The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-10
STARTLING EVENT.


n Prisoner shot while Attempting 20
nso@pe from the County Jah-His Sub
pequent Death.
enc Of the prisoners at the County Jail was
shot at that place last night, while attempting
70 escape. The circumstances are as tollows;-,
About 9 o'clock last evening, Jallor ROOD Vlelteu
the "hangman's room,n where the rope, weight,
and drop are kept for hanging criminals, and
discovered that the rope was missing. lie made
a partial search, but was unable 10 ma IL, and
being satisfied that an attempt Woulo De MADE
to break Jail, he prepared himself accordingly
Stationing MIR. Cribbn, who is boarding at the
jail, as patrolmaD outside, Mr.. Samuel II. Bent
acting Turnkey, upon the wall near a privy
where he could command the north side OF the
building and MIR. Robb himself took position
directly beneath the condemned room," which
is in the northwest corner, and the same occu-
pied by Ira Stout. This room was occupied by
Richard Hayes, q young man from Corning,
committed at Corning, March 30, for trial at the
present term OF the United States Court on an
Indictment Tor passing counterfeit 500 green
backs, Solomon Snyder, detained as United
States witness, William Crowley, the boy COM
mitted for trial on a charge of highway robbery,
robbing young Campbell of a watch in Gale
donia Square, and Theodore Newcomb, sur
rendered by his bail on au indictment for shoot
ing Ann Mack.
At II O'Clock q rope-the identical hangmans
rOpe-was thrown from the grated window on
the north side, directly over where Robb was
watching, and Immediately after ut is supposed
before Robb could reach out and pull the rope
inn man slid down. Robb SAID, "Go back" at
which the prisoner swung clear OF lhe Sill AT
which the iallor was standing, and Bent, VINO
had double-barrelled towling-plece LAID down
his weapon, as he says, with the intention OF
seizing the man when ne came down, but up On
looking up, he saw another person on the rope,
and, not wishing to take his chances with two
men, he fired. At that instant RoDb graspeu the
lower mao by the ankles and dragged him into
the room, calling Tor Bent TO come up directly,
not thinking that he was hit. The other person,
winch proved subsequently TO be Crowley,
crawled back. The first one was Hayes, and
when he was handed in it was discovered that
the contents Of the gun (heavy duck shot) had
pierced his back. -
As soon as this became known, DR.. Walter NJ.
Fleming was sent Tor and upon examination OF
the wounds declared the man past help. He
died near ] o'clock, two hours and four minutes
after he was shot. The shot penetrated the
lungs, and with every breath the blood and air
was expelled from his wounds.
Hayes conversed freely before his death, say
ing that he should not have attempted to escape;
that he had been well treated while IN conine-
ment, and expressing wish to see his mother.
This he reiterated several times. His father,
Robert S. Hayes, of Corning, was telegraphed
for, and is expected here to-day. Coroner Treat
took charge OF the remains this morning, and an
inquest is now in progress
Hayes was arrested by Deputy United States
Marshal Van Etten, of Bath, Steuben county,
and he informs us that he was about twenty
seven years OF age, and was bad man. He
SJdnuS lnQlCUeu dJ DdJn, upon Il CudrgS Ol ulur-
der, poisoning q soldier to Obtain his money,
besides other oifenses. His parents bear a re-
spectacle name, and are IN moderate circum-
stances.
The prisoners who have been confined in Jail
for the past few months are of the shreWdeSt
kind, and as we have before stated Jailor Robb
has frustrated two separate attempts at escape.
The present exit was made after saving four of
the bars which formed the grating, three of
them being completely severed, and the fourth
partially so, and then pried up from the inside,
with heavy iron bar, procured from another
part OF the Jail in some lueXplIcable manner.
The rope was procured by the boy Crowley,
who was put through small hole In the Hang
mans Room, and removed it from where 1t hung
on the wan. During the daytime the prisoners
had access to the hall, and must have learned
that the rope was there while the Jail was being
whitewashed, few davs since. Hayes and
Snyder occupied this room before Mr.. Robb
became jailor. There iE hardly a grating In the
whole jail that does not bear the marks of the
saw or file in the hands OF the ingenious pri-
soners. and the wonder is that they have not
been more successful.
The iailor has confined Crowley in the dun
geon, on bread and water, where his Jack Snep-
pard prOpensities will noC have much vent.
That m officer is justified in shooting a pri-
soner who attempts to escape there is no DOUBT,
and as Bent gave Hayes warning, and as he
persisted in sliding down the rope, he claims
that he could do nothing but shoot, knowing
that there we're three other prisoners above who
could be upon him in case he grappled with
Hayes. He also says that he fired at Hayes
limbs intending to cripple him; but as he fired
the prisoner slipped down the rope, receiving
the charge in his back. If there is any fault,
IL is in not securing possession OF the rope be-
fore il was used.-RocheSter IN. ~ Examiner,
yesterday