Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-22
PRISONERS BREAK
FROM COUNTY JAIL

/ CONTINUED IT I'm Page Orel
/ group of approximately fifteen was
/ reported to have been seen going
| west on Second avenhe, near Tenth
| street, shortly after the breakout.
The men were without coats and
! hats, some being attired in white
0veralls, and others in prison grey
/ trousers. Several, including Mel
son and Markowski. were dressed
/ in blue trousers and vests. An
0vercoat, sweater and small coat,
belonging to Wahlstrand and hang
ing in the office, was taken by the
jailbreakers as was also $40 in
money from the turkeys pocket.
Nelson, Smith, Murrin. Markowski,
1 Weber and O'Shea sported the close
crop prison hair cut given them at
Joliet.
Police of Davenport. Moline and
East Moline and Silvis were at
once notified of the escape. as well
as all constituted authorities i'll
cities, villages and towns within a
wide radius.
About 9 O'Clock Eugene Patter-
son. paroled negro, was recaptured
by William Epperson OF the Rock
Island police force. and Deputy
Wilbur Hepburn near the Crescent
bridge. Hepburn and Epperson,
hot on the trail of the fleeing men,
stationed themselves near the ap-
proach to the bridge. They had
been at their post but a short time
when a sound similar to a cough
was heard Upon investigation.
Patterson was found standing
waist deep in the river, inside an
empty launch float.
Come out of there, or wen
blow your head off," ordered one
of the officers.
Yes sab, yes sab, Use comm
right out They made NE do it,"
chartered the frightened black as
he clambered out of the water. He
was the first man to be re-
captured.
Frazier and Bateman we're ar
rested shortly afterwards by
posse composed of Detective Her.
man Sehnert and Rock Island pa
trolmen. K. Berry and F.. P. Kell.
as the fugitives attempted
to cross the Milan bridge
Ray Lundy was taken his morn
ing at his home where he pro-
ceeded following the escape
Where Did Gun Come From!
Where did Miller get the revol-
yer which he possessed when the
escape was effected?
Was a wooden key used in I'm
locking the CRATE doors leading
from the bull pen?"
If so what became of the key
and when and by whom was it
made?
Was the escape connived at by
These are several of the puzzling
questions being considered by
Sheriff Miller and the authorities
today.
1t is said that Frazier and Hodge
fashioned the wooden key. which
might have been used in unlocking
the CRATE doors, from the handle
Of an old broom. On the other
hand it is said that the men
brought from Joliet yesterday car
ried the implements necessary for
the escape into the Jail with them.
to prisoners who re-
LlHlACut IHSIG " dS SOI1G LSlth yes
terday about the flight being made
in stolen automobiles, the goal to
be Chicago via the Lincoln high
way. Seven of the fugitives are
natives of that city
OF the 20 men who broke from
the jail, II are convicts. sent to |
his city on probation. A short |
Tine after arrival of about six |
hundred paroled men here, a wave
IF crime of unprecedented proper
ions swept Rock Island and Mo-
inc.
Untiring efforts on the part of |
he Rock Island police brought |
he majority of the trouble makers !
nto custody. They were indicted |
or various crimes and confined in
he county Jail.
According to parole agents here. +
he men who made good their es-
ape are among the most danger
'us characters of the criminal
world. IF Weber. O'Shea, Mar
,owski or Murrin get their hands
N guns. there will be a real
'attle," said one of the state men
asst night. Those men are game
through and absolutely reckless of
consequences. They know now
hat they have everything to gain -.
y remaining a. large and they are
DING to die, if necessary, before
II II