Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-12-18
An Interesting Narrative.
ESCAPE AND ADVENTURES OF DIR. RUcK'
Err FROM A REBEL PRISON.


merville, in Nicholas County, Va, July
1862, has just arrived in Washington
having escaped from the Rebel Peniten
tiary in Ptsyvania, Va. The story c
the treatment and escape of DIR. Rucke
is full Of interesting and instructive in
cidents. He was first sent, with othe
prisoners, TO Sulphur Springs, where h
was put in irons, and otherwise violently
treated. He was afterwards sent tt
Lynehburg, where he is well known
and hence his active loyalty induced
even greater violence. He was put il
double irons, with the cuffs firmly rivetet
about his arms and legs. In August be
was sent to Richmond, and closely con
fined in Castle Thunder, with a special
guard over him to prevent his escape.
While at Richmond, he saw two Union
prisoners shot at Libby, and one at
Castle Thunder, on the most trivial pro-
voeations.
Gov. Leteher represented 10 the Reb-
ell Secretary of War that Rocker was a
notorious character, guilty of treason
against the State OF Virginia and there
fore he should of right be surrendered TO
the State authorities for trial. After
considerable correspondence on the sub
iect. the Confederate authorities consent
ed, and turned over the prisoner to be
tried for crimes alleged to have been
committed against the State of Virginia.
He was accordingly taken from the pris-
on at Richmond, sent to Allegheny Coun-
ty, and confined in Jail to await his trial.
Ten separate indictments were brought
against bim-one for murder one for
treason three for horse stealing one
for wagon stealing one for corn steal
ing, two for niger stealing and one
for bridge burning DR.. Rucker be-
lieyes that he escaped being in 1icted for
several other crimes simply because they
did not occur 10 the mind of the Grand
Jury,
On the charge Of murder the prisoner
pleaded change Of venue, which was
sustained, and the case was sent 10 Bote-
tourt County for trial. In the Bo,etourt
Court he put in the plea OF previous ac-
quittal. This plea was also sustained
but Immediately after the decision of the
Court Attorney General Upper gave !
notice that he would file bill of repl-
cation, to the effect that defendant had
a fraudulent acquiltal. The
bill was filed, and defendants counsel
moved for immediate trial on the repli-
cation. This was refused, and on mos
lion of counsel for the Commonwealth the
case was continued.
On all the other charges, Dr. Rucker
pleaded alien enemy, but being a citizen
Of West Virginia he was held to be
citizen Of Virginia, and hence the plea
was disallowed. The trial was several
times continued and often deferred,
though the prisoner vigorously urged a
trial, knowing that the sooner his case
was brought 10 crisis the better it
would be for him.
The prisoner was forced to employ
four different counsel at $1,000 each,
and these were threatened with mob vio-
ence III case they appeared in The dc
fense. When nearly year had passed
in fruitless effort to procure a trial,
during which Time Dir. Rucker was held
in close confinement, the United States
Government determined to hold one Dir.
Green, an Assistant Surgeon in the rebel
army, OF Danvlle, Va, as a hostage for
the return of Rucker.
In June, 1868, ne was removed to the
prison at Pittsylyania, which is t h e
strongest and most secure place of con-
fnement in the State. The cell ir which
Rucker was confined is lined in every
part with a heavy iron grating inside of
massive wall, the windows and door
were double barred both inside and out.
and the doors were securely boIted and
locked.
1t was evident to the friends Of DR..
Rucker that escape was now impossible, {
and be was given oyer as lost friends
were not allowed to visit his cell, but
bitter enemies had full privilege to taunt
and insult him through the bars of his {
prison. The Union people we're allow !
ed TO send him provisions, but not to see
him. The rebels told him that the con-
federate government would starve the r.
Union prisoners until the Yankee gov a
eminent would consent to their terms j
Of exchange, and leave such men as |
himself, Col. Straight, and officers Of ne +
gro regiments in their hands to be prop i
srIy punished. {
BY careful observation DR.. Rucker }
ascertained that the jailors son, not !,
twenty months old, at times bad the KEY !,
10 the debtors room. which was d;rectIv n