Stark County Illinois
Crime News Gleanings
A Dash for Liberty.
TAKEN FROM THE HENRY TIMES, HENRY, IL
April 17, 1890
William Coates, confined in the Stark county jail, jumped the confines last
Saturday morning. Jailor H. W. Newland was standing guard while his
son Jim was gone after a pail of coal, the prisoner feigning sleep, but in
a moment of time, with the agility of a deer, he sprang against Mr. Newland,
knocked him over and scud. Jailor Newland was on his feet in a moment
and sent a club after the fleeing prisoner, which took effect but did not
retard his progress. About this time Jim took in the situation, and
the race for life began. At times the prisoner was overhauled, but
being large and muscular would get loose, and so over hill and through valley,
bush and bramble, a circuit of about three miles was made, when Jim got the
advantage and collaring the fugitive gave an exhibition of catch-as-you please
that astonished him, and not-withstanding his threats to kill, hung on like
a leech, wholly un-armed except with muscle and grit, until help came and
the prisoner was secured. --[Toulon
Sentinel.]Submitted by Nancy
Piper
Iowa City Press Citizen (Iowa City, Iowa) Record for Iowa City Press Citizen (Iowa City, Iowa)
April 27, 1921
Arthur Leigh, farmer of Toulon, Illinois last night shot and probably fatally wounded his son-in-law Roscoe Fleetwood and then killed himself.
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