January
23, 1917 – William Coles, arrested in Austin, Minn., today by
Sheriff Nicholson, charged with having escaped from the Wis. state prison at
Waupun in Nov. 1914 while serving a life sentence, declared that he escaped
from the prison to find the man of whose death he was convicted.
According to Sheriff Nicholson, Coles said he was convicted on circumstantial evidence. A farmhouse was destroyed by fire, a handful of bones were found in the ruins, and he was placed under arrest and convicted, Coles said. He refused to give the name of the man supposed to have died in the burning house, or the location of the farm.
He has admitted, according to the sheriff, that his name is not Coles, saying that the name he now uses is that of a deputy warden at the state prison, which he took following his escape after serving eight years. Officials of the Wis. prison are on their way to Austin to return Coles to Waupun.
According to Sheriff Nicholson, Coles said he was convicted on circumstantial evidence. A farmhouse was destroyed by fire, a handful of bones were found in the ruins, and he was placed under arrest and convicted, Coles said. He refused to give the name of the man supposed to have died in the burning house, or the location of the farm.
He has admitted, according to the sheriff, that his name is not Coles, saying that the name he now uses is that of a deputy warden at the state prison, which he took following his escape after serving eight years. Officials of the Wis. prison are on their way to Austin to return Coles to Waupun.
The Duluth Herald; “Made Escape to Find Man; Lifer in Search for One for Whose Death He Was Convicted. Got Away from Waupun in 1914, Caught in Austin Tuesday.”; Jan. 24, 1917; p. 1.
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If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: census records, birth records, death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records. I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.
If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including: census records, birth records, death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records. I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.
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