The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1916-01-26
ESCAPED CONVICT CAPTURED
NEAR fALLON THURSDAY
j. j. Vernon After Sensational Leap
From Moving Train, Comes to
Grief At Former Home

J. j. Vernon, who made sensa-
tional escape by leaping from
moving train near Laughton Springs
on the night of January 18th, while
being conveyed to prison at San
Quentin, Cal, was captured near
fallon last Thursday morning, after
thrilling chase the night before
with the temperature below zero.
Vernon formerly resided in this
section where he has a wife and two
children A few weeks ago he was
detected in the act of breaking into
a house at Plumas Junction and
was arrested by Sheriff Ferrel and
Deputy Wheeler of Reno. He was
afterward taken to Susanville and
convicted of housebreaking and
horsestealing and sentenced to
years Imprisonment at San Quentin.
1t was while being taken to prison
that he made his escape as above
stated.
Vernon appeared at the home of
his wife in the Mclean addition
shortly before II O'Clock last We'd
nesday night after eluding capture
by the officials of Washoe county
who had been searching for him.
However, the prodigal met with no
seriptural welcome. On the contrary
upon his appearance at the house
occupied by his wife and sister-in-
law, he was confronted by a gun in
the hands of the latter, who ordered
him to throw up his hands and keep
them up while a lad was sent to
notify the officers of his undesirable
presence at the whilom Vernon
home.
In the long wait preceding the ar
rival of the officers, the plucky
woman became unnerved and
dropped the pistol, whereupon YER
non made dash for liberty just as
Sheriff Coniff and Nightwatchman
John Burnham arrived on the
scene As the officers neared the
house two pistol shots were heard,
which later developed as having
been fired by the desperate woman
to frighten the fleeing man and in
sure his permanent departure, and
to summon assistance. BY this
time the whole neighborhood had
been aroused and quite party had
/ Joined in the chase of the escaped
convict, but Vernon was on familiar
ground and managed to dodge his
pursuers, although Sheriff Coniff
who was working in the lead de-
elares that he several times caught
sight of him, but confident that he
could not escape hesitated to shoot.
Aided by darkness and the build
ings Vernon eluded his would-be
captors and the trail being lost the
chase was abandoned at the w. H.
Williams ranch for the night.
Thursday morning Albert Sorrels
rode out to the Colgan ranch where
Vernon had applied for assistance
and brought him to town. After
lodging the officers it appears that
Vernon had taken refuge in a hay
stack at the Williams feeding cor
ral but the intense cold drove him
to seek relief and shelter at the Col
gan ranch early in the morning.
Mr.. Colgan PERMITTED him to enter
the house but informed him that as
it was against the law to harbor es-
capped prisoners he would be COM
PEELED to inform the officers of his
presence and give him up.
From Vernon 5 physical condition
and the story told at the county
jail it is evident that he has had a
strenuous time of IL His feet were
badly frozen and County Physician
Lehners who attended him states
that while one of his feet can prob
ably be saved, it is morally certain
he will lose several toes and perhaps
one of his feet During his four
days liberty Vernon had walked the
entire distance of about eighty miles
in the terrific storm that ragged all
the fore part of last week and swan
or waded the Truekee river twice in
the journey, enduring an amount
of suffering seemingly out of all
proportion to the light sentence he
was required to serve.
Just what his idea was for seek
ing refuge with his family here, is
not clear, since it is currently re-
ported that he had made threats
against the life of his wife and by
some it is asserted that only the
nervy action of his wife's sister
averted tragedy.
However, Vernon will now have
chance to think II over. An Off
Ger arrived last Friday and conveyed
the prisoner to California to begin