The Washburn leader., 1916-08-04
AN ESCAPE
WlNKED AT
By JOHN D. JAMESON

criminal through sympathy. l never
did that, but I once lost q woman
whom had under arrest because had
become convinced that she was inno-
cent. did not tell her that she might
escape, but pretended to trust her. l
was sorry afterward that didn't let
her know that was willing she should
go, for saw her do something to gain
her freedom that made my blood cur
die.
A cashier of bank had been con-
victed of defalcation, had been sent TO
the penitentiary and by means Of steel
saws sent him by his wife had cut the
bars of window Of his cell. She had
also provided him with rope. on
which he had lowered himself to the
ground and had then thrown it over
the prison wall, she being outside to
catch it and secure the end. He then
climbed on to the wall, and his wife
and three Of his friends had held
blanket, into which he had jumped.
Then, getting into carriage, he had
been driven away.
The warden was quite sure that the
escaped mans wife had secured his
freedom, but had no evidence to sup
port the charge. Some time after the
escape was ordered by my chief to 60
to Albany, where the woman was liv-
ing, arrest her on trumped up charge
and bring her to Philadelphia, where
the crime of which her husband had
been convicted was committed. The
object was to force her to betray his
whereabouts, or, rather, to force him to
give himself up to secure his wife's
freedom.
found the lady-she was a lady,
and refined lady, too-living in seclu-
sion. She doubtless surmised what
kind Of game was to be played on
her, for l saw her face set with resCs
luton. did not believe anything
could be forced out of her. She went
with me without making any ado, and
l refrained from the indignity Of plac-
ing handouts on her. l took seat be-
side her in the train, resolving to make
the journey as easy for her as possible.
! During the ride to New York she told
me one of the most interesting stories
Of how a mans ruin may be planned
to save another that ever listened to.
If the person who laid the scheme had
devoted his genius to writing detective
stories he might have made large
fortune. The most ingenious part Of it
was that he fixed on an innocent maz
so that there was no way that he could
prove his innocence without casting an
aspersion on his own wife.
| Not only did the lady make the dit
ferent steps in the plot plain to me.
but by the artless way she told her
story convinced me that she had not
invented it and was telling the truth
And when she told me that she and
her husband had intended to start for
Brazil with her children in few days
to begin life anew under a different
name completely soured on my job.
On reaching New York we took sup
per together in q restaurant, crossed
the river and boarded train for Phil
adelphia. Having told me her story.
the lady sat silently weeping. Her ar
rest had spoiled plan that she and
her husband had been working and
waiting for for several months. If her
story and my faith in its truth had not
conquered me her tears would have
done so-that is. being convinced Of
her innocence. After leaving Trenton
l told her that was going into the
smoking car.
"Aren't you afraid I'll escaper' she
asked.
II don't see how you can," replied.
''This train doesn't stop till we reach
Philadelphia, and before that III be
back"
did not intend to return to her till
we were in the station at Philadelphia,
hoping that she would find way Of
giving me the slip there, and thought 1t
possible that the train might pull up on
the way and go slow enough for her to
jump of.
1 smoked several cigars. At one Of
the towns through which we passed
where there were many tracks l no.
ticed that we were running beside a
train moving In the same direction as
ourselves and on the next track. The
two trains were so near together that l
could put my hand in at the window Of
the one beside us. Both trains were
going at pretty good speed.
Presently the other train began to
pull ahead of mine. l was sitting in
the front seat of the smoking car on
the side next the other train. Suddenly
as the platform Of the rear car Of the
other trains caught and passed the
platform Of my car I saw my prisoner
bend forward. grasp the rail Of the
platform beside her and step on to the
other train. She missed the rail she
tried for, and thought It was all up
with her, but she caught the rear rail
and succeeded in clambering on to the
platform. That's all saw, for the
] train she was on passed out Of sight.
thanked heaven that l had been
spared sending the poor woman to her
death and that she had escaped me.
Just before reaching Philadelphia l
went into the car where had left my
prisoner and, not finding her, on reach
ing the hotel at which put up notified
my chief Of the woman's escape, telling
him exactly how she had effected it.