The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1914-10-15
CONvICTS
ESCAPE IN
AUTO; FOUND
IN KANSAS
Stole Captain Baldwin's Auto
and Averaged Forty
Miles an Hour

were the principals in a sensational
attempt to escape by automobile from
that institution about $50 o'clock
last Saturday afternoon and were
only prevented from making good
their getaway by the vigilance and
activity OF the warden and his depu-
ties. Although but little was known
OF the matter by the people OF Canon
City at the time the authorities all
over the state were notified by wire
OF the occurrence and the runaways
were apprshended at Syracuse. Kan
sas. about midnight. six and a half
hours after their departure from
here.
West and Miller were both ~trus-
ties" and we're In all respects model
prisoners and their attempt to escape
can only be accounted for on the
theory that the psychological moment
arrived and they were seized with an
Irresistible impulse to try and regain
their liberty. West. who was sent to
the penitsntiary from Pueblo Novsm-
ber 81. 1913 for a term of from two
10 three years for stealing an auto
mobile. Is an expert mechanician ani
chaufer ani has driven and repaired
the warden's car at various times.
wanted to Steal Pen Car.
At noon on Saturday Warden lyman
and his guests. Dr. W. r. Draper and
II. 5. FairbAnk OF Washington. d. c.
returned to the prison from an
inspection trip over the eonvici-built
roads in Pueblo county in a car own
ed By Capt. II. {. baldwin Of the
peni,entiary force. During rieir alb
sence West hrd been working on the
penitentiary car. which was tempor-
arily out OF condition. and when they
got back hid completed the neces-
sary repairs.
The warden says West had put On
n couple Of new tires. without in
structions from any body. and had got
ten the machine In splendid shape for
a long run and is convinced that he
intended to steal it, but the oppor-
tunity to do so did not present Itself.
When the warden and party returned
he worked :or little while ON the
Baldwin machine and when he had
finished the task asked permission to
Try IL out which was granted
He drove nrst down to Soda point
and then back Main street and turn
ed south on First street. stopping at
the corner of the State park. near the
bridge. where he picked up Miller.
Who was sprinkiing the lawn.
The two men then drove through
South Canoa and Lincoln Park In the
direction Of Florence without Great
ing any susoioion OF their intentions.
They were seen going down past
Brookside at speed OF fifty miles an
hour. but they were not recognized
and nothing special was thought of u
beyond the danger TO themselves and
to those whom they might meet at
some abrupt turn in the road.
Warden's Suspicious Aroused.
They had not been gone half an
hour until the wardcn's suspicious
we're aroused and he tclephoned to
the police at Florence and Pueblo for
the purpose OF aseertaining whether
the missing men had been seen.
Shortly after six o'clock he had tho
wires busy in all directions in an on
dcavor to locate the runaways.
The authorities in Colorado Springs.
Denver and all towns down the Ar
kansas valley as FAR east as the state
line were requested to be ON the
lookout for tho missing men. but moth
Ing was heard from them until their