WAUPACA REPUBLICAN POST

October 21, 1909

 

LEE KRUGER HAS BROKEN JAIL

Cut Through a Double Brick Wall in Day Time

 

            Last evening at 7:15 o’clock when Martin Tollefson, brother of Sheriff Tollefson, went to lock the prisoners into their cells it was discovered that all that was to be found of Lee Kruger was a hole in the double brick wall just below the south window on the east side of the jail and facing Jefferson street.  The other prisoners were asked why they did not go when they saw the chance and they claimed that they knew nothing about it as they were asleep.

            It is probable that Kruger had been at work at the wall when opportunity had offered for several days as it is now remembered that hte prisoners had used that window as a lace to hang underwear ostensibly to dry and this hung down so as to cover the place where the bricks were removed that enabled Kruger to escape.  It will be remembered tht he was committed on failure to furnish bonds to appear at the November term of circuit court ito answer the charge of the burglary of the clothing store of A.R. Lea in this city last June.

            He is the second prisoner to escape from our county jail in this manner, the first being Paul Haswold who cut through the north wall of the jail several years ago and was never recaptured, though he was finally apprehended and convicted of another offense and later died in state prison.

            No pains will be spared to recapture young Kruger and the services of special detectives of experience have already been engaged and it is expected that Kruger will be at hand at the time his trial is set for the fall term.