The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-01

An Exciting Scene in an Ohio Jail.
The Ravenna (ohio) Democrat has an
account of the attempted escape of
Cooper, the murderer of John Rhoden-
baugh, from the county jail in that
town, some of the details of which we
give below:
"AlIthings were orderly until about
six Sunday afternoon (April 22). AT
that hour after the prisoners had been
served with their supper, but not placed
in their cells for the night, the sheriff
admitted DIR. Graham, to visit the pris-
oner Clark, who had the quinsy. Sheriff
Jennings and the Doctor entered the
prison, having the outer door locked
behind them. Coming TO the second
grated door the sheriff unlocked 1t, ad-
mitted the physician, and entered the
prison himself, standing at the unlock
ed door. Seeing his inIprudenceo on the
part of the sheriff, Cooper at once
walked up to him and seized him, call
ing at the same time 10 the other pris-
oners TO draw that bar, meaning IA bar
ofiron Weighing fifty or sixty pounds,
used as u support to the platform oil the
upper tier of cells. Lyman Beery, Eek
and Davis drew the bar. The Sheriff
and Cooper struggled together for lit
tie time, DIR. Graham in a moment real
lied something oft peril of the situa-
ton and called for help.
AS the contest commenced, Cooper
demanded of the sheriff his pistol, but
getting no response he changed his de-
maud to a threat to kill the sheriff un-
less he gave up his pistol. Fortunately
he was able TO tell Cooper he had no
pistol, and having satisfied himself that
This wRs the fact, Cooper released the
sheriff, seized his bar and rushed to the
outer grated door, and commenced bat
tering at the lock, with a purpose of
bursting it off. DIR. Graham's cry for
help was heard by Mrs. Jennings, who
sounded the alarm at the outer door of
the Jail, and such men as were on the
street hurried to the rescue. The court
house bell was rung and crowd OF
some two hundred men were soon. on
the spot. The first men that entered
the jail, closed the wooden door which
shuts close upon the one from which
Cooper was attempting to batter the
lock. 30 fn aG
"Deputy Sheriff. Buck arriving at the
jail, loudly called for. pistol, and
Cooper hearing and recognizing his
voice, Slipped back iuto the prison,
throwing his bar with wrathful ven
Eeance at the door. Cooper was in a
terrible rage at his defeat, and cursed
his coWardly confederates In the most
blasphemous manner. HIS face was
white with passion, and his eyes be-
The mildly hammered man was trans.
formed into htdeous fiend, and sew
eral of the prisoners skunk into their
cells. covered by the demoniac deport-
ment of the baftied murderer. When
Cooper Withdrew and gave up his at
Tempt to escape, the Sheriff and DIR.
Graham retired from the prison, and
ilhe great door wns once more bolted.
stThe crowd about the jail by this
time attracted Cooper to one of the
grated windows, from which he har-
ranged those who chose to listen, for a
few moments. gz.e2
"It was found on examing the lock
which Cooper bad battered, that two of
the bolts by which 1t was fastened to
the door Were broken loose, but Two
others-and they the most valuable
were scarcely loosened, and the lock
was not in any other respect hnrmed.
Had the other prisoners Joined Cooper
with the vfgor and desperation he man
ifestedith result of the attempt would
doubtless have been different"
/