While in jail, Kansas Charley turns seventeen. By law he is now considered a man. For the second time, Charley escapes from jail.
Kansas Charley waited in the Laramie County Jail until when in early October the Wyoming Supreme Court began to hear Attorney Taggart's appeal.
The Cheyenne Club Gang
Throughout that fall, Chief Justice Herman Groesbeck, Associate Justices Asbury Conaway, and Homer Merrell listened and evaluated all of Attorney Taggart's arguments. During these proceedings, when not officially reviewing and listening, these learned men socialized at the Cheyenne Club with Attorney General Potter and Acting Governor Amos Barber. They were all members of this Club of the cattle, business and government elite.
You Are Now a Man and Can Now Die Like One.
These officials seemed to be in no hurry to make a decision. This delay, on the surface, seemed to be in Kansas Charlie's favor in that it extended his life. What this delay actually created was a change in Charley Miller's status from boy to man.
In November of 1891, Charley turned seventeen. His birthday went by without notice except perhaps to himself. But the legal implication was that in "most states, a boy of seventeen," which Charley now had become, "was subject to the same penalties and punishments as a grown man." And Charles Miller was now considered a grown man.
Good-bye Charley, Again
December of 1891 came and was nearly done when, on the 31st Charley, with two older hardened criminals, made good an escape from the Laramie County Jail. This would be Kansas Charlie's second attempt to escape. One of the escapees was a convicted cattle rustler. The other was a United States trooper who had been caught selling alcohol to Indians.
They made good their escape when the deputy sheriff came to clear away their supper dishes. With their cell door briefly unlocked the three rushed him. They pushed the man to the floor, stole his keys, tied him up, and fled. That the escape had been preplanned was certain as the three donned as much warm clothing as they could find and took with them a sack of food they had concealed. They then fled out into the icy Wyoming winter night.
Kansas Charley Turns Seventeen: Now Charley Can Die as a Man continues with Kansas Charley is Rescued: Johnson County War Makes Headlines.
Previous: Kansas Charley Escapes: Stay of Execution or New Trial.
