The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-19
Escaped convlcts Had Little Chance
to Got Away While the Bells
Were Ringing Out
Warnings. ).
woMAN's QUICK WIT
M. Blunt Said She Would Get
Some Fresh Eggs, But Took
to Her Heels In
stead.

=
LINCOLN, Neb.. March 10 The
country telephones, which grid Sarpy
county, connecting with practically
every farm house. turned the trick in
Yesterdays tragic chase Of the three
fugitive convict murderers. terminal
Ing in running battle with posse
and the killing Of Gray and Dowd and
the capture Of Morley, who is con-
fined today in a solitary cell at the
state prison. south OF the city.
Within less than an hour from the
time the three conyicts appeared at
the farm of Jay Blunt, in the hills
above the town Of Meadow, demand
ing breakfast, the location OF the des-
peradoes had been flashed to every
town and farm in the entire country !.
An hour later posses, armed with re-
peating rifles, were closing In upon the
fngItiyes from every direction and
their doom was sealed.
Mrs. Blunt, q bride OF less than
three months, unwittingly factored in
the staying of her husband, who had
been compelled to hitch up his team
and drive the bandits across country
in their final desperate and futile ef-
fort at escape. The convicts. reaching
the Blunt home at about 10 a. m. de-
rnanded breakfast. Mrs, Blunt offer
ed to gather fresh eggs from the hen
coopsand the convlcts allowed her to
leave the house alone. Instead Of get
ting the eggs. she fled mile to the
home Of the nearest neighbors and the
alarm was speedily flashed along the
phone wires OF the whereabouts OF
the murderers.
The trail led straight north from the
Blunt house toward the village OF
Chalco. A posse from South Omaha,
made up of Capt Briggs. Deputy Fire
Warden Tronten and Sheriff Chas
Walter of Sarpy county, first came
upon the heels of the fugitives ten
miles north Of the Blunt home. Blunt.
inundated as pistols point, had lash
ca hls horses all the way. Sheriff
Hyers, mounted on a horse and break
posses. joined the South Omaha pur.
sners and the death battle was on /.
Inc firing was continuous for nearly
mile. Gray, the leader of the con.
victs. who blew off the doors OF the
prison and made their escape possible
vas the first to be shot, toppling over
dead in Blunt's wagon. Blunt was
snot TO death by bullet and Dowd
sensing the hopelesness Of the fight
Tired bullet through his own head
Morley then leaped from the wagon
and surrendered to Sheriff Hyers and
ms deputy, Crawford Eckenbary, the
latter drawing pistol and holding al
pay the mob of farmers which de
mahded the immediate killing Of the
sole convict survivor.
A special Burlington train. waiting
az Gretna, three miles distant, brought
Morley, the corpses OF Gray and Dowd
ana the posse back to the prison, ar
irving there at p. m.
Qulet reigned at the prison this
morning. The fact that the bodies
were at the penitentiary morgue was
communicated to the prisoners fol
lne moral effect" It might have or
pas OF the dead men who are known
% nave been in the murder plot o.
iast Thursday but we're unable tc
sneak away from the guards in the
PRISON shops and participate in the
.aia' Morley will be arraigned during
.ae next few days and formally charg
"a with the murder OF Warden Della
nunty and his two as isstants, Wagner
and Heilman.