Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1901 — CONVICTS CATCH PURSUER [ARTICLE]

CONVICTS CATCH PURSUER

Sheriff Cook of'Topeka Is Made a Prisoner BY TWO KANSAS MUTINEERS, ***•' Having Been Wounded, the Fugl- **»•# Ran Into n Formhooie and Trick the Oflic era—The Police Are Held at Bay. Topeka, Kan., dispatch: Sheriff Cook of this county was captured by two escaped convicts from the Leavenworth penitentiary Sunday afternoon at Pauline, five miles south of Topeka, and held prisoner in a farm-house for several hours. The officer, hot on the trail of the convicts, blundered Into the house, without waiting for the reinforcements for which he had telephoned, was disarmed and held prisoner with the farmer and his wife. The convicts threatened to kill the officer If any attempt at capture was made, marched out of the house between two rows of police, who had' arrived from Topeka, and, using the prisoners as shields, tramped away, jeering at the police, and are now at large. Both the convicts were slightly wounded, and farmer Wooster, in whose house they took refuge, was badly wounded by one of the convicts when he tried to fire on them. Mrs. Wooster and Sheriff Cook were held before the convicts as shields during the escape. Seek to Kill Sheriff. The convicts questioned Cook closely, saying they wanted to kill the sheriff, but Cook maintained he was not the sheriff. One of the convicts as he departed pointed a revolver at Cook, and with the words “I’ll kill you for luck,” pulled the trigger. The cartridge failed to explode. Farmer Boys Chase Convicts. Early in the afternoon some farmer. boys near Pauline learned that the convicts were in the neighborhood. Hastily forming a posse, armed with target rifles, pistols, and clubs, they gave chase. Neither of the convicts was armed, and they were unable to make a stand. Later Sheriff Cook ana Deputy Williams arrived. Coming upon the convicts, both officers fired, wounding the men, but not disabling them. The convicts then fled through a small opening in the timber, and ran Into the house of Farmer Wooster. Sheriff Cook telephoned to Topeka for assistance, and then took up the chase. Officers Fall Into Trap. Thinking the convicts had run around the house, Cook started through the open door, intending to surprise them at the rear door. But instead of this the convicts had gone into the house, and the officer almost fell into their arms. Sheriff Cook was ordered to give up his gun, which he did Topeka Police to Rescue. In the meantime Chief Stahl of Topeka!, with eight officers, were On their way. They arrived at the Wooster house about an hour after the officers had been imprisoned. Chief Stahl immediately began negotiations with the convicts to give up their prisoners and to surrender themselves, but the convicts only laugued, The convicts ordered Cook to ask Stahl to enter the house. Stahl refused to enter and probably saved his life. Farmer Wooster then managed to get a gun and was about to make an attack on the convicts, when one of them laid him low with a blow from the butt of a revolver, taKen from one of their captives. The convict broke Wooster’s right hand and cut a gash in his head,