George Lang, fugitive 1892
LANG, MASON, CRNISE, CLOKEY, LEECH, MIDKIFF
Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall (email)
Date: 9/8/2005 at 04:30:26
Burglar and Jail-Breaker in the Decatur Bastile
From Friday's Daily - Last fall Marshal Mason received a letter from E.F. Crnise, city marshal of Manchester, Iowa, making diligent inquiry for one George E. Lang, who was wanted for burglary and jail-breaking. It was then learned that Lang had been at work as a stone-cutter on the new court house, and had conferred with Attorney J.M. Clokey about making application for a pension; but the fellow had gone away, no one knew where. All efforts to locate him were fruitless. The other day Marshal Mason got a pointer that a man answering Lang's description was working for a farmer 2 1/2 miles from Casner Station; that he was something of a bully and always carried a revolver, and that he was never seen in the town although constantly writing about pension matters. The Casner constable, who saw Mason in Decatur on Wednesday, was given a photograph and full description of Lang, and yesterday he compared the man with the same. He was Lang without doubt, and the marshal being notified, tod-day he sent Officer Leech and Deputy Sheriff Midkiff to Casner to take Lang into custody. He was promptly arrested, and now he is behind the bars in the county jail awaiting the arrival of the Manchester marshal.
Lang is a powerful man, aged 55 years, six feet tall and weights 225 pounds. He is a smooth talker. Over six years ago he was sent to the Iowa penitentary for a crime, but was pardoned on condition that he would behave himself. Soon after his release he stole a horse and was caught in Wisconsin. he was put in the jail at Manchester, but while there he made a wooden key which he used in gaining his liberty. Ever since his escape the Manchester officers have been trying to locate Lang, but failed until the knowledge that the ex-convict was wanted came to Marshal Mason, who is widely known as being remarkably successful in running down criminals, even on the slightest clue. It is probable that the Manchester officer will arrive to-morrow. He has been notified by wire that Lang is in custody.
--From Saturday's Daily
The arrest and incarceration of George E. Lang, the Iowa convict, was stated last evening in these columns. Deputy Sheriff Midkiff and Officer Leech, who were sent to Casner after Lang, made a quick and neat job of it. They rode from the station to Farmer Roby's house, 1 1/2 miles away, in a hurry, arriving here while Lang was seated at the dinner table. Both went straight into the house without knocking, and Midkiff, placing a revolver at Lang's head, made him throw up his hands while Leech put on the handcuffs. Lang made no protest and quietly submitted to the arrest. He did not finish his dinner. There was lack of time to catch the retuning train. It was common talk in the neighborhood of Casner that Lang never went into the field without a revolver in his pocket, and therefore the officers were warned to be on the lookout for danger. Lang, eight years ago, was sent to the Iowa penitentiary for forgery. He was pardoned on promise of good behavior. He then stole a horse and was caught, to go into the Manchester, Iowa, jail, from which he escaped, taking a partner along. For a long time there was a reward of $600 for the capture of the two men. It may stand good yet. An officer from Iowa will come after Lang.-source: Decatur Weekly Republican, Decatur, Illinois, Thursday, June 9, 1892
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transcribed for IAGenWeb by S. Ferrall
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