The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-03-19
TWO CONVICTS
DIE FIGHTING
DESPERATE BATTLE
ENDS BREAK FROM PEN
Convicts Overtaken by Posse As
They Neared Haven Where
Friends Promised Safety.
Dowd and Taylor Dead, While
Morley Is Prisoner On Way
Back to His Cell.

OMAHA, Neb.. March 1s.-Two OF
the convicts. John Dowd and John
Taylor. who escaped last Thursday
from the state penitentiary at Lincoln,
and Harry Blunt. an innocent victim
OF their murderous attempt TO gain
liberty, are dead as the result OF a
battle between the bandits and Of
ficers OF the law this afternoon. Chas.
Morley. the third member OF the trio.
which escaped from the state prison
after killing three officials of that In
stitution. saved his life by surrender
ing to the officers with whom he had
fought a running battle over two and
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 final strug-
gle 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 the protection or friends.
Running Battle.
From the moment OF their escape
the three men had employed the same
desperate methods TO protect them
selves from recapture which featured
their escape from prison and they did
not hesitate at the crucial moment to
attempt TO sell their lives as dearly
as possible. II was a futile attempt,
however. because they were armed
with shotguns and revolvers while
their purcuers had a full supply of re-
peating rifles. Early in the day the
telephone operator az Gretna. about
"a miles south Of this city. reported
the presence Of the desperate men. II
had the result of bringing to the vlcin
ity six organized posses. They in
cluded one from Omaha, another COM
posed Of Sheriff McShane and his
deputies OF this county, and a third
made up of Sheriff Hyers and his
deputies from Lincoln. Sheriff Chase.
OF Sarpy county. with his deputies
were also striking distance and South
Omaha sent two posses under Chief
/ OF Police Briggs. The Gretna COM
pany OF militia was also early on the
scene.
Chief Briggs. of South Omaha. and
his deputy. John c. Trouton were
leaders I'm the party which finally over
! took and vanquished the three con-
/ victs and shot an innocent victim OF
the desperate dash for liberty. Briggs
| left this city on an early morning
/ special train with several Omaha
police officers. They left the train at
| Springfield. about 10 miles south OF
here and there learned OF the move
ments OF the convicts. The men had
/ broken into a store at Murdock. be-
/ tween this city and Lincoln. and
stolen guns. ammunition and clothing.
Breakfast al Gun point.
I u was learned that the men were
on their way north with Albright. an
Omaha suburb. as their destination.
Chief Briggs secured a fast livery
team at Spr ngheld. Sheriff Chase had
good span Of horses and Sheriff
I Hyers Of Lincoln. also Joined the
| party. Three miles out OF Springfield.
/ the posse learned that the convicts
had forced James Bluut and his wife
/ 20 give them breakfast and 10 furnish
a team and wagon with which they
hoped 60 escape % Albright. compel.
ing Blunt % act a. driver The chase
began az once. the rIrai telephone
playin iis part iu the chase. as BY
its use the pursuers acre able % learn
from farmers aionE he route Of the
progress % the convic-s
Reaching a point eight miles from
here. the officers caught up with ths
vehicle carrying the cunvicfs near
Mosiukie school Young Hunt was
I compelled 20 iash his horses into a run
buf the officers kept up the pursuit
Until thev were within a fee nunurr1
yards of ne fleeing desperadocs. Then
1 Chief UriEEs' driver haiked and 70
fused 20 drive further HrlErs hfmsei,
rrasped fhe reirs and whipped tns
horses into rnliop
Ths sHe 1sttis
When they uere within hundred
ynrfs ~ fhe pursued men. HrtrEs and
Trruf0n Oprraf fire ufh their rites
PROM that time unfu MorieF nnauy
fc-usu.sd q. r.sfh Psr.1