Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1895 — Sam Thurston Takes a Sneak. [ARTICLE]

Sam Thurston Takes a Sneak.

Lost. From the care and custody of Uncle John Ramey, Superintendent of the Jasper Co. workhouse, a speckled “complccted” carrottymustached individual, who “answers to the name of Sam,” (and answers mighty quick—when asked to take a drink.) Is about 5 feet and two hands high, is of “rangy” build, and a mighty good mover, when he gets in a big enough hurry —as Uncle John aforesaid can testify. In short Sam Thurston, the 70 day man in the county jail, has soured on his job, and quit. The Republicam said last week, that he made the county a good hand. He did while he stayed—but he didn’t stay long. He has gone hence, he has lit out, ran away, absquatulated and skeedaddled. John Ramey, the wdrk house superintendent, was taking Thurston and “Trusty” John Akers, out of the jail last Thursday morning, to work in the court house yard. As soon as they were out of the jail door, and while Mr. Ramey was locking the same, Thurston made a dash through the hall and out at the front door of the sheriff’s residence. He jumped over the bannister, ran around to the east side of the building, and was over the fence and running south on Cullen Street, in “less time than it takes to tell it” Mr. Ramey followed as fast as the circumstances would permit, and as he followed he brought up from the rear, bis field battery, consisting of one 32 calibre single fire muzzle loader, and this he trained on the fleeing Thurston, and let go. Thurston lowered his right arm when the gun was fired, but did not check his speed. He took through the streets and alleys, in a generally south direction and was soon out of town, going across the river south of C. C. Starr’s place. Mr. Ramey and the “trusty” Akers kept up the chase until they were entirely distanced, and then returned to town, and Dept. Sheriff McColly and Constable 01. Robinson went after him with a team. They followed his course for several miles, but filially lost the trail, entirely. If still running as fast and in the same direction as when Uncle John last saw him, there is some reason to hope that by this time he has fallen into the Gulf of Mexico and been drowned. That result is not likely, however, for he generally tried to steer clear of water.

Mr. Ramey thinks his bullet gave Thurston a flesh wound in his right arm; and a man who claimed to have seen the fugitive, a few miles south, says that bis arm was then bleeding. Thurston is the bad-man-from-up-the- creek, who made so much trouble on Prof. Fisk and the billy goals’ balloon day, a few months ago, with a big knife and a big rock. His fine and costs for that affair amounted to some S7O and more. He jumped his bail and left the county, but come back again, and was working in Milroy Tp., when Sheriff Hanley heard of him and went out and brought him in. His bondsmen are N. P. Baker and Lewis and Wm. Tanner, of Barkly Tp. Sheriff Hanley was out of town, when Thurston made his break, or he would not have got away so easily. Akers, the fellow prisoner, states that Thurston spent a long time the night before he escaped, in sharpening his pocket knife. It is probable that he contemplated using it on Mr. Ramey, if he failed in making his escape by less desperate means.