Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-29
POSSE HUNTS -FOUR
ESCAPED CONWCTS
Four Others, Who Fled After
Killing Guard, Returned
to Texas Prison.
BY the Associated Press.

AACS9 OAty AtAs, ou1S So'~~A'lir HUH
dred and fifty armed men, with thirty
five hloodhounds, late today were
searching swamps near Richmond &c
miles from here, for four escaped con-
victs, Four others of the original band
of eight, who shot their way to free
dom. killing one officer and woundins
three others, were captured last night
and today.
AS the posSemen, many of whom de-
serted ranches and farms to join the
hunt, drew tighter their Gordon abouy
. the lowlands, the injury toll mounted
So far the outbreak has resulted III
the following casualties:
Dead: Dog Sergt. Henry Ward Of
Imperial Farm, No. q
Critically wounded Deputy Tom
Davis s.
Slightly wounded: Jim Geter, prison
farm guard, and Deputy Frank Bell.
Captured convicts: r. H. Tucker, held
responsible for the Staying of Ward; z
r. Carter. Alvin Ireland and Bill Tomp-
kins. All of the captured convicts were
wounded.
Convicts at Large.
Convicts still at large were Irwin
Davis, Harvey williams, Johnny Col
Inns and Fred Burkett, serving terms
for burglary and theft. One OF the
escaped men was captured after day
. light today Tompkins was freed by a
bloodhound and wounded in the LETT
ear and leg when he refused to Jump
to the ground.
Davis was wounded when four OF the
fugitives engaged in a gun tight with
three officers soon after the escape.
Two of the convicts who participated
in this fight surrendered when they
were wounded. Their companions nao
not been located definitely tonight. al
though possemen believed all exits from
the lowlandS had been closed,
The escaped prisoners. most of whom
were classed as incorrigibles, were be-
lieved to be heavily armed, They
raided the home of negro trapper
taking two shotguns and rifle IN ad-
dition to the weapons they had taken
from Guard Geter and Dog Sergt.
Ward
r. J. Flanagan, manager Of the three
prison farms at Sugar Land and leader
of the posse, issued instructions to all
men In the hunt to shoot to kill" II
they found it necessary.
Seize Guards Gun.
Today all of the remaining 474
prisoners on Imperial Farm No. 2 were
kept In their cells instead OF going TO
the fields, since all available guards
had joined the posse.
The break occurred when eight
prisoners who had been cultivating cot
ton in a field overpowered Geter and
took his guns from him. AS he fed
at their orders, one of them fred a
shotgun at him. Dog Sergt. Ward
hearing the commotion, attempted TO
Illustrate the break, but was struck
down by full load Of buckshot Ward
died a few minutes later.
odd Red ancient bloodhound, re-
deemed himself today in the search for
the convicts, just as he was about 70
be shot.
Red" in his younger days was a
good hound, but age developed In him
a penciant for chasing rabbits, and
prison officials said this made him no
SbOA aS d btall hAtAAtsSAt
But today Red" with three men,
beers Of a posse seeking the escaped con-
victS. wandered off by himself and set
up a howl.
after rabbits again. posseman
said. Lets kill him."
Jaw. let's see what the old fool is
yelling about" another suggested.
Dog Redeems Self.
They followed Red" TO an abandoned
pump house where Tompkins had been
hiding. Tompkins escaped in the reeds
and the other dogs were unable to md
his trail.
Red disappeared once more, and
shortly started bowling again. This
time the possemen rushed in his direc-
ton. He was standing under tree IN
which Tompkins was hiding
Red" had redeemed himself.
Complaints charging all Of the con-
victs but Williams with assault to MUIR
der and murder for the staying OF Dog
Sergt. Ward were filed before Justice
Charles Holman by County Attorney
S. M. o. Fem. Williams was not
charged because he was not among the
original boilers, but fled from another
SQUAD of prisoners in the confusion.
Three new dogs were added to the
pack, several of them showing signs OF
firing. Three Of the original pack
chewed ON Tonapkins' clothing when he
was captured and officers said that
made them ineffective for further work