Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-30

"|N|IN "INN.
Of escaping in the darkness before q
large enough force were procured to beat
them back. II was bold plot, and
promised. success. But the presence OF
mind and nerve of the Jail guard pre-
vented is consummasiop. All were
armed, aud securing positions protect
ing them from being struck by the
brickbats, they commenced firing at the
upper windows ofthe large cells. Their
volleys were answered by yells Of de-
fance, and for a time brickbats came
down so thiekly that the officers were
compelled TO retire to the middle Of the
office. From this point, however, their
shots commanded the windows; as
rapidly as the barrels become discharged
they were reloaded, and at last the
counter bombardment proved too much
for the mutineers. Two were grazed by
shots, the supply Of brickbats was nearly
exhausted, aud it was becoming too
dangerous to tear more from the sides Of
the window. The floors we're now
covered with prisoners, who crouched
in corners to escape the pistol
shots which the guard kept pouring in.
Finally, toward daylight, the demonstra-
tons on the part of the prisoners ceased;
quite large crowd of policemen and
citizens was collected, and the entire
block surrounded. All further attempts
at escape were now hopeless. About
daylight Sheriff Winters, who had been
sent for, came. The Jailor, Mr.. John
Magevney, had arrived some time before,
and materially assisted in restoring order.
1t was decided to bring all the prison.
ers from the upper cells to the court,
shackle and send them below with the
others. This work occupied the entire
morning. Upon taking the FIRST four
below it was discovered that the prison
ers in the underground cells had made
thorough preparations for escaping, as
soon as the large cells were emptied into
the court A hole had been made in the
north wall, opening into the vacant place
on the inner side of the Adams street
pavement. Once there il was necessary
to only force the grating, and Chamber
into the street. The failure of the main
body of conspirators caused an aban-
donment of the effort in this direction.
Messrs John Joyce, John Murray,
Thomas Tighe, and - Harradsy-all
on duty at the jail-were struck with
brickbats during the melee but the only
one severely injured was the mail agent,
whose name we could not procure. That
some of them were not killed outright by
the merciless pelting produced by the
brickbats seems marvellous They be
haved like heroes, and by the incessant
discharge Of pistols prevented the de-
population of the Jail.
Investigation reveals that an escape
was deliberately plar ned by the negro
prisoners, the leading spirits being the
men confined below the Office. Twice a
day the prisoners are permitted to take
exercise in the little court in the rear of
the Office, and it was during these
meetings that the plans were matured.
The signal was to come from the con-
spirators below stairs. The prolonged
yelling early in the evening bid the
occupants Of the main cells above pre-
pare for action, and the demonstrations
between one and two o'clock summoned
them to work. But
=" The best laid plans Of mice and men
Aft gang aglee,"
and not one escaped. This is the first
preconcerted attempt of large number
Of prisoners to escape from Jail for years.
Heretofore the efforts have been Of an
individual character The speedy COM
pletion of the new Jail will soon render
such demonstrations worse than useless.