The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-18


Omaha, March 1S.-The report reach
ed here at 2:30 that Taylor was killed,
Dowd committed suicide and Morley
surrendered. The fight occurred be-
T., sen Gretna and Chalco. Another re-
port has it that Roy Blunt, the farmer
who was driving their conveyance, also
was killed.
Omaha, March 1S.-The fight between;
the posses and the convicts was an un-
even affair, the officers being armed
with rifles and the bandits with revol-
vers Two posses engaged the men at
once, having crossfire on them.
Taylor was killed by the bullets OF
the officers after which Dowd. recog-
nizing the hopelessness of the situation
turned his weapon on himself.
Morley signitied his wish to give UP
the fight. Blunt, the young farmer
who had been forced to drive the des-
perate men in his sleigh. was found
dead, but whether from the bullets
of the convicts or of the officers is not
clear.
At 2:15 o'clock it was reported
that Morley also was killed. Sheriff
Hyers of Lincoln was said to have
fired the shot that killed Taylor or
George Mowinkle on whose farm the
fight occurred, is said to have been
slightly hurt. None of the officers was
wounded.
Driven by Farmer in Sleigh.
Louisville, Neb.. March 18.-The
three convicts who last week murder
ed three officials at the state prison
at Lincoln, were pursued north of
here by posses from Omaha, Lincoln
and Plattsmouth.
IL ar-6 ST0l~i iT1cr
field in a sleigh by Roy Blunt, far
rner, who resides three miles north
of town. The cOnvicts were lying
down in the body of the vehicle fore
the bullets of the posse as soon as
they got within firing distance. The
three convicts approached the Blunt
home about II o'clock this morning
and forced the farmer to take them
in his sleigh to Springfield. He re-
fused at first, but they covered him
with their revolvers and ordered him
to make haste.
The first of the pursuing posses
was a mile behind the fleeing con-
victs Two other posses were a short
distance in the rear and the officers
gained on their quarry.
Stole Hand Car.
Lincoln, March 1S.-The three con-
victs who escaped from the state peni-
tentiary Thursday were seen just be-
fore daylight today near South Bend,
Neb., on a Eandcar. They had stolen
the handcar at Prairie Home, just out
of Lincoln and had broken into a hard
ware store at Murdoch, stealing guns,
ammunition and clothing.
1t is believed the convicts, now we'll
stocked with guns and clothing, proba-
bly, also have secured food at some
farm house and are headed for the vi
cinity of the Platte river, intending to
make a stand near there or to lose
themselves in the wild country there.
Strong posses led by Sheriff Hyers and
others left Lincoln on the trail of the
fleeing handcar as soon as a special
train o0--'7 he made ready.
Two Days at Farm House.
The Ill g 1dgitives, Taylor, Morley
and Dowd spent Friday night and all
day Saturday and part of Sunday |
night at the home of Mr.. and Mrs |
Elmer Hall on farm five miles east
and a mile north of HaveIock After |
that they believed they could not liber-
ate themselves. they tore the telephone |
instrument from its place, cut the wires |
Sunday night. During their stay they
to serve them with meals and permit
ted no one to leave the house.
After leaving the Hall home, the
fugitives went to Prairie Home, secured
a handcar and went to Murdock where
they burglarized two stores and secur-
ed arms. ammunition and clothing La
ter the convicts were seen walking the