The Washington times., 1933-05-31
FREE 3 WOMEN
HOSTAGES At
FARMHOUSE
Five Lansing Killers Expected
To Try to Join 6 Pals; Police
SheriffS, Posses on Trail
Continued from Page y

where another party OF the prlS'
oners released the warden and
two guards, l.. A. Lawes and j. H.
Sherman of the penitentiary last
night.
The group that kidnapped War.
den Kirk Prother and the guards
was commanded by Wilbur Under.
hill, three times murderer.
Underhill led the prison outbreak
Mrs. Wood said that none of the
party of men which held the WON.
en- during the night was injured.
She said that so far as she could
determine, a shifting route was
taken by the fleeing convicts, ap-
parently in an attempt to shake
off pursuit.
Treated Very Kindly
Mrs. Wood, semi-invalid for
several years, said she "felt fine
except that she was sleepy.
Miss Louise Wood said:
"They were most courteous
and polite. They didn't curse or
act like criminals are supposed
to act at all.
eve came directly south from
near Lansing, Kan, where we
were kidnapped. The cOnvictS
drove fast and tried to avoid
towns as much as possible.
1--WE were warned not to make
any Outcry but weren't threat
ened.
"The men told us they hated
to take us with them but that
1t was necessary. We were not
miStreated in any way.
81 don't know what time it
was when we arrived at the
farm Of Bill New, about two
miles from here.
LEFT AT FARM
'None of us had eaten since
morning, and the men appeared
anxious that we get food. 1t
was after dark, but I don't
know just what time it was.
"They said that we would stop
there and get food. We stop
ned and they forced Mrs. New
to prepare a meal for all Of us.
"After we ate, the men talked
o while about taking us on
with them, and then they left,
leaving us there. That was
about 10 o'clock last night.
1--WE stayed overnight at
News and came here this morn
ing"
State militia was called out to
assist in searching the wild coun-
try in northern Oklahoma where
Underhiu and his followers are
thought to have sought sanctu-
ary. The desperado's activities
some years ago centered in the
Usage territory, which has fur
nished hideouts for bandits and
cattle rustlers for IS years.
Gov, William A. Murray, OF
Oklahoma, and Gov. ALI Landon,
Of Kansas, early today completed
plans for a concerted man-hunt
in which troops Of both States
will be used to track down the
felons.
Both groups of escaping felonS
continued to evade the wide
spread hunt for them throughout
the night, although police Of Par
sons, Kan, at one time were close
on their trail. A posse started
for Picher, Okla, a mining camp
in the Spavinaw Hills, where the
deSperadoes were reported to
have sought shelter.
Warden Prather, who will be
succeeded today by new ap-
pointee, Lacey Sampson, credited
his release to a bottle Of liquor
upon which the convicts became
convivial.
Before they imbibed the whisky
they had promised to kill their
three captives when they reached
safety. During the zig-zag ride
southwark the felonS told how
they had smuggled small arms
into the prison for use in the
break.
In the fifth inning Of a ball
game in the prison yard yester-
day, while 1861 inmates were as
Sembled in the stands, Underhill
slipped up behind Warden
Prather, thrust a revolver against
his head, and shouted:
"Let's co."
4 Others Draw Guns
That was the signal for four
other prisoners to draw firearms.
Another pulle da knife. Soon
the prison officials were over
powered or terrorized into sub
mission.
w. E. Muoselman. prison ath-
letic director, said:
ED Davis, a life termer,
stuck a gun in my ribs. He
warned me to be quiet and
don't move The others who
had the guns were Harvey
Bailey, Bob Brady, serving life;
Underhill, and another 1 didn't
recognize. Frank Sawyer had
the knife.
'UnderhiIl and Bailey put a
piece of copper wire with a
moose in it around the warden'S
neck. They rounded up w. d.
Powell, stOrekeeper; Bentley
Clark, twine plant Superin-
tendent, and Guards L. A.
laws, Charles Sherman, and
Fred AckersOn.
'"Then they marched us all
over to the southwest corner
Of the walls. Brady took out
Q rope ladder. At the corner
guard tower the COnViCts Let