The Washington herald., 1915-08-09
|KIDNAPPERL LOSES
BY DROWSINESS
Outlaw Falls Asleep and His
Wealthy Victim Escapes
Into Forest.
CAUGHT BY COWBOYS
Ransom of $1,000 Had Been De-
manded for Release of Idaho
Rancher and Sheepman.

Idaho Falls, Idaho. Aug. 7.-Word was
brought to Idaho Falls that the out
law who had abducted E. A. Empey a
prominent rancher and sheepman Of Am
mon, six miles east Of Idaho Falls. and
who had held Empey for 5000 ransom.
/ had been captured by . group Of cow
boys In the neizhborhood Of Sheep Noun
tain, twenty-five miles southeast Of this
point. In Bingham County, and were hur-
rying him to the custody Of the officers
here. fearing . lynchins II they should
como In touch with any Of the searching
parties reported 10 be securing the noun
tainous section In search Of Empey.
A party was at once organized at the
sheriff's ONCE, consisting Of deputies and
| reporters. who in a big car driven by J..
c. Clay. an old resident Of the community
thoroughly familiar with every road and
| trail and Q fast driver, were soon on the
way to meet the bandit and his captors.
The posse was met about sixteen miles
| from town and the kidnapper was placed
| in handouts and transferred to the ma
| chine and the night run to town was
| started.
The outlaw, who gave his name as Le-
onidas NJ. Dean. talked freely concerning
his desperate attempt to gain the $500
by holding Empey as hostage and OF his
GApSTiSHCc " SuCSccu.
Says He Gave Too Much Time.
He stated that he had made the mis-
take of giving relatives of Empey too
long a time to raise and deliver the
money. Had the time been made three
instead of eight days he believed that
he would have succeeded and made good
his escape with his booty. For six days
and nights he had been constantly on
the alert. keeping his eyes on Empey
practically all the time. being able to
snatch but brief maps. not over an hour
out Of each twenty-four. He admitted.
too, not knowing how persistent would
be the attempts to seek out the hiding
place he had chosen to keep his captive
in. nor how desperate would be the ef-
forts to capture him.
He had debated In his mind for some
time before making the kidnapping at
tempt just what scheme he should pur-
sue in an attempt to get some money.
As to the experiences In the hills
with Empey, he stated that he was ia
niliar with the country chosen In q gen.
eral way, had como to Idaho Falls and
spent a couple Of days here, registering
at a local rooming house under the name
Of Hunt. While here he had purchased
q trace chain and paddock from a hard
ware store. having already in his pos
session one lock and a brace Of revol-
vers, and had then walked out into the
hills and rough country east and south
Of the city to select the best place for
the purpose he had decided upon.
Lay In Wait for Empey.
He chose a narrow canyon thickly
grown with timber and underbrush on
the southeast of Sheep Mountain as the
place best suited for his purpose and
then lay in wait for the opportunity
to get his man.
Empey. his fourteen-year-old son
and a neighbor lad of near the same
age were driving down the Long VAL
ley road from the timber line with
load of poles for the ranch which is
owned by Empey and his father at the
lower part of this valley. 1t was near
dark when they reached the ranch
buildings. and just as they had driven
into the lot Dean appeared and at the
point Of the guns ordered Empey to
accompany him. All three complied.
and when q few hundred yards from
tho house he gave the boys letter to
deliver to Empey's relatives at once
and then continued to the camp select
ed with his captive. reaching there
late at night.
Here the next six days were spent.
Emphey being chained, by means of
the locks and chain to q tree at night
In such a manner that he could share
the camp bed with Dean. During the
day Empey was allowed to move about
camp. always under the eve Of Dean.
1t was while he was taking advantage
of this privilege that Dean, overcome
by his long vigil and strain, nodded off
to sleep. Empey made his escape. taxi
ing . direction opposite to that In
which his home lay. partly to throw
Dean off the track when he should
awaken and follow, and partly to get
the more quickly to open country.
Dean states that he slept not more
than FIVE minutes, and when he looked
around and missed his captive at once
started In pursuit. taking q line to the
northwest and hurrying over the noun
tain looking constantly for Empey. About
a:so he approached the ranch house Of
Jack Comerihl. a cattleman Of that sec
ton. and where three cowboys happened
to be gathered. These men saw Dean
and surmised that here was the man that
was wanted In connection with the ab-
duction.
Ordered to Surrender.
Keeping out of Deans sight. they await
ed his near approach. and then ordered
him to throw up his hands. emphasizing
the command with shot over his head
He complied, exposing to view the two
guns buckled about his waist When
taken Dean did not deny that he was the
man wanted.
He stated that he had been a. care
full Of Empey's comfort as he could be
under the circumstances; that he had
provided as much variety Of food ~ pos
sibls by robbing sheep camps and by
shooting a deer on Monday afternoon,
which furnished plenty Of fresh meat
Aaked IL he would have rssorted 10 /,