The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1920-08-05
FIVE MEN PLOTTED TO
SHOOT WAY FROM JAIL
Statement by Hart duplicates All but
Lindrel in Deliberate Plot TO Get
Out Of Jail by Any Method Needed.
(PendIeton East oregonianl

(Pendleton East oregonian)
All five escaped prisoners l eon-
slider equally guilty Of the murder Of
Sheriff Taylor and they viii be eharg-
ed Jointly with first degree murder,
District Attorney, r. l. keator said
today after having had conferences
Sunday with Jim Owens. Neil Hart,
Jack Rattle, Richard Patterson and
Louis Anderson in their cells al the
county Jail.
Hart told the district attorney that
the Jail break had been planned joint
ly by the five for a week and that he
had told them, Wen have to shoot
our way out" To this they all con
scented, keator says Hart told him.
After considerable prodding by the
Sheriff and his assistants, all five yes
terday were more than willing to tell
their stories. Owens told the district
attorney that his story of Saturday
night had not all been true. keator
also said today that he would inyes-
tigate further the admission of Harris
that he was implicated in the murder
of Fred Jennings and his wife near
Bancroft, Idaho, alleged to have been
made Saturday night.
Is Assumed Name
One of the bolts from the sky yes
terday was Owens assertion that Jim
Owens is not his real name. The dis
trict attorney promised not to reveal
the name Owens gave him, because OF
his parents, who are said not to know
of his plight. Owens said he is of
Scotch-1 English descent and has
no Indian or other dark blood in his
veins. He was % in March.
Prior TO his holdup at Cayuse on
July II, Owens was never in serious
trouble, he told the attorney. AT that
time he was with Hart and together
they looted two Indian homes Of ri
fes, pistols, ammunition, saddles,
chaps, beadwork, Elk teeth and other
native fnery that filled two trunks.
Then they met Eugene Lyman and
drove his car to Rieth after tying Ly-
man in a barn.
Met Hart Here :
Owens says he met Hart on the
lawn of the o. W. R. & n. station
here the day of the Cayuse holdups.
Together they boarded a freight train
intending to go to LaGrande. They
were put of near Cayuse when the
brakeman asked that they pay 81
each TO ride. From there they went
to The Indian houses, seeking food.
After eating, they took the loot.
Both men denied having stolen
$500 alleged to have been missing.
They declared that they did not know
of the presence of the money and had
they known it, would never have TAX
en- away two trunks full of loot.
Had No Help
From his interview with the five
prisoners, the district attorney says
he has become convinced that nc n
gave help to the fugitives. All that
they had to eat and yea was taken
from camps which they looted, he be-
lieves. He branded as false the ru-
NOR that Hart had named a local man
who had aided in the escape and that
this man was being sought.
Each prisoner has told a complete
story Of the Jail break and the plot
but certain facts are being held by
the district attorney for use in the
prosecution. The attorney has been
working on preparation Of the case
since Jack Rathie was brought to the
Jail Saturday noon 81 am going to
try to send every one OF these mel
to the gallows," Keator said.
A young man who served in the
same army unit with Rathie told
Keator today that Rathie spent most
Of his term Of service in the guard
house. His record includes a few rob-
berries, Keator says, but he is tough
enough to mix in bigger crimes
should he face the situation.
After having lost his nerve quite
completely Saturday, Rattle has again
shown signs Of stubborness. Keator
said today. A few meals and some
sleep in the county jail has made him
more naughty, although he has not
a nerve Of iron. He, like his confed-
crates. is willing to talk.
"All Of them want to place the
blame on any Of the other but him
self" Keator said,