Osage Indians Escape Butler County Kansas Genealogy Trails

The two Osage Indians who killed the men in Butler County last spring, and who passed through here last week under charge of Deputy Sheriff Thomas, who was taking them to Butler for trial, made their escape at the residence of N. Demoss near Bazaar, on Friday night last. The shackles were taken off from the Indians on their arrival there, and they were permitted to go to rest free from encumbrance. Thomas, who was watching them, went to sleep and they made their escape in the night. It is charged that they were permitted to get away, and from the fact of their shackles being taken off, and there being comparatively no effort to pursue them, it looks as though the charge is not groundless. One rumor is that it was feared the citizens would lynch the Indians on their arrival at El Dorado, in which case the Osages threatened retaliation, and another is that a large sum of money was offered by the Osages for the freedom of these two prisoners. We know nothing of the correctness or falsity of the rumors. Emporia News, November 6, 1868 ~ Transcribed by Lori DeWinkler