir
and stolen guns. ammunition and
clothing.
1t was learned that the men were
on their way north with Albright, an
Omaha suburb. as their destination.
Chief Briggs secured q fast livery
team at Springfield. Sheriff Chase had
q good span OF horses. and Sheriff
Flyers. of Lincoln. also Joined the
party. Three miles out OF Springfield
the posses learned that the convicts
had forced Roy Blunt and mis- wife
TO give them breakfast and TO furnish
II team and wagon, with which they
hoped 10 escape 10 Albright. compell-
ing Blunt 10 act as driver.
The chase began at once. the rural
telephone playing its part In the
chase, as by its use the pursuers were
route OF the progress of the convicts.
Reaching point eight miles from
here. the officers caught up with the
vehicle carrying the convicts. near
Mowinkle School. Young Blunt was
compelled 10 lash his horses into a
run, but the officers kept UP the pur-
suit until they were within 100 yards
OF the nccins dcspcradoes. Then
Briggs and Trouton opened fire with
their rifles From that time until
Morley finally surrendered i. was a
dashing tight over three miles OF
rough country roads.
Blunt Victim of Bullets.
Finally there came a halt when
young Blunt topped back into the
wagon, tho victim OF bullet. Chief
Briggs instantly jumped from his
buggy and fired ut the men i'm the
wagon. Meantime. other members OF
the posse came up and Joined in the
fusilade. john Dowd was next TO
fail Taylor was tho third to fall.
and then Charles Morley, the third
convict. threw up his hands in token
of surrender
Chief Briggs shouted to Morley to
drop his weapon or he would meet
instant death
MORLEY, who held aloft a big re.
volver, dropped it, and Briggs ordered
him TO come forward with his hands
up. This Morley did, and Briggs took
second revolver from the mans
pockets.
Not knowing just what had hap
pened. Briggs demanded OF Morley the
surrender of tho other men In the
agon.
They are all dead" declared Nor
Icy. Briggs then Went to the wagon.
taking Morley with him. and found the
lfelcss bodies of the victims of the
battle. The bodies of the convicts
We're turned over to Sheriff Hyers, of
Lincoln. and that OF Young Blunt to
his family. flyers took Morley back
to Lincoln on an afternoon train.