The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-01-31
sam Gates Who ESCAPED JAIL
IN SEPTEMBER IS RE- CAPTURED
INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM AUTHORITIES IN CALL
FoRNIA THAT HE IS AGAIN IN PRISON
SHERIFF HOLCOMB WILL BRING HIM BACK
Accompanied by Mitchell Sheriff Of Crosby County Left
Friday Morning Austin for Necessary Papers, and are
Now in California Receive the Prisoner.

Sam Gates. we are advised has
been apprehonded in Indio, Californ-
"A. and Sheriff Charlie Holcomb left
Saturday morning TO bring the pris-
oner back To Lubbock. Being a fugi-
tive from Justice, arrested IN an
other state, II was necessary Tor
sheriff Holcomb 10 rush 20 Austin
and confer with Governor Nef and
obtain the necessary extraditi0n pa
pers before going % California %
receive bis prisoner; these were de-
livered 10 him By the Governor Sun
day morning and he left Immediately
10 bring the man he has been chasing
the past four months, back 70 Lub-
book. Our readers recall the history
Of the Sam Gates case, but for the
benefit OF those who are not ac-
a1ainted with the facts, We VII state
the matter in brief.
Sam Gates was indicted by the
Crosby County Grand IrTy on. hay
10th, 1920, for the murder Of Judge
J. W. Burton at Crosbyton, on the
night Of March 9Th that year. He
vas tried on May goth, 1920, the jury
finding him ggh;y as charged IN the
Indictment, and assessed his punish
mcnt at 90 years IN the penitcntiary.
The Court of Criminal Appeals, a.
Austin, reversed this sentence. The
case havsng already gained vide
spread nCtority, u was impossible 10
secure another Jury IN Crosby coun-
", and on change ~ venue. the next
trial was held In Lubbock. and the
Jury cmpanelied returned q verdict
Of Ia years imprisonment In the pen
hentiary. Gates attorneys, Hlcdaoe
A Nulliran of Lubbock, w. y. Huff
hines and lloyd a Wicks, of Rails,
Immediately filed motion for new
trial before Judge w. Y. Spencer,
and Il was ovcrruled, a second appeal
wns then taken 10 the Court ~ Grim.
nal Appeals. The last trial was held
Jurr 2tth, 1921, NJ Lubbock IL was
during the pendcncy Of this appeal,
and while Gates was In the Lubbock
County lail that he and his cell mates,
fiulief Smith, (aiso ~ Crosby C0uu.
ty). and J n. Callahan tried 20 over.
power Sheriff Holcomb and his wife
n The noon feeding hour, Gates dur.
ing the seufflc gained possession Of
the Shcriffa gun and held him ~ bay
for some ten or ID minutes. and their
escape was prevented AZ that time BY
the quick wit 0f Holcomb's deputy,
Ino McCuiloth who camc 90 bis res
cue, firing on Gates. causing him 90
lump back In his cell Deputy Nc
Culloch was at q disadvantage AZ he
had % shoot through the bars and
in bis effort 20 get steady aim, Gates
spicd him. jumped 90 one eide, ard
the bullet hit his arm. This was tho
second attempt, the first plan 10 get
away was nippcd IN the bud The
third and final escape was perfected
on the night ~ September 2yih.
Gates and Huhet Smith we're CON
fined In the dark cell, and BY the
manufacture ~ q crude mechanism,
made from their cot rounds. strings,
etc, they managed 90 work the com
bination on the dark cell, and gaining
further access 70 the roof by OPEN
ing five doors with q key they had
manufactured from the clips on their
hammocks. For almost four months
Sheriff Holcomb has been chasing
many suspects and following out diff
ferent clues which proved to be un-
verified
while very little has been said Of
his escape, Il has all been for the
better Sheriff Holcomb IL very
quiet, unassuming character, ever
alert but his plans and schemes of
this nature are always kept conceal
ed. He is an untiring worker, q
fearless officer, and ever attentive
10 his duties as Sheriff, and he IL 20
be congratulated In his efforts IN this
connection. While the public has
been kept In the dark, the sheriff and
his deputies have been on the Gates
trial for many months, having KEEP;
track Of him IN Old Mexico, and his
final capture was expected daily.
Not only will Gates have 10 serve
out the ii years allotted him for the
murder charge. he will have 70 an
swer charge by indictment Of as
snull and attempt 20 murder the
Sheriff, a penalty Of 2 TO 10 years.
J. B. Callahan. his companion IN the
attempt 60 get away and aseault on
the Sheriff and his wife on Sept. 9TH,
vas sentenced the past week 90 ;
years In the penitentiary on plea of
guilty. Several charges ~ forgery
are pending in Crosby county against
Gates, these too, will very likely be
tried before he Is allowed 20 begin
serving time. Hulict Smith. who ac-
companied Gates in the final Rct-a-
way, Is still nj large, however. we
have every assurance that he viii be
A. A.. d.