Coos County OR Archives News.....CRIME 1894
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Donell Scheirman d_frazier40@yahoo.com October 10, 2010, 12:19 am

Coquille City Herald 1894
Coquille City Herald
Oct 9, 1894 

CRIME

John Manning and Charles Owen, charged with the robbery and burning of  the 
Sumner store, escaped from the confines of the county jail at Empire City, 
Tuesday night at 11 o'clock.
   They were occupying the east and west cells, separately, and made good use 
of  their escape by the use of saws and augers. The traces of their work shows 
that Owen bored from his cell into Manning’s and from Manning’s cell they 
passed through the door, the lock of which had been filed off, and then passed 
into the corridor and out through the outside door. This door was fastened 
from the inside as a guard occupied the corridor at nights. Wm. Haskell was on 
guard at the time the break was made and fired three shots at the fleeing 
prisoners. Haskell was handicapped by his position as the large cell door 
opened right between him and the criminals, thus forming a barricade until the 
outer door was open. When this outer door was open they were free. The news of 
their flight did not cause a great amount of surprise here as the insecurity 
of  the jail is well known. Sheriff Gage was in town the following morning and 
had tracked the refugees to the hill back of town and will keep up a diligent 
search until he finds them.
   Before his departure, Manning wrote a letter, which he left for Sheriff 
Gage. In it he states his reasons for leaving and says, "You may catch me but 
not until this term of court is over.

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