Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1881 — William Le Roy’s Escape, [ARTICLE]

William Le Roy’s Escape,

When Deputy United States Marshal Cantril returned to Deven on lest Monday afternoon with the tidings that William Ld Roy, the dashing road agent and prince of mad robbers, had made his eeeape while en rovte to the government prison at Detroit, under ten years’ sentence, the United States officials here were as puttied as they were angry. That Le Roy should have made his escape from Sim Cantril and a deputy only served to increase their anger and fan it into a flame of no small magnitude. Yesterday the Newt reporter, In passing the excavation for the sewer at Holladay street, felt a hand clasp on the arm, and turning, saw the mysterious train wrecker who had manifested so much interest in Le Roy’s cam, as detailed by General Cameron a couple of days before. “You have not forgotten me, have you?” he questioned in s moderate tone of voice. “Now, as you have manifested some interest in Le Roy’s case, I’ll give you tbe whole story,’’

“When Biliy was sentenced 1 was within easy call, and since that time I have not been asleep. Some years ago the boy used to be with a snide variety company and played the character of a female impersonator, and he was well up in his busiuess too, and if be had stuck to it would not have been compelled to go to holding up coaches on the road for a living His old girl, who has been with him from time to time for three years, and who loves him better, if anything, than I do, lives In Del Norte, and we wrung her into the scheme with us. As planned by Billy it was to bring her up to town and get two suits of clothes for her just exactly alike—that is dresses of one color, shawls of one color and hats and veils of one color. Then we were to get a suit of clothes, -men’s clothes, for Billy, and the extra woman’s rig and men’s clothes were to be kept ready for a close call. We were to keep a close lookout for the time when he was to be taken away, get on the train with him, and then atthe first opportunity which offered at night we were to take whatever guards were with him, put up a job on them, and dress Billy like the girl. Then we could go on our way rejoicing” “The day came and we knew all about it, and when the carriage containing Le Roy and his guarus drove up to the train the girl and I were already on board. They took one double seat and we took the one directly behind them and awaited developments. Along in tne night all the passengers got to sleep. We were in a sleeping car, if it was not called such, and Cantril’s boy got awful sleepy. I felt sorry for the poor little devil, and was glad when he went in-

to the car tor a nap. Billy was also very tractable. Cantril was thirsty that night, and I put up a job on him. Going to the water tank, after gauging bis drinks and the time between them. I poured eut sgme croton oil and left it in the cup. Then' I pretended to take a hearty drink and made so much noise about gulping it down that Cantril got awful thirsty. I had no more than gained my seat till he made a dive for the tank, and without tilting the cup Ailed it and emptied it. To partially kill the strength of the croton oil 1 had put a dash of burned liquor in it. If Cantril tasted anything wrong in the water he attributed it to his sour stomach, and so saia nothing. It was not many minutes until the deputy marshal felt a general weakness about his bread basket. . When Cantril left and slammed the door to, we acted. All of us were up and doing in a second, for none of us had been asleep. The irons were off Billy in less than ten seconds, and then the extra suit of woman’s toggery was put on him. When all was finished he curled down in my seat, just like the girl had been, and the girl got up and skipped into another car. My next move was to put my head over on Billy’s shoulder, and in another moment the brakeman came in. As be passed by with his lantern I raised up as if awoke by the noise and the light, and discovered that the prisoner was gone, raised the hue and cry. The rakeman took it up, everybody woke up, and Cantril came out of the toilet room. Then ensued a scene of confusion. He wanted the train stopped, and the conductor would not stop it until he got to Hays city, five miles away. When we got there the girl got off, Cantril got off and his assistant with him, and Billy and I went on with the train, tickled almost to death.”

“Where is Le Roy at the present time?" asked the reported. “He is safe,” was the reply, “Judging from the statement made by the train wrecker Le Roy has gone East for a time, but will soon return, place himself at the head of his gang and once more take the road.