Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-02-02

OpR JKIL.-An asanine communica-
ton. over the signature of as, " in the
last Courier, requires some notice, al
though it is against our rule to pay any
attention to synonymous writers. This
chap takes us in hand for our remarks
in regard to the escape of Walker nom
the jail, after which he says-'1 am no
great shakes of mechanic, but would
think that there was screw loose some
where when a man, solitary and alone.
with a small iron poker, not eleven in
ches long. scraped out the mortar and
pried out one of those large stones, fas-
tened in with dowel-pins, so the con-
tract, am told, read" He further
states that "Wm. F. Carroll, the former
jailOr, furnished this poker"
We agree with "S" where he admits
being ''no great shakes" but must dis
agree with him IN his statement that
Walker was SOLITARY and alone. as it
is well known and beyond contradiction
that j. B. Smith was confined in the
same room with him. We are sorry s.
did not take the pains to inform himself
in regard to those dowel-pins, as we
are told the contract calls for dowel-
pins to the height of eight feet, and were
used precisely 'tin the manner they
should have been" Admitting that
Mr.. Carroll allowed prisoners an iron
poker, would that justify the present
jailor in doing the same? in other words,
will two wrongs make one right? But
we are informed by Mr.. Carroll that
such is not the case-he has never al
lowed prisoners any thing but a wooden
stick with which to punch the fire. But
what evidence have we that Walker
used nothing but this eleven inch poker
to remove one of those large stones
from the wall? 1t cannot be supposed
that he cut the cement from around
stone eighteen or twenty inches
square, with poker only eleven inches
long! We are as willing to believe that
''the crow-bar and pick-axe attach
ment" as" speaks of, was used, as
that the prisoner pried out large stone
with this small instrument.
Will any man pretend to say that
Walker could have removed this large
stone from the wall, had the jailor per-
formed his duty, and kept the poker
and probably other instruments, out of
his reach?
Another matter requires some notice,
and which to us is very strange, and
that is, no exertions were made by the
jailor or sheriff to overtake and bring
this scoundrel back. We hear of him
practicing his villainy almost from the
time he leaves the prison, and his path
is blazed from this to Pomeroy, and is
rendered as plain as an old wagon road,
still no exertions are made by these Off
cials to arrest him, but is allowed to go
on his way unmolested. Not even
reward was offered for his apprehension,
by the functionaries from whom he es-
capped. There is "screw loose some
where" and the sooner it is tightened
the better. If we are not mistaken 'S.'
is one of the responsible ones, and the
more censure he can heap upon the
heads of the Commissioners, the lighter
will be the load on his own pate.
The communication of 81 savors
somewhat of malice, particularly the
latter part, where he says:
81 presume the editor of the Journal
will find full employment in another
quarter before twelve-month, without
stopping to justify the Commissioners
for receiving botched job"
This part 'S.' has allowed cowardly
scoundrel to interpOlate in his missive,
and to whip us over his shoulders; not
daring to come out and speak his views
like man, the craven-hearted villain
fights under cover. For carrying this
vulture's load, we recommend to 'S.'
couple more letters to his signature,
which will make it Asa representa-
ton be fully merits, as he represents the
animal to life in this transaction. We
hope to be found at our present en-
ployment many years after this individ-
ual and his tool, g. are lost in their
own mire.