The New York herald., 1921-12-18

tire proceedings. Guards said he de-
clared a short time before he fled that
he would like TO kill Vezollie."
Slaughter led his companions TO the
commissary, where all selected outfits
OF civilian clothes, changing from prison
garb Before leaving he took a pot OF
coffee sugar cream and cups TO Mrs.
Dempsey and her two daughters, whom
he had made prisoners. and assured them
no harm should come TO them.
For five hours Slaughter ruled the
prison inclosure. after disarming all the
guards. So confident was he OF his abil-
ity 70 manage the situation that he
waited three hours inside the walls
after the great gate that gives egress to
the prison had been thrown open. But
none OF the hundreds who passed on
Nineteenth street pike and noticed the
open gate became curious enough to in
vestigate
After supplying himself and party
with a store of food to last several days.
Slaughter brought Warden Dempsey's
car from the garage. Waving a farewell
to the helpless guards the seven sped
out the gate and into the darkness.
Warden Dempsey heard the motor car
leave the prison. He directed convicts
above him to cut hole in the ceiling of
the death cell. Then he made his way
10 the office and sent the alarm. Soon
several posses were securing the hills
about Little Rock in every direction.
The first reports from thee fugitives
came about twenty minutes later when
the warden was informed that the city
marshal at Benton, Ark, few miles
away, had fired on a carload of men
speeding through the town. The fire
was returned, indicating all the party
were heavily armed.
Posses Soon ont on Trail.
tom Slaughter is out again"
When that message was flashed to
police officers of neighboring towns and
counties posses began forming almost
Immediately.
One of those posses was led by j. j.
Crow. Sheriff of Saline county. 1t fol-
lowed the trail OF the escaped prisoners
TO q heavy forest about fourteen miles
northwest OF Benton. A deserted motor
car at the roadside indicated that the
occupants had taken to the woods.
After penetrating the woods for some
distance the posse met Howard and two
OF the negro fugitives. Howard told
Sheriff Crow he had killed Slaughter
when it became apparent the posse
would capture them.
Slaughter forced me to so with him
from the prison." Howard related. II
left note telling Warden Dempsey
would get him the first chance / got and
return TO the prison. My opportunity
came and seized it."
Howard said he shot Slaughter from
behind while the killer lay on the
ground, revolver loaded. waiting for the
first member OF the posse 20 appear in
the darkness.
Doubt was expressed at first as to the
truth of Howard's story. But the posse
returned to Benton because il was too
dark in the woods to search for the
body The next day It was found. The
remaining three negroes, one OF whom
was said to have been wounded by the
Benton marshal In the running fight
through that town, made their escape.
Charge Against Bandits Killer.
A charge Of first degree murder was
filed against Howard.
At the request OF Slaughter's wife,
who lived at Eldorado. Ark. the body
was taken to Little Rock. In a ceme-
terry near there a fower-covered coffin
containing all that Is mortal of the des-
perate criminal was buried. OF the
dozens of floral decorations placed upon
his bier not one bore q card to identify
the donor One florist reported an an
onymous order for $3.50 worth Of flowers
ana the money W pay lOt liltii was SSul
by messenger.
With the desperado's body was buried
the secret Of the hiding place of loot
said to have been taken by Slaughter
in his many bank robberies throughout
the Southwest. Included were securities
said TO be valued at S102,500. which A.
w. Mills, insurance agent of Pine Bluff,
Ark. said were buried in "a motor ear
tire somewhere in northern Texas.
Soon after Slaughter's imprisonment
! for the Brown murder he professed re-
| lgion to the Rev. w. =. Hogg of Little
Rock. The minister told him he would
have to return the money to the banks
from which he took it. Mills was in
structed to obtain from Slaughter the
information Of the hiding place He was
to have met the prisoner September 90.
but two days before that Slaughter tried
to shoot his way TO freedom and killed
one of the prison guards.
After Slaughter was sentenced to the
electric chair for this killing he again
told the minister he wanted to have
the money recovered. He insisted upon
giving it to the minister but was in
formed that the only way he could go
to his death with a clear conscience was
TO have il returned to its owners. 1t
was arranged again for Mills to meet
the bandit and learn the hiding place.
This he was intending co do the day
following Slaughter's escape.
SIX MORE ARE CURED
OF LEPROSY IN HAWAII