Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1914-01-15
ESCAPED FROM
WINNIPEG JAIL
MAN ACCUSED OF PLUM COULEE
ROBBERY AND MURDER MAKES
ESCAPE FROM CELL

Krafchenko, one of the most MOTOR
ious and desperate characters Of
Western Canada, escaped from the
Central Police cells at 2:30 o'clock
this morning.
Deputy Chief Newton confirmed
rumors of the escape Of Krafchenko
shortly after o'clock, but declined
to give any particulars.
Although the station was full of
officers, called out in the emergency,
it was impossible to ascertain but the
barest facts as to his escape.
The attorney generals department
this afternoon offered $4,000 for the
capture Of Krafchenko, and $4,000 for
the arrest of his accomplices.
After being committed yesterday to
stand trial on the charge Of murder
ing H. NJ. Arnold, bank manager at
Plum Coulee, Man., Krafchenko was
taken to what is known as "the old
kitchen" on the second floor at the
police station.
Two men were placed on guard but
in some way Krafchenko had secured
an automatic revolver, presumably
from friends, and holding the revolver
at the heads of the guards, backed to
the window.
Krafchenko also had been provided
with a rope by friends, and swung
out of the window and dropped to
the lane, some twelve or fourteen feet
below.
Beyond these few facts the police
are absolutely in the dark. 1t is al
together likely that Krafchenko's
friends who provided him with re-
volver and rope also had an auto wait
ing nearby, and that good time was
made in getting as far away as pos
sible in a few minutes.
The escaping man was first seen on
the outside by James Thomlinson,
who quickly spread the alarm, but in
the few minutes which had elapsed
Krafchenko had completely disap-
peared.
On Louise street, on the sidewalk
close to the wall. are heavy marks
where he fell and was seen by the
watchman.
Close in to the curb are the marks
of new diamond motor type, which
became fainter on the north, where
they cross an open space OF asphalt.
It was clear that an auto drove up
from the north and that Krafchenko
ran to meet it.
John Krefchango has a most unen-
viable record as criminal. The ffrst
affair in connection with which he
gained notoriety was the robbery of
a bank messenger who was carrying a
shipment of $4,000 from Plum Cou-
lee, Man,, and Winkjer. Man. At that
time he escaped acroTs the boundary
line by bicycle into the United States.
Later he was traced to ROumanla,
through southern Europe and into
Africa. Finally he returned to the
United States, going to Montana, and
later to Saskatchewan, where he had
trouble with the police, getting two
year sentence at Prince Albert. He
escaped, being recaptured IN Winni-
peg, where he was sentenced to three
years in the Manitoba penitentiary.
About that time Krafchenko was
the principal witness for the defense
in the Thomas Henry Hicks murder
case.
Just a few weeks previous to the
Plum Cou1ee robbery and murder,
Krafchenko was jailed for alleged
completely in ho1dup in South Win
nipeg. The police, however, had
nothing on him.
Since his release from the Stony
Mountain penitentiary about year
ago, Krafchenko had been in and
about Plum Coulee considerably, and
when arrested had drawings of the
Plum Coulee bank on his person.
Krafchenko is capable in about fif-
teen different trades, is linqufst Of
ability, speaking five languages