The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-11-14
FAMOUS JAIL
BREAKER RETURNS
Ray Hembree Caught in
Kansas After 4 Years
of Freedom
IN COUNTY JAIL


four years following his jail-break
of February, 1915. Sheriff Sim
mons arrived with him from Pratt,
Kan. Monday evening.
Hembree was one of the compan-
ions of Dutch (Lawrence) West and
Kid Kelley who broke Jail in 1915.
West and Hembree made good their
escape. They were surrounded in
the brush near the Porterville bridge
one night and Deputy F. S. Fackrell
was shot through the leg, making
amputation necessary.
West was afterwards captured on
Wood river where he was operating
with gang of thieves, and was sent
to dhe penitentiary. His record in
Bingham county touches upon some
things bordering on the pathetic.
Some Ancient History
Back in 1928 West had dry
farm northwest of Moreland >by the
Mackay tracks near the fourteen
mile post, and about where it was at
first proposed to locate the expert
mental farm that was finally placed
at Aberdeen. Joe Tilden had dry
farm at Tilden flats six miles beyond
Taber, and Tilden claimed that West
was disturbing his and other peoples
property. Bad feeling grew up be-
tween them and Tilden was finally
arrested and convicted of stealing
some tools and implements from set
tiers. Tilden stoutly maintained his
innocence and always declared that
it was put-up job and that if the
truth ever became known it would
be found that Dutch West perpetra-
ted the crime and laid the evidence
with a view of fastening the guilt
upon him and for the purpose of
getting rid of him. Tilden claimed.
that West wanted his place and all
that was on it, and that this was a
part of his design. But nobody be-
lieved Tilden, or if they did nothing
was done to run the matter to earth.
Tilden lay in Jail all one winter and
came out in the spring saying it was
a long road that had no turning.
A Sudden Turn
When Tilden went out to his
claim he found his cabin stripped
and his tools and implements gone.
revealed some of them
at Vests place, but West claimed
to have bought them, or had some
lame excuse and made it stick. Til
den plead with the officers to watch
that fellow as they would watch
viper, and finally informed the Off
GERS that West was operating stor-
age station for bootleggers and that
If they would raid the place right
away they would find some of the
goods.
Billy Jones was sheriff then, and
he made the raid and captured West
with some of the goods. Just at
that time the editor of the Republic
can was Investigating the Jail and
was reporting the filthy condition
Of it. West was one of the prison.
ers who appealed to him for aid in
his case, but Trego looked him over
and went on with his task. In
few days West obtained bail and Wis
tied the Republican office and ap-
pealed to Trego to conduct an in
vestigation and be convinced that
Sheriff Jones was simply prosecuting
him and had himself caused his dug
out to be loaded" with a few bot
lies of booze so that he, Jones could
nab him. Again Trego sized him UP
and discounted his statements and
MS integrity but kept the matter in
mind to see what, turned up. For
ong time there was an underground
line of booze moving from Lost
River via Root Hog to Blackfoot, and
It appeared that Vests place and the
Red Barn at Blackfoot were stations
n the line.
One Rogue Beats Another
At one time while West was in
ail, a shrewd lawyer from Salt Lake
City who had reputation for turn
ng everything into money that he
ouched, visited Blackfoot and Dutch
West. He called at the Republican
office and introduced himself and
asked for information about Vests
and, but he made such bad i'm
preston that he was mistrusted and
lis operations were watched. Be-
ore he left town he secured deed
o Vests homestead, and went away
,oasting that he had made two
thousand dollars that day giving ad-
rice and had collected his pay. Poor
Dutch West sitting in the jail con-
,luded he had been duped, and &C
'epted some friendly aid in getting
he title to the land back again.
Then he broke Jail, went to Wood
liver and from there to the pen.
Ray Hembree, said to have been
BOSOM companion in MANY Of Vests
and adventures, is now in
he Blackfoot Jail awaiting settle |
nent of crime that ought to have
,een outlawed if cattle-stealing and
'ther similar crimes are outlawed
md forgiven in as short time as
with larger amounts of