The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-04-26
Local Ite ms.

SHOCKING OccuRRENcE.-The ..Jtt;lor Murdered
by Negro pr,soner-Escupe Of tie G1miaal.-Last
Monday evening our community was thrown
into the greatest excitement by the startling
announcement that Abram Williams, the jailor,
had just been bratally murdered by the negro
Jack or Jake, who had been convicted OH the
18th inst. Of stabLing white man with intent
to kill, and sentenced to be hung next Friday.
The particulars Of this horrid affair are these
On Monday morning Williams went to the jul,
as usual, to feed the negro. He was alone aaii
unarmca, although he had been repeatedly
warned by the sheriff and others to keep on his
guard against surprise, as the negro was known
to be desperate character. He, however, ap:
pretended no danger and thought his prisoner
perfectly secure from the fact that lie was
chained to the floor Of his cell. But it appears
the culprit had managed to possess himself Of
bar of iron about 10 or II inches long, p in
ches wide and / inch thick, which had incau-
tiously been left loosely rivetted to the place
where one of the locks of the cage door had
been taken off for repairs. With this piece of
iron he had broken the shackle off his leg. and
with it he dealt murderous blow on the head
of his victim when the door was opened to pass
in his breakfast, After beating the head of the
unfortunate man literally into jelly, the fiend
placed blanket snugly over the body, took
the murdered mans hat, the days provisions
that had been brought, shouldered an axe that
happened to be in the entry of the Jail, and
escaped to the woods. The deed was discoy-
cred about O'Clock in The afternoon by son
Of the deceased who had been sent in quest Of
his father. The little fellow went to the Jail,
but finding the doors open and hearing no
stir within he became frightened and ran for
the sheriff, who, upon being appraised of the
condition of things, Immediately repaired to
the place and found the body of the murdered
man weltering ieshlood. The alarm was at
once spread throps6 town, and several citizens
went in pursuit of the fugitive with dogs. He
was tracked across The field in rear of the Jail,
but night coming on and the dogs getting bo-
thered with the tracks of plantation negroes,
nothing further could be done that evening"
Next day the pursuit was renewed and is still
vigorously kept up, but so far without success
The sheriff offers a reward of 5000 for his
apprehension. The boy was heard to say that
he belongs to a Mrs. slemmens of Shreveport,
hut was hired to the steamer McRae by an
agent of his mistress living in New Orleans
The police of that city and the authorities of
Shreveport would do well to keep sharp look
out for him, as it is possible he may make his
way to one of these places.
The deceased was poor but honest and up
tight man. and, we are panied to say, leaves a
wife and several children almost if not ouite
helpless, We devoutly hope the perpetrator
'f this revolving crime-the darkest one it has
ever fallen to our lot to record, and certainly
The most atrocious in nature ever witnessed
lere-may be speedily caught and made to
'uiier such punishment as the enormity and
of his terrible crime would justify.
To facilitate his apprehension, we append
he following description the murderer lie