Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 May 1888 — ESCAPED AND RECAPTURED. [ARTICLE]

ESCAPED AND RECAPTURED.

Murderer Chamberlain’ll Urea - tal and Treacherous Deed. Last Thursday night when Sheriff Henderson was about locking up the prisoners in the jail at Monticello, he was murderously assaulted by Ed. Chamberlain, murderer of Ida Wittenberg, and beaten into insensibility with an iron bar. Chamberlain then escaped from the jail,, in company with two tramps, who were in complicity with the plot. The names of the Lamps were Richard Catterson and Alfred Benson, the latter being little more than a boy. Their offense was robbing a drunken ex T convict, on a freight caboose, near Reynolds. Benson ,was recaptured not many hours after his escape and on Saturday night Chamberlain himself called at the home of his uncle, Wm, Biddle, near Chalmers. No one was in the house except two youpg girls, Mary and Ida Biddle. They admitted Chamberlain to the house and he at once laid down and fell asleep. One of the girls then divulged the fact of Chamberlain’s whereabouts to the neighbors and a«number of men proceeded to the and surprised and captured him before he awoke. He was taken to Monticello and lodged in jail heavily ironed. A reward of SBOO had been offered for the capture of Chamberlain, and this was divided among the captors, each, ineluding the girls, getting SIOO. Owing to the excited state of the public mind, there was thought to be danger of a lynching Saturday night, and on order of the Governor, a company of militia from Delphi, was sent over to Monticello to guard the jail. Sheriff Henderson’s injuries ar£ very dangerons. His skull is fractured in one or two places and his Tight arm broken. At last accounts his condition seemed a little more hopeful, but the chances are said to be much against hinj. “TheyOungfeiiC)w,Bsirson,plead guilty to the charge of, robbery, Saturday, and was sentenced to the penitentiary for five years, by Judge Gould. Latest. —Chamberlain has been taken to Michigan City for safe keeping. The condition of Sheriff Henderson continues to improve and his recovery is now thought to be assured.