Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-03-15
CONVICTS JEST
OF JAIL BREAK
ON RETURN WAY
Trio Recaptured by Posse After
Gun Battle Near Ottumwa
Brought Ba X.
TELL OF ROUTE Oe FLIGHT
Talk Freely to Sheriff IIler and
Deputies-Assert Ign prance
OF Whereabouts of Others.

Boosting and testing about their
escape, Earl Morrison, LA Hodge
and Earl Frazier. paroled eonvicts
who broke from the Rock Island
county Jail Sunday morning, were
brought back to this city from OF
tumwa, Iowa, at $50 last night.
accompanying them were Sheriff
John G. Miller, Deputy Jesse Hanna
nd Judge Wertz, parole agent.
They were rather surprised to
see US in Ottumwa," declared Sher-
if Miller this morning. we found
that they were being held there as
bindOVeTs on a burglary and lar
; ceny charge under the assumed
names Of Earl LOrn, Ed McBern
and Walter Ricketts,"
The eTstwhile fugitives talked
freely Of the route which they took
in flight from the county jail. They
maintained they knew nothing OF
;ne whereabouts of either Peter De-
Ianey or William Daniels, negro,
whO escaped with them. Each said
nat Daniels went one way and De
lanay another, however.
The recaptured trio. being parol-
81 Pontiac men, stuck together.
Travelling to the river they stole a
Towboat and with an old board as
Il paddle, made their way to Ma
hant, a little village just below
suburban island There they aban-
Goned their craft and on foot jour
neyed through Buffalo. Iowa, to
montpelier. several miles below.
There they decided to again take
to the water, and stealing another
boat. kept to the river until they
reached Fairport. Once more they
took to the highways, and being
Lotly pursued, were lost when they
sought safety in the heavily wood
I'd areas to the north and east OF
Muscatine.
Though the men deny it, Sheriff
Miller is of the opinion that the
automobile which was stolen near
the east limits OF MusCatine, was
purloined by the fugitives and thai
the grocery store on the west side
Of town was also burglariZed by
them after abandoning the machine.
According to their story flight was
made around Muscatine via the wa
ter route. after having stolen an
other skiff just above the city. The
sheriff asserts that it is his belief
that the third boat was taken in
Muscatine.
Finding the Iowa side Of the river
too hot for comfort, the prisoners
said they decided TO make for the
Illinois shore. Ice prevented them
from landing, however, and they |
returned to the Iowa side some dis
lance below Muscatine. Stealing a F,
ride ID a. refrigerator car the fugi- !
tives were locked in, being released /
after riding nearly all night when /
the car was shunted onto side /
track in the yards at Eldon, Iowa. |
All were ignorant of where they |
were and supposed that they had !
been conveyed into the heart of |
Missouri.
Rob to Satisfy Hunger.
In order to satisfy a ravenous
hunger, the three broke into a |
PAINTERS car In the yards, but were |
detected A chase followed, Nor |
rison, Frazier and Hodge fleeing !
towards the village of Floris, Iowa,
about twelve miles below Ottumwa. !
The news of the robbery was flash
ed ahead and a posse organized ar
FIoris to head them off. After a
running gun battle for nearly
three miles the trio was surround
cd by farmers, officers and railroad
men armed with rifles, shOtguns
and revolvers.
Out of ammunition for the two
pistols in their possession, and see
ing that all chance OF escape was
gone, the bandits surrendered.
FOL 70 .
once under heavy guard and lodged
in the county Jail When searched
a letter written by his mother and
addressed to him in care of the
Rock Island county Jail was found
on the person of Hodge, while a
Jail key was discovered secreted
beneath the collar of the soft shirt
worn by Morrison. Rock Island au-
~horities were notified and early
Yesterday morning left for Ottumwa
20 identify and bring back the fugi-
tives. l.
Lack Cartridges.
IF we only had had more car
tridges those farmers would never
have gotten u.s." declared Morrison
on the way back last night.
Two guns were found on the
prisoners. as was also a quantity
of canned foods, camera and a
watch all thought to have been
stolen along the route of flight
Their only round of ammunition
vas expended in the battle with
their pursuers.
"They will not get away again.
Sheriff Miller said grimIy this
Each is locked in a sep
Irate cell with leg irons attached,
and will be kept that way until
.hev are transferred from our keep
ing"
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