The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-09-01
TAssociated Press Dlspatch.l


TAssociated Press Dlspatch.1
Rapid City, S. D. August 90
Refusal OF boatman to take them
across the Cheyenne river at Pedro,
S. D., and quick work of a telephone
operator at Creighton, in notifying
possemen were mainly responsible
for the capture of three of the con-
victs who ESCAPED August from
the Sioux Falls penitentiary, and the
killing of the fourth, it had become
known today as additional details of
the sensational hunt reached here.
Today two of the conYicts, Joe
Foreman, leader of the quartet, and
Joe Teel, were in Jail at Murdo, and
the third, j. B. King, is on his way
to the penitentiary at Sioux Falls:
The fourth, Henry Coffee, negro
idriyer of the convicts' car, was kill
ed and his body taken to Murdo.
but will recover, it was said today.
Kept Close Touch.
From the time Friday morning
when they overpowered three Off
Gers east of Stamford, seriously
wounding States Attorney NJ. l..
Parish, and stealing his car, the trail
of the four convicts led north and
west. The authorities commander
ed all telephone wires in this sec
ton and managed to keep close
check on the movements of The es-
capped prisoners.
Passing through the sparsely set
tied country to the east of here, the
convicts gained the Cheyenne river
at Pedro. Here the boatman refus :
ed to take them across declaring
a.
point. After making futile attempts
TO get across, the convicts started
for Wasta, planning to cross over
the Cheyenne bridge there.
They stopped at Creighton for
gasoline and oil at filling station
in front of the telephone Office. The
operators Immediately b-oadcasted
news of the conyicts' arrival and
several posses started for Creighton.
Posse on Trail.
Pursuers headed by Deputy State
Sferiff Wilson we're soon close on
the trail and mile and half south
OF Creighton came within rifle range
OF the fleeing despe-adoes.
A bullet from Wilson's gun struck
Coffee in the head. killing him in
stantly and causing the car to go
into the ditch. The other three men
were thrown out and ran for cover
to nearby corn field.
Foreman was shot in the foot and
fell. The corn field was surrounded
and all three surrendered.
Teel, the last man captured, beg
ged his companions to shoot him
rather than let the officers seize
him.
This ended an eight day chase
through South Dakota and parts Of
- - sal. 80 -4zI Of he
warden at the penietntiary had been
Kidnapped and his deputy wounded,
in the convicts' dash for liberty.
States Attorney Parish was TAX
en- to a hospital at Mitchell and his
condition early today was reported
critical His wounds may prove ia
tai. Sheriff ]. c. Babcock of Jones
county and ]. A. Robertson also
were wounded but they are expect
ed to recover.
= Four Men Made Capture
Murdo, S. D., August 26.-Four
Murdo men, it was revealed today
wrote the final chapter in the eight
day pursuit of the four convicts
who escaped from the Sioux Falls
peniteatiary, August II, shooting to
death one OF the conyicts, seriously
wounding another and taking unin-
,jured the other two.
The Murdo men were z. B. Town
send, A. T.. Wilson, Z. G. Cline and
Theodore Hubbell. Their deciding
clash with the convicts was near Pc
dro, north of Creighton in Penning
ton county after a long automobile
pursuit.
Henry Coffee, the negro convict
was killed and Joe Foreman, leader
OF the quartet was seriously wound
ed. ]. 3. King and Joe Teel were
the two taken unhurt.
King was brought into Murdt
about 1890 a. m. today and Coffee's
body was brought in, here an houl
, later. Townsend, Hubbell and VIII.
son returned with Teel and Fore.
wound is in the right leg and he
cannot walk without aid. The con.
victs will be returned to Sioux Falls
late today.
Details of the fight in which Cot
fee was killed and the other thre,
captured, were given today by those
who were in at the finish. Drivin,
Townsend's car the four left herr
early Friday on a trail; after wort
was received Of the fight at Stain
ford The convicts were encoun
tered first in the vicinity of Pedro
thirty FIVE miles north of Wall, a
three r. m. ...-
They had driven to the Cheyenne
river, but the bridge which the.
Intended to use in crossing wa
closed and guard mounted. II 4
believed that the fugitives sent |
scout to determine the safety of tn
passage for they turned back ant
about six miles south Of Pedro, tn
Murdo posse met them.
fnstead of opening fire the posse
men permitted the car to pass AM
after being assured that the car con
fAined the men they wanted, fol
lowed at "a considerable distance
Apparently unaware that the poss
! -rar- close ON their path the con