The Jeffersonian – December 29, 1894
Oliver P. Jewell, condemned to be hanged here on the 9th day of February, for the murder of James McGwinn and Robert Hurd, escaped from the county jail last Saturday night about 6:30 o’clock. He effected his escape through a hole wide enough to get his body through, which had been pryed [sic] open with the iron ventilation pipe of the cell which was in one corner of the cage. After getting into the corridor, he cut his way through the main partition between the jail and disctrict court room, which permitted him free access to the open air and liberty. But it seems that that liberty was not to be enjoyed long, as subsequent events show.
In the jail was Henry Smith, indicted for assault with a deadly weapon, who witnessed all Jewell’s maneuvres [sic] of escape, and who tried every available means to acquaint the probate judge of the fact, by a written message, but his good intentions were frustrated by his note miscarrying. Henry Smith realized that his efforts had been checkmated by some unforeseen event, and concluded to do the next best things, and that was to deliver the message to Judge Jennings in person. To do this and to allay any suspicion of treachery from the murderer, Smith had to promise to accompany him in flight from justice. After they both got from the jail Smith told Jewell that he needed a pair of shoes and had to go down town and get some friend of his to go and purchase him a pair. He told Jewell to go down to the race track, lay low and wait for him. As soon as Henry was out of sight he ran like a deer and gave the alarm of Jewell’s escape to Sheriff Love, who immediately pressed every available man into service to hunt the fugitive. Couriers were dispatched in every direction to acquaint the settlers that Jewell had escaped and look out for him. Henry Smith put the posse on the right trail — to the south.
A little after daybreak Sunday morning a man knocked at the door of James Hastings house, who lives at the mouth of Big Turkey in Day county, thirty-five miles south of this city, and asked for breakfast. Mr. Hastings told him to enter the house and that he could be accommodated with breakfast, at the same time asking the early visitor why he was coatless and bare headed. It was Oliver P. Jewell, and told Mr. Hastings that he had arrived the night before at Woodward on a freight train and had lost his hat on the cars, and his coat had been given to the brakeman on the train as his fare from Alva to Woodward. He said, too, that he was on his way to his cousin’s, ten miles further south. Mr. Hastings, not having heard of Jewell’s escape, credited the story as true, gave the fugitive his breakfast and bade him a God’s speed on his journey. After Jewell had gone about an hour Pink West, who lives on North Persimmon, dashed up to the door of Mr. Hasting’s house and told him of the prisoner’s escape. “Your man eat breakfast here about an hour ago and can’t be four miles from here,” said Hastings, pointing to the south. West waited to hear no more and dashed off southward. About six miles from Hasting’s he ascended an eminence on the road and saw Jewell walking slowly along the main road toward Trail creek. He turned his horse’s head westward and formed a circle around the murderer and approached him from the south. A six shooter made Jewell’s hands go up. West commanded him to about-face and started him on a march back to Woodward. They hadn’t gone far before they met V. M. Funkhauser, of this city, and Wm. Black, of the South Canadian, who were hot on the fugitive’s trail. A wagon was soon procured and the four started for this city. They arrived here at 1:25 a. m. Monday morning and turned the captive over to the proper authorities. Mr. Pink West in his ride to capture the murderer killed a fine horse.
When captured Jewell offered not the least particle of resistance, but grinned as if he had done something to be commended for when he was ordered to throw up his hands. He said he kept the main road and didn’t think he would be followed.
In giving credit where credit is due in this matter, that fellow in the jail, Henry Smith, should not be forgotten, nor the important part played by him in this man’s apprehension. It should be recollected the information he gave, voluntarily, too, was the indirect instrument of Jewell’s capture. Immediate action was taken by Sheriff Love, hence the speedy apprehension of one of the most brutal murderers who ever breathed.
