Escape of Watkins

WATKINS, CRONK

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 11/2/2007 at 13:14:52

Jackson Sentinel, May 20, 1869:

ESCAPE OF WATKINS:
From the Dubuque Herald we learn that Watkins, under sentence of death for the murder of Cronk, escaped from the jail at Andrew, one day last week, by crawling through an aperature in the door of his cell. After wandering around town awhile, and exchanging the compliments of the season with his acquaintances, he quietly wended his way back to the jail, aroused the jailer, who was enjoying his afternoon siesta, and politely requested to be locked up again, as it was too much trouble to crawl back in the same manner he got out!
Hereafter we trust that some our Andrew friends will send us down items of interest transpiring up there, as it is too long to wait the arrival of the Herald for that purpose.

Jackson Sentinel
May 6, 1869

The case of Watkins, under sentence of death for the murder of Deputy Sheriff Cronk, was not acted upon by the Supreme Court at its last session in Dubuque. The next session of the court will be held at Des Moines, at which time they will probably order a new trial. As the result of a new trial will in all probability be his acquittal, we suggest that the Governor pardon Watkins, and thus relieve the county of an enormous expense.