The New York herald., 1921-12-18
Notorious Outlaw Served
First Sentence When
IA Years Old.
LAST BREAK HIS UNDOING
Slain While Lying in Wait to
Shoot Posse-Body Sent to
Little Rock, Ark.

Special Dispatch 20 THE NEW York HERALD.
KANSAS CITT. Mo-. Dec. IA prison
grudge, ending with a bullet from the
night, brought to close the long career
IT crime by which Tom Slaughter was
l1nown throughout the Southwest as "the
KILLER"
The target OF one of six men he had
liberated. few hours before. from the
Arkansas penltentiary at Little Rock.
the desperado died as he had lived.
crouching dehantly In wait for pursu-
ing officers. In the fastness OF the
Ozark hills. he was shot from behind as
posse approached the place where he
lay in hiding.
]. c. Howard, who fired the fatal shot.
was the only white man among the six
liberated by Slaughter In spectacular
escape from the prison.
IL left the prison with the intention
OF getting him the first chance l got,"
was Howards only explanation.
Tom Slaughter lert behind him n
crime record that dates back to his early
youth. He was born 81 years ago at
Dallas, Tex. and was reared in Southern
Arkansas. When ii years old he was
fenced to the Arkansas Reform School
Began First Prison Term Mt IA.
Slaughter served his term, then
drifted into Oklahoma. His operations
FOR the next few years consisted largely
of series of motor car thefts through
out Texas. Oklahoma and Arkansas. In
1916 he escaped from the Dallas. Tex.
county Jail, one of the largest and most
1..tflf Ia hn nGf fhnf =
ing seven other prisoners at the same
time. He was arrested later in Okla
homa and sent to the Texas peniten-
tiary, but escaped soon after. He was
arrested the second time and escaped
again.
One of Slaughters most spectacular
escapes was in March, 1913. With his
brother. Dave Slaughter. he was ar
rested in Oklahoma and was being
taken to Dallas by two detectives in
motor car. Stopping at little town for
oil for the car. the detectives got out.
Slaughter leaped from the rear seat to
u position behind the wheel and sped
away. taking his brother with him.
Numerous bank robberies in Texas.
Oklahoma. Arkansas, southern Missouri
and southern Kansas In the next two
or three years were laid to Slaughter.
IN 1917. while a prisoner at Nowata,
Okla. Slaughter held up the jailer and
escaped. He was recaptured and placed
in the Bartlettsville, Okla. prison, where
he escaped three days later
Still another escape was made from
county Jail near Louisville. KY. where
Slaughter was being held on n bank
robbery charge.
Slaughter often boasted that he never
would go to the electric chair. With
Fulton (Kid) Green. he was arrested
oct. 20, 1920, near Cedarvaie, Kan,
where. 1t was charged. the two were
preparing to rob a bank. He was placed
in a Jail at Sedan. Kan. for safe keep
ing, and later was turned over TO au-
thorities at Hot Springs, Ark. where he
was alleged to have killed Row Brown,
n deputy sheriff. in a gun battle Oct 10.
Gets Arkansas Life Term.
After trial lasting several days
Slaughter was convicted and sentenced
10 a life term. While a prisoner at Hot
Springs q constant guard, including q
company of National Guardsmen. had
Kept watch over the jail. After the
jury's verdict was announced. Slaughter
turned over to the guards a handful of
hacksaws. remarking that IL the SEN
1ence had been death he never would
have remained in jail over night.
Last September Slaughter added an
other chapter 70 his long list of crimes
when, in a sensational attempt to escape
from the Arkansas prison farm, he killed
one man and shot two others, all
rusty guards. with n rifle smuggled
10 him from some one on the outside.
only the loyalty of a small band of
''trusties'' prevented the escape of two
hundred or more prisoners.
1t was said his plan for the wholesale
delivery provided that other convicts
should rush TO the guards as he shot
Them down. obtain the guards weapons
and Join him in the fight. The deter
mined efforts OF the guards and their
apid firing kept the other prisoners cor
rallied in the bath house. For that crime
slaughter was sentenced 20 die IN the
electric chair December 10.
Slaughter's final break for liberty oc-
CURED December Q. Again, it was with
the aid of n revolver that had been
esmuggled to him that Slaughter effected
MS ecape from the penitentiary.
only dim light cleaned in Slaugh-
fer's cell at Q 80 o'clock at night when
lic called to the guard. Herman vezolie,
that he was ill. He asked for another
blanket. When Vezollie returned with
j. he was accompanied by Tom Copper
smith, another guard. 1t was impossible
10 slip the blanket between the bars so
while vezollie handed II through the
open Ceh OOOr OOppcTSnltn neld n re-
Noiver leveled at Slaughter.
Daring and Quick Action.
But the daring and quickness OF the
fesperado triumphed again. Whipping
out a revolver he commanded:
Drop that gun, Tom CoppersmIth, or
III kill you on the spot"
Coppersmith. stunned lowered his
weapon. Slaughter disarmed both
Guards.
Opening tho door OF the stockade
Slaughter called: "who wants 20 go
with mc7"
Six men. including Howard and Ave
pegroes. stepped forward. The remain
der were locked In the cells.
A prison nurse appeared. Slaughter
pointed his revolver at him and ordered :
'NVallS that way"
Crouching behind the nurse, with his
companions at his heels, Slaughter
forced the nurse to lead him 20 the
Office OF f. III. Dempsey. warden
Awakening Dempsey. his wife, two
daughters and son. he forced them into
The death cell, where he locked them up
Next he took charge OF the kitchen
He was perfectly calm during the en-