The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-09-01
Escape Of McConfb, the Muir
derer, and Taylor, the
Burglar.
HOW 1T WAS DONE.
Their Ref Capture.

Of Laura J Harvey and Jonathan Taylor,
indicted for breaking open and robbinga
safe at Agency City, escaped from our Jail
about 8 o'clock p. m. on Wednesday last
week, as briefly announced in our last issue
which was at the time on the press. The
following is the way it was DONE
The family of Sheriff Derby resides in
the Jail building, and have tho charge Of
the prisoners in the day time SO far as serv.
ing their meals, furnishing them water &C..
and had access to the keys for that purpose.
The Sheriff himself has watched every
other night, n. B. Jones, Deputy Sheriff,
the alternate nights. A son Of Mr.. Derby,
Geo. g. Derby, lad in his eleventh year,
has had moro to do with the prisoners than
any other member Of the family, being en-
trusted with the keys and access to them at
oil times. and being employed by them to
make purchases for them ia town. 1t
seems by developments and confessions Of
the boy since the escape, that some two
months ago, McComb and Taylor, who it is
unnecessary to say are shrewd, cunning
men, exceedingly insinuating in their ad !.
dress. and we'll calculated to influence .
boy like young Derby, began to tamper
with him appealing to his sympathies, offer.
ing him large sums of money, promising
60 take him all over the world, to show him
oil the shows, circusses and theaters and
to buy him a good horse &c. They also
were in the habit of dividing presents of
oranges, apples. &C., which they often re.
ceived from visitors, with him In short,
they corrupted the boy and through him
affected their escape. i5ag asaH
The time fixed upon At first was Monday
evening Of last week, but for some reason
unknown to the boy, the attempt WAS not
m,de At that time. On Tuesday Mr.. Der
by went to Keokuk to meet his wife, and
was detained until Wednesday evening,
the tain reaching here at 8 o'clock. II is
fkely McComb and Taylor ascertained the
absence Of Mr.. D. in some way; at any rate
that was the time they resolved to leave
The boy was instructed and at the proper
time, unlocked their cells, (he had just be
fore furnished McComb with file to file Of,
bis fettsrs) and the outer door leading to the
yard in the rear. OF course they had Doth.
ing to do but to walk out, and to make q
hole under the fence on the side next the
Court House, with spade provided by the
boy, WAS the work Of only few moments
and they were free. The night was cloudy
and dark. They went round the jail yard
on the west side, through the alley, passed
che residences Of Woodward and Dixon
thence up the hill. and round to the rear Of
John D. Devin's residence or stable, hav.
ing tho boy between them, who was start
ing out in good earnest Is he thought to set
the world. Retiring little way from the
road into . clump Of bushes, xhey tod
young Derby that they would have L
walk very fast. that he could not keep up
aud had better 60 back. The by refused
and commenced crying. at this point Tay
Tor whispered something to McComb, mol
heard BY the boy, and moved of. Nc.
Comb then commenced coaAing tho boy,
promising to send him the $1,000 they
were to pay him Is soon ~ they had mad.
certain arrangements and finally, this mol
sSscssdng. be threatened and scared him
into going home, Mct 'omb standing still
watching him until be was out Of sight.
The boy reached the Jail about 6vs min
utss after the return Of bis father and moth.
or. They asked him where hs bad BEEN
end b. replied that he had been round 70