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Story
October 23, 1921
Tombstone Epitaph
Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona
What is this article about?
A prisoner nicknamed Black Jack, jailed for forgery in Bisbee, attempts to escape as a trusty near Fairbank but is recaptured by Sheriff Joe Hood at Benson after boarding a slow train, humorously complaining about its speed.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Slow Train Beats
"Black Jack" Out
of Craved Freedom
"Train, where am yo speed?" was the nervous ejaculation of "Black Jack," dusky gentleman and star boarder of the Hotel de Hood, yesterday afternoon enroute to Benson—and the sweet blessings of freedom.
"Black Jack" is serving a six months' sentence in the county jail for forgery of a $5 check in Bisbee some time ago. He did not succeed in cashing the bogus check, but he landed six months for his efforts.
Yesterday he was made a trusty at the county jail, having served the better half of his sentence, and by virtue of his good behavior during his period of confinement in the bastile, he was deemed worthy of the benefits of the "two for one" plan of working out the remainder of his sentence.
He was given to the charge of Constable J. P. McDonald and put to work cleaning up the old county hospital grounds which are being put in shape for a camping ground for tourists.
For a while "Black Jack" seemed happy and content at his sudden contact with the great wide open, but the enticing wideness and smoothness of the Fairbank highway beckoned to his itching feet with such force of argument that the climax was a plain case of "Feet, do your duty."
Sheriff Joe Hood, however, was not desirous of losing such an ideal guest for his hotel and did not particularly relish the manner in which "Black Jack" took his departure, without bidding adieu to his host. He hurried to Fairbank, where he learned from the station agent at that point that a colored gentleman answering the description of the flown bird had purchased a ticket on the local limited for Benson.
The sheriff headed for that place and pulled up at the depot just in time to be warmly greeted by Mr. Jack, who was all smiles as he alighted from the coach, warmly inquiring as to the sheriff's health and general well being.
"Mr. Joe, dat am de slowest train west ob de Mississippi. Nevah in my whole life did I have sich a sensation to git off and push. Les go home. I'se gettin' hungry."
"Black Jack" is now confined in his cell, away from the birds and flowers and the freedom that would have been his if—
"Black Jack" Out
of Craved Freedom
"Train, where am yo speed?" was the nervous ejaculation of "Black Jack," dusky gentleman and star boarder of the Hotel de Hood, yesterday afternoon enroute to Benson—and the sweet blessings of freedom.
"Black Jack" is serving a six months' sentence in the county jail for forgery of a $5 check in Bisbee some time ago. He did not succeed in cashing the bogus check, but he landed six months for his efforts.
Yesterday he was made a trusty at the county jail, having served the better half of his sentence, and by virtue of his good behavior during his period of confinement in the bastile, he was deemed worthy of the benefits of the "two for one" plan of working out the remainder of his sentence.
He was given to the charge of Constable J. P. McDonald and put to work cleaning up the old county hospital grounds which are being put in shape for a camping ground for tourists.
For a while "Black Jack" seemed happy and content at his sudden contact with the great wide open, but the enticing wideness and smoothness of the Fairbank highway beckoned to his itching feet with such force of argument that the climax was a plain case of "Feet, do your duty."
Sheriff Joe Hood, however, was not desirous of losing such an ideal guest for his hotel and did not particularly relish the manner in which "Black Jack" took his departure, without bidding adieu to his host. He hurried to Fairbank, where he learned from the station agent at that point that a colored gentleman answering the description of the flown bird had purchased a ticket on the local limited for Benson.
The sheriff headed for that place and pulled up at the depot just in time to be warmly greeted by Mr. Jack, who was all smiles as he alighted from the coach, warmly inquiring as to the sheriff's health and general well being.
"Mr. Joe, dat am de slowest train west ob de Mississippi. Nevah in my whole life did I have sich a sensation to git off and push. Les go home. I'se gettin' hungry."
"Black Jack" is now confined in his cell, away from the birds and flowers and the freedom that would have been his if—
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Adventure
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Deception
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Prison Escape
Failed Getaway
Forgery
Sheriff Recapture
Slow Train
What entities or persons were involved?
Black Jack
Sheriff Joe Hood
Constable J. P. Mcdonald
Where did it happen?
Benson, Fairbank, Bisbee
Story Details
Key Persons
Black Jack
Sheriff Joe Hood
Constable J. P. Mcdonald
Location
Benson, Fairbank, Bisbee
Event Date
Yesterday Afternoon
Story Details
Black Jack, serving six months for forging a $5 check, becomes a trusty and attempts to escape while working on hospital grounds, but is recaptured by Sheriff Hood at Benson train station after taking a slow train.