Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-10
&. LLOYD MUSGROVE IN
SPECTACULAR DASH
TO FREEDOM
ESCAPES BULLETS
JUMPS FROM Rock ISLAND TRAIN
As DEPUTY STTDMAN FIRES
BULLETS AFTER hlM-OBTAiNS
LIBERTY MILE AND HALF OUT
OF JOLIET.

Proviling people on Rock Island
train all the thrills OF a western mell.
drama by escaping from the fast NOV
Ing passenger amidst a fusilladc of
bullets, +. L. Musgraye late last
night avoided the watchful vigilance
Of Deputy Sheriff Fred T.. Stedman
long enough to make a successful jump
to liberty.
The nearer he drew 10 Ottawa after
thirty-six hour ride from Houston,
Texas. whittier the sheriff's aid was
dispatched 70 get him, the more Mus
grove bided the right moment for his
escape. Continuously looking for the
chance netted him his reward at a
moment he was unhandcufied and free
to use every natural resource as q
means OF obtaining freedom.
At :15 O'clock last night when the
train was ona and Il half miles out oI
Joliet, the right moment came. Mus
grove took It, Today he is at large
while Deputy Sledman Is a gloom dc
pressed young officer
Follows o'erien's Method.
Musgroves spectacular escape was
performed with the desperation Of 4
Pat OBrien fleeing German guards
As he raced down the tracks bullet;
from he sheriffs gun spattered the
rock covered right-of.way around him
The chase led toward Rockdale. a sub
urb Of Joliet. but the sheriff's CUR
barking away in his rear did moi
slacken Musg.ove's speed as he tore
down the tracks. He finally envelop
cd himself in thd dark and was LOST
TO view. Going Steve Brodie one bet
ter Musgrove. TO execute his escape
took two chances. One of being kill
ed by he deputy and another OF beint
mangled under the train The double
risk, he Is believed to have consid
cred worth the game.
The escape coming after Stedmal
and his charge had covered half thc
continent. and az a time when there
was only forty miles more before OF
tawa would be reached, caused tn
deputy 10 redouble his efforts in
hope of either winging the alleges
criminal with his gunfire or bringini
him TO a stop IN fear Of his life, Bot
failed. The entird Joliet police fore
was thrown ont into act coverln
all parts of the city but no trace O
tic fugitive was obtainable.
Followed From Train.
To get shot at Musgrove. Stet
man was forced to follow him and ru
the risk OF breaking his own nee
while landing from the fast movin
train. He came out of the eXperienc
unscathed, but he admits his han
on the trigger was none too stead
as ne fred at the fleeing prisoner.
The escape occurred after Stedma
had transferred Musgrove from tn
st. Louis Chicago Alton train at j
liet to an Ottawa.bonnd early morl
train The passenger had moved o,
of the Joliet yards and was slowin
when the long.looked for chance
make the break came TO Musgrov
The only chance was not going TO e
by him without an effort. He. su
ceeded in evading the deputy's watc
full eye inst long enough to ges I'M
.he yestibnle of the coach, raise II
tran door, which cuts of the tra
steps. and slide out into the open.
The conductor. knowing that Ste
man was in charge of prisoner. sa
the escape and pulled the cord
stoo the train. He hurriedly notiii'
thd deputy Of his loss and Stedmi
was rapidlv on the fleeing mans ira
Getting out in the air Stedman sa
NIusgroye running toward the fro
end of the rain and fred twice
him. His commands to halt failed
bring any response from the felon.
Stedman today explained that
ceased his careful watch of Musgro
when he went into the adjoining Goa
10 see II there were any passenge
on the.,a for Peru. He said he wot
have been able TO have gotten off
CONTINUED on page D. col ID