The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-06-18
KILLED IN
ATTEMPT TO
BREAK JAIL
Thompson Too Quick for Him

Ed Streator was shot and killed in
an attempt to break Jail at Black
Ifoot. Thursday night, June 10, and
Lester Kelly narrowly escaped a
similar fate.
1t was about 9:45 p. m. and Jailer
Charlie Thompson went in to close
the iron door of the corridor in front
of the cells. He had his gun in
kthe holster at his left side under his
coat, and when he was about the
center of the large room in which all
the prisoners spend the day, Kelley
grabbed him by the wrists and made
Ia grab for the gun. Thompson re-
sisted and squirmed so that he could
draw his own arm tight against the
gun, and te threw Kelley off, but at
the same instant Streator struck him
on the head with a milk bottle that
was filled with water. The bottle
popped and flew into fragments and
Thompson fell slowly, reaching for
/ his gun as he did SO. The blow stun,
ned him so that he partly lost his
vision. The three men scuffled to-
gether for moment and then Thomp-
son fired two shots in quick success
sion at something bending over him.
1t was Streator and he fiinched at
each shot, and drew back, and turned
(away. Thompson fired two more
shots at him, and Streator walked to
the corridor and into his cell, where
he knelt down by his cot and expired,
moaning and breathing with difficult
Ity. After Thompson fired the fourth
shot at Streator he turned, still lying
on the floor, and seeing Kelley at his
left he turned the gun on him. At
THAT instant another prisoner ex-
claimed, "Cut it out Thompson.
Kelley threw up his lands and said.
"I'll go in," meaning into the cell,
and he did so promptly. Thompson
rose with difficulty, and approached
the lever controlling the doors, and
as he did prisoner by it said, "Shall
j close it for you Mr. Thompson"
rThompson covered him with the gun
and threw the lever, walked to the
side door and went out, locked it
Ibehind him and made his way up the
stairs. When he got into the office
he sank into chair, dizzy, blind and
almost fainting from the foce of the
blow he had received. Some of the
glass from the broken bottle went
under his collar and cut gashes during
the struggle.
William Crawford, whose hearing is
not very good, was in the office at
the time, and the door at the head
of the stairway went shut with slam
due to the circulation of air. He was
tuning a violin and heard further
noises following the loud slamming
of the door, and did not act immed-
lately, but after moments thought
he laid down the violin thinking TO
investigate and at that moment
|Thompson staggered into the room
and collapsed.
L B. Dustin and wife were passing
at the time of the shooting, and they
met w. H. Stuffebeam a short dis
lance farther on. They told him what
they had heard and he rushed into the
Isheriff's office just after Thompson
came up the stairs. Mr.. Stuffebeam
summoned help and a physician by
telephone and found Streator dead
and Thompson bruised on the head,
cut by glass as before indicated and
his clothing torn and limbs bruised
in the fight.
Streator was shot in the left side,
and the bullet pentrated the chest
and came out by the collarbone on
1.-THE right. The body was taken to the
PBrown-Eldredge Undertaking parlors
where an inquest was held the fol-
lowing day, generating Thompson
on the fact that he was doing his
duty, preventing jail break and de-
Tending his own life.
i Streator had been sentenced to a
term in prison. and Travelling Guard
J. T. Danilson arrived on the 9 O'Clock
train to take him to Boise He had
served time there before.
/ The body was buried by the county,
and the expense bill will be present
ed to Custer county from which he
txuo~ aonf