True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-06-06
Desperate Attempt Of Parks. to,

'o"0 SAoNAt 49, = ,~-Ss-J 80
ming when Nj. Tyler, the turnkey, attempt
ed to cnter the jail, in order to lock up
the prisoners, he found it impossible tOin7
-sert the keytinto the lock of the inner
door. After some Intellectual attempts,
a coal chisol vas procured, and the pck
was forced off. The cause was at oncere-
vealed. The guard of key was found in
the lock; and, on closer examination, it
was found to belong to a key precisely
similar to the right one. I s 80
1t was apparent that an attempt had
been made to break Jail, and all the priso-
ners were thoroughly examined. AT, last
one of them revealed the fact, that between
seven and eight 8 clock, "a German named
Rufnor, who is under sentence for burglai'
ry, had tried to unlock the. door, but had
broken his key in the attempt. Ruffner
was thereupon taken aside and examined.
He said that between six and seven o'clock
James Parkes came to his cell, and pro-
posed to him to make an attempt to escape.
The plan was laid before hnn; but the
cautious German shrank from the fearful
risk, and positively refused. Parks, after
exhausting persuasion then tempted his
cupidity, and oFered him the sum of 5000,
in case the attempt should prove successful.
Still the German refused; and finally
Parks left him. In short time he re-
turned with revolver, and presenting it
at him, told him to choose between instant
death or a compliance with his request
The terrified German assented, and they
at once proceeded to their task. . .
The prisoners apartment is entered by
passing through three strong doors, the
FIRST one of oak, the others of wrought
iron. When the turnkey or the jailer en-
ters, he usually takes the precaution to
have the second door locked behind him
before opening the inner door. Of this
the prisoners are all aware and the plan
of Parks was, to open the inner door, and
Shen the turnkey opened the others
neither of which can possibly be unlocked
from the inside-to knock down, or shoot
him if he offered any resistance, and es-
cape in carriage which was in waiting
The apertures between the cross bars are
SO small that Parks could not get his hand
through; but the German has remarkably
small hs1ds; for this reason Parks chose
him as his accomplice. ...
At first, Aufner could not get his hand
through; but Parks went to his cell, pro-
cured some tallow, and by determined
effort the first great difficult was oyclcome.
The German pushed the key through
another aperture with his other hand, and
inserted it into the lock but in his haste
and excitement he did not insert it far
enough. As a natural consequence, the
key would not turn round. He gave a
desperate wrench, and the guard broke of,
permitting the key to turn with perfect
freedom. When Parks discovered the
mishap, he cursed his fate, seized the ter
rifed man by the arm, jerked it back with
such violence as to tear the skin off the
hand, and hurried him back into his cell.
Thus far we have followed the statement
of the German. .
Parks most emphatically denies the
whole statement, and protests that he not
only did not attempt to escape, but that
he would not escape if the means were
offered him. We were shown a private
letter, which he wrote yesterday morning,
in which he makes the same declaration,
but adds that he has perfect right to es-
cape whenever On opportunity presents it
self. We omit further developments in
regard to this affajr.-Leader. .... g..
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