meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
True Crime Historian

The Escapes Of The Plymouth County Desperadoes

True Crime Historian

Richard O Jones

True Crime, Performing Arts, Documentary, Arts, Society & Culture

4.5720 Ratings

🗓️ 20 August 2025

⏱️ 67 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Bullets For Sheriff Maxwell And Family

Jump To AD-FREE SAFE HOUSE EDITION

Episode 376 is an action-packed thriller with a jailbreak, a prison break, a couple of car chases, a bank robbery, and then some. At the center of it all is the law-enforcing family of Sheriff Hugh Maxwell of Plymouth County, Iowa, who make the ultimate sacrifice in their pursuit of justice.

Listen to more stories with PRISON BREAKS.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-crime-historian--2909311/support.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Popular.com

0:03.8

Sue City, Iowa, June 24th, 1919.

0:15.9

Miss Fern Maxwell, 18, pretty daughter of Sheriff Hugh Maxwell of Lamar's, Plymouth County, Iowa.

0:23.6

Last Saturday assisted her father in a gun battle with three booze runners who opened fire when Mr.

0:30.6

Maxwell tried to stop them. One bullet ripped open the sheriff's shirt near the neck.

0:36.6

Mr. Maxwell received word from a relative

0:39.6

that a car laden with liquor was coming toward Lamar's on the Neptune Road. Not having time to

0:46.6

obtain aid, he assented to his daughter driving the car. Miss Maxwell, armed with a 38 caliber revolver, went with her father to a crossroad to head off

0:58.3

the blockade runners. They waited only a few minutes when a heavy car was seen coming toward them.

1:05.4

Mr. Maxwell stepped into the road and held his hand up for the driver to stop. The car slowed and went a few feet from

1:13.0

the sheriff the occupant suddenly opened fire, the driver at the same time stepping on the

1:18.5

accelerator. Bullets threw thick and fast Sheriff Maxwell returning the fire as he stepped to one side.

1:26.8

Miss Maxwell came to the aid of her father

1:29.3

by firing at the booze runners who fired at her after passing the sheriff.

1:34.3

Bullets smashed the windshield of her car

1:37.3

and plowed furrows in the seat beside her, but luckily none took effect.

1:42.3

Her revolver empty, Miss Maxwell's first impulse was to start in pursuit.

1:48.5

Her father jumped in beside her, but their car was slower than the one used by the booze runners,

1:54.4

who soon disappeared. Miss Maxwell, who is a student in Morningside College summer school, said, quote,

2:01.8

I enjoyed the experience and I wish we could have captured the men.

2:05.8

I often go with Father on trips of a similar nature.

2:09.4

It was great fun.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Richard O Jones, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Richard O Jones and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.