Phillips County herald., 1921-12-09
Carpenter Breaks Out
OF Jail at Haxtun

Ihe man who was held In the Hax-
tun Jail on white slave charge, pre-
ferred by man living near that
town, father of the woman In the
case. has skipped. Sheriff James had
done all he could to get the federal
officers at Denver to get busy on the
case, but so far as known, nothing
had been done. 1t was a case which
could not be handled In this county.
The Haxtun Harvest gives the follow
ing account of Carpenters escape:
What might be classed as the
greatest act OF ungratefulness that
has ever come to the attention of the
people OF this city was the act OF Joe
or Jim Carpenter last Sunday night
Carpenter was arrested here about
three weeks ago on a most serious
charge on a complaint made by a
farmer living in the Haxtun neighbor-
hood. He had been held awaiting the
arrival of federal officers 10 take Gus
tody of him.
Carpenter last week complained to
Marshal Burt of the fact that no
word had been received regarding
himself or the charges against him,
and declared that he would not wait
any longer than the end OF that week
for word to reach here. His captors
naturally thought that II was his in
tention to begin a legal fight then to
regain his liberty.
Upon coming down early last Mon
day morning at the customary hour
to let Carpenter ont OF his cell and
to take him out for his breakfast,
Marshal Burt was surprised to find
the outer door OF the jai; open and
the prisoner gone. The paddock was
hanging on the door frame. His meth.
cd of breaking out of jail was very
simple. although II required a good
deal of patient labor.
THE interior OF the jail is divided
into three parts, an entrance way and
behind this are two cells, which are
separated from the front by iron bar-
red doors. Carpenter had been con-
fined In one OF these cells every night
by the marshal.
THE officers are OF the opinion that
Carpenter employed rung OF n chair
to force open the lock on his cell
door After gaining access to the
front part OF the jail Carpenter then
took large wire which he heated
red hot With this he burned away
the supporting wood around the bolts
that held the lock In place. Marks
ON the door also show that several
safely razor blades were used to
whittle away some of ,ne wood
Among other notes he left was one
which snid I will send you my ad.
dress as soon as | can get located
In support Of the assertion that
the Haxtun Jail is hospitable haven
and that Marshal Burt takes good
care of his charges. the following
note left by Carpenter is self.cxplan.
ntory:
'"Haxtun. Colo. Nov 27. 1921.
- have been resting here for two
weeks, as my dock says absolute rest
So the hardest work do is to eat
My valet comes every morning at
$50 and starts the fire. and then we
20 to breakfast. and then rend or
sleep as I wish until lunch. Then |
cat good steak and rest until din.
ncr, My man brings me water. keeps
the fire and does all the work.
This is the FIRST absolute rest I
have ever taken and II is sure fne.
ann going to try and stay until
spring. My man does not cost me
anything. The city Of Haxtun likes
me 80 well that II furnishes me y
man and board aud u bungalow To
live IN all furnished. iiaxtun Ia u
nnc city. full OF Christians and moon.
all inp' "