Norwich bulletin., 1912-03-19
Two Escaped
COnviCts Shot
THIRD SAVES HIS LIFE BY SUR
RENDERING.
AN INNOCENT VICTIM
Youth Whom FusitiVes Compelled to
Drive Their Wagon First to Fall
Under tbs Fro of the Officers.

Omaha, Neb., March 1S.-Fwo of the
ccnvicts, John DOwd and John Taylor,
who escaped last Thursday from the
state penitentiary at Lincoln. and Roy
Blunt, an innocent victim of their
murderous attempt to gain liberty, are
dead as the result Of a battle between
the bandits and officers of the law
today.
Third coavict Surrsnders.
Charles Morley. the third member
Of the trio which escaped from the
state prison after killing three officials
at that institution, saved his life by
surrendering to the officers, with whom
he had a running fight over TWO and
a half miles with horses on the gallop.
Within Ten Miles of Safety.
The three escaped convicts were
within striking distance Of the hoped
for goal Of safety when the fn&
struggle for liberty occurred. They
had covered the stretch from Lincoln
to within ten miles Of the Omaha Scity
limits where they had expected to re-
oeive the protection of friends.
Sold Their Lives Dearly
From the moment Of their escape,
the three men employed the same des-
perate methods TO protect themselves
from recapEure which marked their
escape from prison and they did not
hesitate at the crucial moment to try
to sell their lives as dearly as posi-
bic. 1t was a futile attempt, how
ever, because they were armed with
shotguns and revolvers, while their
pursuers had a full supply Of repeat
ing rifles.
Six Posses on Scene.
Early IN the day the telephone oper-
ator at Gretna, about Is miles south
Of this city, reported the presence of
the desperate men. il had the result
Of bringing to the vicinity six organ
| lied posses. They included one from
Omaha, another composed Of Sheriff
McShane and his deputies Of this
county, and third made UP Of Sheriff
| Hyers and his deputies from Lincoln
| Sheriff Chase Of Sarpy county with
/ hts deputies were also within striking
distance and South Omaha sent two
! posses UNDER Chief of Police Briggs.
The Gret company Of militia was also
| early on the scene.
Shot innocent Man.
| Chief Briggs Of South Omaha and
/ his deputy, John c. Trouton, were
| leaders in the party which finally
| overlook and vanquished the three
! bandits and shot an innocent victim
| Of their doomed dash for liberty
! Briggs left this city on an early spe-
| cial train with several Omaha police
officers. They left the train al
! Springfield, about 15 miles south OF
| here, and there learned that the men
were on their way north with Albright
an Omaha suburb, as their destina-
ton.
For eed Youth TO Act as Driver.
Chief Briggs obtained a fast livery
team at Springfield, Sheriff Chase had
| a good span Of horses, and Sheriff Hy
/ srs OF Lincoln also Joined the party
Three miles out OF Springfield the
I posses learned that the cOnvicts had
forced James Blunt and his wife tc
| give them breakfast and to furnish
! them a team and wagon, with which
they hored TO escape TO Albright anc
that they had compelled Roy Blunt
G. son, to act as driver. The chase be
gan at once, the pursueTs being KEEP
| informed By the rural telephone o
the convicts' progress.
Officers Open Fire
Eight miles from here the officer
overlook them. Young Blunt vas oOrn
PEELED to lash his horses into run
but the officers kept up the pUrsui
until they were within d few hundre'
yards OF the fleeing desperadoes. TheI
Chief Briggs driver balked and re
fused to drive further. Briggs him
self grabbed the reins and whippet
the horses into gallop. When the,
were within snort distance from tn
pursued men, Briggs and TEoutOl
opened fire with their rifles. From
that time until Morley surrendered
was battle over three miles Of rougi
! country roads.
Young Blunt First 10 Fall.
Finally there came a halt vine
| Young Blunt toppled back into tn
wagon, the victim Of a buIleti. Chic
Briggs instantly jumped from hi
buggy and taking careful aim, fire
at the men in the wagon. Meantim
other members of the posse came u
and Joined in the fuslllade. Dowd wa
next to fall According TO Morley h
had taken his own life, with shot
. the temple, but Chief Briggs believe
!, he was victim OF one OF the bullet
) from the posse. Taylor was shot dow
, next and then Morley, the third con
Wet, threw up his hands in token {
surrender.
Bodies Turned Over to Sheriff.
The bodies Of the convicts wer
turned over TO Sheriff Eyers Of Lin
coin and that Of young Blunt to HI